Are You Dealing With Heel Pain?

Your heel hurts so much in the morning you dread putting your feet on the floor. However, it feels somewhat better as you get up, move around and go about your routine. What's causing your persistent heel pain? Your Plainville, Danbury, and New Milford, CT podiatrists, diagnose and treat the causes of heel pain at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Connecticut. Your feet can function well again and move you about your day comfortably.

It may be plantar fasciitis

"Plantar what?" you say? Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain among American adults. Although deep heel fissures due to dry skin or plantar warts on the bottom of the heel cause considerable discomfort too, plantar fasciitis affects at least two million Americans. Severe inflammatory pain and stiffness, particularly upon rising in the morning, are common symptoms, and bony spurs on the front of the heel bone, or calcaneus, often coincide with the inflammation.

Often the result of overuse--too much activity, standing for too long and more--plantar fasciitis responds well to rest. However, it benefits sufferers to pinpoint its exact causes so treatment works well.

Getting to the causes of heel pain

Anatomically, our feet have a broad band of connective tissue stretching from the heel bone to the base of the toes. This plantar fascia takes quite a pounding every day, particularly if a patient is active, overweight or overpronates the foot when walking. Overpronation occurs when the foot hits the ground and rolls toward the midline. Done repeatedly, overpronation stresses the connective tissue, leading to inflammation and discomfort.

At Foot & Ankle Specialists of Connecticut, your podiatrists perform complete foot exams on patients who complain of persistent heel pain. They look at the feet, have the patients walk and may perform X-rays to confirm or rule out stress fractures or heel spurs.

With a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis confirmed, the foot doctor usually prescribes very conservative treatments. Typically, surgery is unnecessary as most people improve with common sense therapies such as:

• Over the counter ibuprofen
• Rest
• Quality footwear with good arch support
• Shoe inserts (custom-made orthotics)
• Cortisone injections
• Stretching exercises and physical therapy

If you have heel pain...

Let us help. At Foot & Ankle Specialists of Connecticut, our expert podiatrists and their staff know plantar fasciitis well. They will come up with a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Call one of our three convenient offices today for a consultation. In New Milford, phone (860)355-3139. In Danbury, call (203) 748-2220, and for the Plainville office, phone us at (860) 747-2200.