If you’ve experienced heel pain, you’ll know that it can be excruciating and knowing what is causing the pain can enable you to relieve it and prevent further problems. There are several causes of heel pain and understanding the type of pain you are living with can give you the solutions you need to find the right treatment and feel better.
Here, we’ll look at the most common types of heel pain and explore the options if you are suffering with one of these conditions. If you are feeling pain in the heel, often in the back of the heel or on the underneath of the heel, you may find that this affects your mobility and can even be debilitating. Taking care of your foot health can help to protect your general health and keep you active, so it’s a vital way to care for yourself and improve your wellbeing.
Plantar Fasciitis
This is a condition which affects the plantar fascia ligament that runs from the toes to the heel bone. This is the most common cause of heel pain and is the result of the ligament being overused and becoming inflamed or torn. This condition often affects runners, other athletes, and pregnant women, due to the stress placed on the ligament by repetitive movement and weight gain. Plantar fasciitis typically presents with pain under the heel, which is worse first thing in the morning and after periods of rest. It can ease out as the day goes on and gets worse after prolonged standing/activity. Plantar fasciitis can become chronic and last months if left untreated. Plantar fasciitis Treatment can include Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy ESWT to help relieve pain, stretching and strengthening exercises. A period of immobilization, splints or orthotics/gel heel pads may offer relief. Steroid injections are generally not recommended for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Achilles tendinitis
The Achilles tendon is the longest tendon in the human body, running from the calf muscle to the heel bone. Repetitive movements, such as running, can cause this tendon to become irritated and this can cause pain, stiffness and swelling around the heel. Patients usually present with slow onset pain, which is well localized usually above the heel bone or the back of the leg. It is usually worse in the mornings but can ease with mild activity or after warming up. It can be ok during activity and be sore again following it. It can be aggravated by strenuous activity like sprinting and by ascending and descending stairs. Once a diagnosis is confirmed treatment options can be discussed including treatments such as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy ESWT heel lifts or night splints and an appropriate strengthening or physiotherapy program.
Diagnosing Your Heel Pain
When you are experiencing heel pain, it is important to establish the cause of the pain before you make any decisions about your treatment. Here at Roxboro Medical Centre, we can discuss your symptoms with you and examine your feet to diagnose the cause of your pain and formulate a treatment plan. We may recommend X-rays to rule out underlying causes such as arthritis or damage to the joints.
We may also suggest other diagnostic tools such as MRI or ultrasound, which can be helpful in revealing damage or injury to the soft tissues of the feet. We may recommend Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy ESWT, specific exercises to rehabilitate the area, or ask you to consider using massage or physical therapy to support your recovery. Sometimes, orthotic devices can be helpful, including custom made inserts in the shoes and splints, which can be worn at night. Altering your footwear can be very helpful in addressing heel or foot pain, ensuring that you have a good amount of cushioning in your shoes to give you stability and comfort.
Maintain Good Foot Health with Roxboro
Here at Roxboro Medical Centre, we offer patient focused care that gives you peace of mind and addresses your unique concerns. Our experienced team will take the time to listen to you and find the best solutions for your health and wellbeing. We offer appointments from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, and you can book by calling or by emailing our team.
Our clinic is located just a short walk from Limerick City centre and we can take care of your whole family with our expertise in children’s health, men’s health, women’s health and sports medicine. We will always be happy to discuss your situation and help you to decide which service will be most beneficial to you, or you can book an initial appointment with one of our experienced GPs to discuss the options we offer.
Dr. O’Donoghue has a keen interest in Sports Medicine and has completed a Masters Degree in Sports and exercise medicine from University College Cork achieving an honours degree. He has also done additional training in Neurofunctional Acupuncture from McMaster University in Hamilton Canada. He has completed the FIFA Football Medicine Diploma and is a trained provider of the EMS Swiss Dolorclast method for ESWT (extracorporeal shockwave therapy).