Our El Paso Podiatrists Provide Effective Treatments for Heel Pain
Do your heels hurt? You’re not alone. Each year, doctors and other medical professionals in the United States report more than 1 million patient visits for heel pain. This common podiatric problem can affect anyone, whether you're a man or a woman, or live an active or sedentary lifestyle, causing discomfort that ranges from mild to debilitating.
Heel pain is not only common; it's also frequently misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary and ineffective treatments. The Foot Institute provides comprehensive treatment for painful heel conditions. Our board-certified El Paso podiatrists offer state-of-the-art diagnostic ultrasounds that allow us to pinpoint the precise cause of your heel pain and recommend appropriate solutions for relief. Discover what we could do for your feet!
Common Sources of Heel Pain
Heel pain can have numerous sources but is often attributable to lifestyle, abnormalities in foot structure or how you walk, and other health conditions. Risk factors include:
- Structural foot issues, such as flat feet or high arches
- Gait irregularities, like excessive pronation
- Sustaining injuries
- Standing on hard surfaces, such as concrete, for extended periods
- Wearing shoes that fit poorly or lack cushioning or arch support
- Health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and obesity
Our Specialists Skillfully Address Conditions That Cause Heel Pain
The Foot Institute provides the highest standard of care for patients of all ages. Dr. Efren Buff De La Rosa leads a team of experienced foot and ankle experts in treating wide-ranging conditions causing heel pain, including:
- Plantar fasciitis. One of the most common causes of heel pain, plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick ligament that runs the length of your foot, connecting the heel bone and toes. Symptoms include a stabbing pain in the bottom of the foot near the heel that is usually worse in the morning.
- Heel spurs. Caused by long-term stress on foot ligaments, these bony growths or calcium deposits form on the underside of the heel bone. This results in tenderness and sharp, dull, or throbbing pain.
- Achilles tendonitis. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the back of the heel. Inflammation of this tendon is a common overuse injury that can cause tenderness, swelling, and pain down the back of the leg and above your heel.
- Bursitis. Inflammation of the fluid-filled, sac-like bursae in the foot results in bursitis. Symptoms include redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and reduced mobility and range of motion.
- Haglund’s deformity. Also called a “pump bump,” this condition is an enlargement of the back of the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attaches. It’s often related to bursitis and aggravated by wearing pumps or other high-heeled shoes.
- Bone bruises. Direct impact with hard objects can lead to an inflammation of heel tissues that causes pain and tenderness that may hurt even when your feet are at rest.
- Stress fractures. Small cracks in the heel bone can cause pain along the bottom, sides, and back of your heel.
- Sever’s disease. A common cause of heel pain among active kids between 8 and 15 years old—particularly those who participate in sports and activities requiring extensive running and jumping—this condition is an irritation of the growth plates at the back of the heel.
Treat Your Heels to Excellent Care
Putting off care can allow painful heel conditions to worsen. Don’t neglect your feet. The Foot Institute offers conservative to advanced treatments to suit your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Your treatment plan might include:
- Footwear modifications
- Custom orthotics
- Insoles to cushion and relieve pressure
- Shockwave (EPAT) therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections