Heel Pain Treatment by Podiatrists in Garland TX & Wylie TX

Heel pain can have many different types of causes.  It is generally the result of faulty biomechanics (walking gait abnormalities) that place too much stress and strain on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it.  The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed foot wear; or being overweight.

The heel bone is the largest of the 26 bones in the human foot, which also has 33 joints and a network of more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments.  Like all bones, it is subject to outside influences that can affect its integrity and its ability to keep us on our feet.  Heel pain, sometimes disabling, can occur in the front, back or bottom of the heel.

 

Heel Pain Treatment in Garland & Wylie, TX

Treatment Options to Help You Get Back on Your Feet

Heel pain can make the first few steps in the morning miserable. It can also interfere with work, exercise, sports and even ordinary walking.

Fortunately, many causes of heel pain respond well to conservative treatment.

At Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic, Scott Nelson, DPM provides heel pain treatment at our Garland, TX office, while Hang Nguyen, DPM treats patients at our Wylie, TX location.

Because several different conditions can cause heel pain, our podiatrists first determine why your heel hurts. Then, they recommend treatment based on your diagnosis, activity level, foot structure and symptoms.

If you are ready to do something about recurring heel pain, call (972) 414-9800 or request an appointment online.

What Is the Best Treatment for Heel Pain?

There is no single treatment that works for every painful heel.

For example, plantar fasciitis requires a different approach than a stress fracture, Achilles tendon injury or bursitis. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis should come before treatment.

If you want to learn more about the different causes and symptoms of heel pain, visit our Heel Pain condition page.

Once Dr. Nelson or Dr. Nguyen identifies the source of your symptoms, treatment may include one or more of the following options.

Conservative Heel Pain Treatments

Supportive Shoes

Footwear can make a significant difference when you have heel pain.

Shoes with appropriate cushioning and support may reduce stress on the heel and irritated tissues. Conversely, worn-out shoes, very flat footwear or shoes that provide little support may aggravate some conditions.

Your podiatrist can help you determine what type of footwear makes sense for your particular problem.

Stretching

When plantar fasciitis or tightness in the calf and Achilles tendon contributes to heel pain, stretching may become an important part of treatment.

A consistent stretching program may help improve flexibility and reduce tension through the bottom of the foot and heel.

However, the correct exercises depend on your diagnosis. Therefore, it is better to know what is causing your pain before aggressively stretching an injured foot.

Activity Modification

Sometimes the heel simply needs a break from the activity that keeps aggravating it.

For runners and active patients, this may mean temporarily reducing mileage, jumping, high-impact exercise or another painful activity.

However, treatment does not always require complete inactivity. Your podiatrist can help you determine what activities you can safely continue while the heel recovers.

For sports-related heel problems, visit our Sports Medicine page.

Custom Orthotics

Some patients benefit from custom orthotics, particularly when foot mechanics or pressure patterns contribute to recurring heel pain. For example, severe cases of plantar fasciitis benefit from custom molded orthotics.

A custom orthotic may help support the foot and redistribute pressure. However, not everyone with heel pain needs one.

Dr. Nelson or Dr. Nguyen can determine whether prescription orthotics would add meaningful value to your treatment plan.

Learn more about custom orthotics at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic.

Immobilization

When heel pain becomes severe or an injured structure needs additional protection, your podiatrist may recommend temporary immobilization in a walking boot.

A boot can reduce stress on the painful area and allow irritated tissues to recover.

Medication & Injection Options

Depending on the cause of your heel pain and your medical history, your podiatrist may discuss medications that can help manage discomfort.

In selected cases, an injection may also be considered.

However, injections are not automatically the next step for every patient with heel pain. Dr. Nelson or Dr. Nguyen will consider your diagnosis, previous treatments and potential risks before recommending an injection.

For plantar fasciitis specifically, current medical guidance generally recommends conservative approaches such as supportive footwear, stretching and activity changes first. Additional treatments may be considered when symptoms persist. (MedlinePlus)

Does Heel Pain Require Surgery?

Most heel pain does not require surgery.

In fact, many patients improve with nonsurgical treatment.

However, surgery may become an option when a specific condition continues to cause significant pain despite an appropriate course of conservative care.

If surgery becomes necessary, your podiatrist Scott Nelson, DPM or Hang Nguyen, DPM will explain:

  • Why surgery is being considered
  • What the procedure is designed to correct
  • What nonsurgical treatments have already been tried
  • What recovery may involve
  • When you may return to normal activities

Learn more about our Foot & Ankle Surgery services.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis

Because plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, many patients who visit us for heel treatment ultimately receive care for this condition.

This is a heel pain that is present after periods of rest.  The pain will be typically located at the back of your arch, on the inside of the foot (the same side of the foot as the big toe), near the start of your heel.  You will feel this primarily first thing in the morning when you get out of bed.  Typical symptoms feel like a stone bruise. It is inflamed and painful for a little while then calms down as you work it out and get moving and stretching.  You may also experience this painful sensation after shorter periods of rest like watching tv, watching a movie, sitting at the computer for a while, stepping out of your car after driving, etc.

