Foot Pain in Your Heel? It Maybe Plantar Heel Pain
Heel pain often starts as a minor niggle. However, it may become a struggle, especially if it interferes with your walking, exercise routine, or even just getting out of bed.
Whether you’re on your feet all day for work or enjoying an active lifestyle, persistent heel pain has the potential to impact your daily life. As a podiatrist in Dural, we understand how frustrating and limiting heel pain may be. Our podiatrists are here to assess your pain in an effort to get to the root of it, aiming to help you get back to doing what you love.
What is Heel Pain?
Heel pain is one of the main conditions we address at Foot and Leg Pain Centre. Affecting people of all ages, it’s often felt as a sharp, stabbing pain under the heel, especially first thing in the morning or after periods of rest.
In many cases, this discomfort stems from inflammation or damage to the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue underneath the foot that runs from the heel to the toes. When this tissue is damaged, it’s known as plantar fasciitis. However, there are other causes of heel pain that often have similar symptoms and may even present with a burning or stinging sensation under your soles.
Symptoms of Heel Pain
- A stabbing or sharp pain in the bottom of your heel, especially with the first steps in the morning
- Pain after standing or walking
- Swelling or tenderness near the heel
- A feeling of heat or tightness in the heel area
- Discomfort when stretching the foot or ankle
- Pain that worsens with time if left untreated
As heel pain may worsen if left unaddressed, it’s important to seek podiatry services for a physical examination. A podiatrist will aim to give you a personalised treatment plan designed to get you back up and on your feet.
Common Causes of Heel Pain
There are many potential causes of heel pain, and experienced podiatrists aim to discover the potential reasons for your foot problems.
Heel pain may be the result of underlying issues such as:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Baxter’s neuritis
- Medial or lateral heel nerve compressions
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Achilles tendonitis or other injuries to the
- Achilles tendon
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Excessive rolling of the feet (overpronation)
- Walking or standing on hard surfaces
- Prolonged standing
- Wearing unsupportive shoes
- Sports injuries
- Tight calf muscles
- Poor muscle strength in the lower legs
Potential Ways to Address Heel Pain
While heel pain is a common foot condition, there's no one way to address it for every person. That's why we work with you to create a personalised treatment plan for your unique needs. Your treatment plan may include:
- Physical examination and gait assessment
- Custom orthotics
- Shockwave therapy
- Targeted stretching such as neural mobilisation
- Strengthening exercises for the plantar fascia, calf muscles, and lower legs
- Dry needling
- Manual therapy
- Footwear advice
- Rest
- Activity modifications
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Your Heel Pain Dural Questions Answered
What may cause heel pain other than plantar fasciitis?
Other common conditions that may cause heel pain include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Heel spurs
- Stress fractures
- Bursitis
- Nerve compression
- Arthritis
- Sever’s disease (in children)
- Poor foot biomechanics
What are heel spurs?
Heel spurs are small growths on the underside of the heel bone. They tend to slowly develop over time due to strain on foot muscles and ligaments, repeated plantar fascia tearing, or long-term stress on the heel bone. While heel spurs themselves aren’t always painful, they’re often associated with plantar fasciitis and typically cause discomfort when standing or walking for long periods.tion you’re born with), structural abnormalities, wearing ill-fitting shoes, infections, or conditions such as arthritis. Many pains that are associated with feet are simply due to the repetitive loading of individual structures, which are not working optimally. This results in individual overuse syndromes of specific foot structures, of which there are many types.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
This relatively common condition is typically caused by repetitive stress on the plantar fascia. This tends to happen due to excessive walking or standing (especially on hard surfaces), or wearing unsupportive shoes. Other risk factors include having high arches, flat feet, and tight calf muscles.
How do I know if I have heel spurs or plantar fasciitis?
The main difference is that plantar fasciitis tends to cause pain with your first steps in the morning, while heel spurs may not cause pain unless they are inflamed. Both may cause similar heel pain, though, so it’s essential to see an experienced podiatrist for assessment. They should perform a physical examination in an effort to determine which condition, or any other, you may have.
Can orthotics help with heel pain?
In many cases, yes, they may. Orthotics with good arch support aim to help offload pressure from the heel and support proper foot alignment. At Foot and Leg Pain Centre, we tailor our custom orthotics to your foot structure and activity needs for the most personalised fit.
Can I address heel pain at home?
There are some methods you may be able to try at home if your heel pain is mild. These include resting and icing, using heat cream in the mornings, stretching your feet and lower legs, and using anti-inflammatory medication. However, if your pain continues or becomes worse, make an appointment sooner rather than later.
What areas do you service?
We work with patients from Dural and surrounding suburbs, including Arcadia, Baulkham Hills, Beecroft, Bella Vista, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook, Galston, Glenhaven, Hornsby, Kellyville, Norwest, Pennant Hills, Rouse Hill, Seven Hills, Thornleigh, Wahroonga, Westleigh, Winston Hills and Parramatta.
Why Foot and Leg Pain Centre?
Knowledge of Plantar Heel Pain
We work with people of all ages to address their foot health, including plantar fasciitis, using the latest podiatry technologies.
Personalised Care
No two patients and no two feet are the same! We tailor every treatment plan in an effort to promote healing.
Patient-First Team
There are no egos here, we are humble and we work together with your best interests at heart.
Aim to Get Back on Your Feet With Dural's Dedicated Podiatry Team
Heel pain doesn’t have to remain part of your daily routine. As it has the ability to significantly impact your life, seeking a diagnosis from an experienced podiatrist is key. At Foot and Leg Pain Centre in Dural, we aim to help you find relief and potentially improve your overall foot health. Jump to it and make an appointment today!