Don’t Delay Treatment for Heel Pain

Our Fairfax County patients who suffer from plantar fasciitis come to us with exactly one goal: to get rid of their heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis is difficult to ignore. Sharp pains in the heel and feelings of achiness or burning often feel the worst in the morning. The discomfort typically tapers off as you go about your day as the plantar fascia stretches out a bit, only to proclaim its ugly presence once again after you rest.

Here’s one thing we know for sure: plantar fasciitis very rarely goes away on its own. Another truth: plantar fasciitis can take a long time to heal. So, it’s best to visit Clifton Foot & Ankle Center sooner than later for effective treatment.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Heel pain may be due to structural abnormalities such as bone spurs, a biomechanical imbalance in the foot, shoes that don’t offer good support, and repetitive stress (such as might occur with someone who runs a lot).

Whatever the cause, our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm, offers several solutions for your heel pain:

• More supportive shoes. Shoe styles that are completely flat and/or are poorly made may not give you enough arch support, which can lead to inflammation of the plantar fascia. That’s the large ligament that runs from your heel bone to your toes and helps create your foot’s arch. Dr. Wilhelm may recommend different shoes with the possible addition of custom orthotics to correct the problem.
• Stretching exercises. The object of exercising is to ease the tension in the plantar fascia. Stretch it out by rolling the bottom of your foot on a small, hard ball such as a racquetball. You can also use a frozen water bottle. Tight calves may also be contributing to your plantar fasciitis. Stretch them out daily using the exercises we explain here.
• Inflammation-reducing medications. You might purchase these over the counter (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen). Or Dr. Wilhelm may recommend attacking your particular pain with either prescription-strength anti-inflammatories or steroid injections.
• A night splint positions your foot so that the plantar fascia can’t contract, making those first morning steps much easier to bear.

Surgery to relieve plantar fasciitis pain is a rare possibility. Generally, some combination of the treatments above will do the trick. To get started, make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm at our office in Centreville, Virginia. Call (703) 996-3000 or contact us online.