When we have foot discomfort, we can often try to soldier through it or opt for a quick fix, like slapping a bandage on a blister. Sometimes that’s enough, but other times it pays to seek help from a skilled podiatrist.
Heel pain is something that plagues a whopping 2 million people every year, and there are multiple causes. Not only does it hurt, but it can interfere with your mobility.
The talented and compassionate team of podiatrists at South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers is concerned with finding the root cause of your heel pain and treating it promptly, so you can return to moving freely, with no more pain.
Their customized approach means you’re never considered “just a number.” Your podiatrist is also your partner in care, providing you with education on how to care for your feet and prevent future problems.
Some of the most widespread foot conditions are culprits when it comes to heel pain. Your podiatrist may suspect it’s:
Some conditions are problematic for specific groups of patients more than others. Plantar fasciitis, for example, causes heel pain for about 10% of people and it’s a special nuisance for runners, while osteomyelitis is one of the most common types of foot infections in people with diabetes.
Even worse, your heel pain increases exponentially if you live with more than one of these conditions. This makes it even more critical to seek professional care for your heel pain than ever, but no one should accept chronic heel pain and trouble walking as normal.
When you come to see us, we ask that you bring a pair of shoes you wear often. That way, we can observe the amount of pressure on certain parts of your feet by noting the wear patterns on the shoes. We also do a deep dive into your overall medical history, as well as the timeline for your heel pain.
After evaluating your foot strength and your ability to move, we may also take X-rays to get a better idea of what’s going on with your heels and rule out a stress fracture.
Once we pinpoint the cause of your pain, we create a treatment plan designed especially for you that will be successful.
Fortunately, your South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers podiatrist offers a range of treatments to eliminate your heel pain and get you back into the swing of things again.
Depending on the source of your heel pain and its severity, they may recommend at-home treatment using the RICE method, an acronym for resting your foot, icing it, compression (like using an Ace style bandage), and elevating it.
Your podiatrist might also advise you to be treated with:
It’s more than worth it to get your heel pain treated. Perhaps it’s been so long, you can’t even remember a time when you moved about without worry. You can have that back, and we can help.
Call the South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers location that’s most convenient to you — in Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, and Belle Glade, Florida — and schedule a consultation. You can also use our convenient online booking tool to request an appointment.