There is no one single cause that starts this inflammatory reaction.  You could have a gain in weight, loss of weight, change in activity, starting of an exercise program, use of treadmills, poor fitting shoes, trauma to the area and so on. Since inflammation is the root cause of the pain, Dr. Nelson and Dr. Nguyen primarily treat the inflammation with several different modalities.

Treatment may include:

  • Supportive footwear
  • Stretching
  • Activity modification
  • Ice or other measures for discomfort
  • Orthotics or shoe inserts when appropriate
  • Night splints
  • Temporary immobilization in more painful cases
  • Additional treatments when conservative care does not provide enough relief

As mentioned, Dr. Nelson and Dr. Nguyen opt for conservative treatment methods whenever possible. One of those options for severe cases of plantar fasciitis would be custom molded orthotics.  The National Library of Medicine also recommends a conservative approach first for plantar fasciitis. (MedlinePlus)

What is a Heel Spur

A common cause of heel pain is the heel spur, a bony growth on the underside of the heel bone.  The spur, visible by X-ray, appears as a protrusion that can extend forward as much as half an inch.  When there is no indication on bone enlargement the condition is sometimes referred to as “heel spur syndrome.”

Heel spurs result from a strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, and by repeated tearing away of the lining or membrane that covers the heel bone.  These conditions may result from biomechanical imbalance, running or jogging, improperly fitted or excessively worn shoes, or obesity.

Heel pain can also include symptoms from systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.  Still other things like bursitis, neuroma (soft tissue swelling of a nerve), Achilles Tendonitis, bone bruises, and stress fractures to name a few.

When Should You Get Heel Pain Treated?

Consider scheduling an appointment when:

  • Heel pain keeps returning
  • Pain is especially severe with your first steps in the morning
  • Walking or standing becomes uncomfortable
  • Exercise repeatedly causes heel pain
  • Your heel is swollen or tender
  • Changing shoes has not solved the problem
  • Pain is getting worse
  • You have difficulty putting weight on the foot

Additionally, heel pain following a significant fall or injury may require prompt evaluation because fractures and other injuries can also cause heel symptoms.

Children and Heel Pain

Children can be affected with heel pain just like adults can.  It most commonly occurs between the ages of 8 and 13 as they become increasingly active in sports activity in and out of school.  There are growth centers at the back of the heels that can become inflamed.  Activities like jumping can irritate the growth centers and cause an inflammatory reaction.

This can be treated by decreasing the activity, placing the child in a walking boot and adding anti-inflammatory drugs if needed.  Once the growth plate matures into regular bone, this particular type of heel pain resolves.

Heel Pain Treatment in Garland, TX

Patients looking for heel pain treatment in Garland, Texas can schedule an appointment with Scott Nelson, DPM at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic.

Dr. Nelson treats plantar fasciitis, sports-related heel pain and other foot and ankle conditions using conservative treatment whenever appropriate.

Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Garland
3930 Naaman School Road, Suite C
Garland, TX 75040
(972) 414-9800

Visit our Garland podiatry office page for directions and additional information.

Heel Pain Treatment in Wylie, TX

Patients needing heel pain treatment in Wylie, Texas can see Hang Nguyen, DPM at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic.

Dr. Nguyen evaluates the cause of heel pain and develops a treatment plan based on the patient’s symptoms, activity level and individual foot condition.

Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Wylie
2300 FM 544, Suite 230
Wylie, TX 75098
(972) 414-9800

Visit our Wylie podiatry office page for location information and directions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heel Pain Treatment

Can heel pain be treated without surgery?

Yes. Most common causes of heel pain are initially treated without surgery. Treatment may include stretching, footwear changes, activity modification, orthotics, night splints or other conservative measures.

Do I need custom orthotics for heel pain?

Not necessarily, however custom orthotics molded in office at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic can significantly help patients, particularly when foot mechanics contribute to the problem.

How long does plantar fasciitis take to improve?

Recovery varies. Some patients improve relatively quickly, while longstanding plantar fasciitis can take months to fully settle down. Following the treatment plan consistently is important.

Should I see a podiatrist if my heel pain keeps returning?

Yes. Recurring pain may mean that the underlying problem has not fully resolved. A podiatrist can identify the cause and recommend treatment based on the specific condition.

Find the Right Treatment for Your Heel Pain

You do not have to keep guessing which shoe insert, stretch or home remedy might finally make your heel stop hurting.

First, find out what is causing the pain. Then, treat that problem appropriately.

At Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic, Scott Nelson, DPM provides heel pain treatment in Garland, while Hang Nguyen, DPM treats heel pain at our Wylie office.

Call (972) 414-9800 or request an appointment online today.