If you are suffering from heel pain, the first thing you must do is see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to assess whether the pain is related to an injury, a herniated disk or a problem with your feet. If you have a foot problem, you will need to consult your doctor as soon as possible, because the sooner you treat it, the better. If you ignore the problem, it can lead to worse conditions, such as stress fracture (when the bone becomes deformed) or arthritis. To treat your heel pain, a Podiatrist in Prospect should look at the most common causes of heel pain.
Heel spurs, sometimes referred to as heel spur syndrome, are a very common cause of chronic pain in the lower legs, especially the toes. Heel spurs are usually caused by severe flat feet that make it difficult for the feet to maintain even pressure against the floor. Over time, this can result in a build-up of pressure underneath the skin, causing pain, numbness, tingling and an irregular, jagged gait. In order to treat your heel spurs, your doctor may recommend physical therapy, cortisone injections or even surgery.
The condition that I just described is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis usually affects older people and is the result of the wearing away of the bones (osteoporosis) which, over time, causes pressure on the nerves. Common causes of osteoarthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, hereditary factors, age, and repetitive stress injuries. In order to treat heel pain caused by osteoarthritis, your doctor will usually prescribe physical therapy, prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, prescribe medications to relieve pain and give you advice on how to prevent further damage to the joints.
A podiatrist Norwood who is more likely to develop heel pain than others is likely to be a hearer. Hearers are the ones that develop chronic foot pain, because they are constantly on their feet and do not wear properly cushioned shoes or socks. People who wear tight fitting shoes and socks are more prone to this type of condition than others. If you want to prevent this from happening to you, change your footwear every couple of months, or better yet, get a foot massage from a professional foot care practitioner. Heating pads, foot creams and specialized orthotics are also available.
Heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis is usually the result of shoes that do not fit properly. This can be frustrating because there is no way to tell what is causing the pain. You could simply take your shoes off and tape the bottom of them to the ground, and see if that helps! Other possible causes could be a lack of proper arch support in the case of flat feet, or an abnormally long toe, which can lead to hammertoes. In the case of plantar fasciitis, make sure that the shoes you choose fit properly. If they’re too big or too small, they will be difficult to walk in and cause pain.
Other less common causes for heel pain are bunions and hammertoe, which are slightly more difficult to treat. Bunions usually affect only one foot, while hammertoe involves both feet. These symptoms can usually be avoided by wearing proper-fitting shoes, avoiding stairs and other activity that put extra stress on your feet. In the case of bunions and hammertoe, you need to see a podiatrist. He will treat your symptoms and help you find a treatment that will eliminate the pain and discomfort. Heel pain, numbness and other physical manifestations caused by various common causes can be frustrating, but they are easily dealt with.