Do you walk, run, hike, jump – or simply stand a lot through your day, especially on concrete, pavement, and other hard surfaces? Do you have pain in your heel, and possibly reaching forward into your arch? Do you find it most noticeable when you start your day, or when you rise after you’ve been sitting for a while? The most common cause is plantar fasciitis, a common repetitive stress injury.
Symptoms start slowly, with mild aches or twinges. But they can develop over time and become more severe, stabbing pains making exercise or even walking painful. If you over-pronate – that is, if your ankle turns inward and downward as you walk – that can affect it, too. It is also known to become more common with age, usually affecting those between 40 and 60.
In fact, about 80% of all heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis. Sometimes more severe causes are involved, but odds are good that your painful foot and arch will respond to some simple treatments.
On the other hand, a heel spur won’t necessarily cause you pain unless it’s prominent beneath your foot. Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis can occur alone or be related to another issue. Treatments for heel spurs can include exercise, orthotics, medications, and cortisone injections. Heel spurs are permanent unless treated and if conservative treatments fail, surgery may be necessary.
If you’re not seeing significant improvement, call on the experts at Minor & James Podiatry. Our doctors have the experience you need to treat your plantar fasciitis or heel spur with a treatment that is tailor-fit to your personal needs so that you can get your life back on track.
