When the back of your foot hurts, you don’t feel much like keeping up with your walking routine—and that may be a good thing. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. It only makes sense to stop what you are doing and figure out what is causing it. That’s where the foot doctors at Martin Foot and Ankle can help. We can diagnose the problem and give you tips for easing heel pain or offer treatments that can get your feet back on the road.
Treatment will depend on exactly where the pain is and what is behind it. Does the bottom of your heel hurt, especially with the first steps in the morning? Plantar fasciitis may be to blame. Is the pain more at the back of your heel? It could be Achilles tendonitis or bursitis, or you could have Haglund’s deformity, a painful bump that rubs against your shoes. We can help you find out what’s going on.
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, so we want to give you a few tips that can relieve that type of pain and let you resume your walks again:
- Take a few days off to rest the ligament and allow the damaged fibers to repair themselves
- Icing the area can help reduce swelling and pain from the inflammation
- Wear only sturdy, supportive shoes that support your arch and raise your heel slightly
- If you need extra cushion and support, try gel arch supports or heel cushions to see if they help
- Stretch out your plantar fascia with exercises that you can find at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society website, or call us for suggestions.
