Treating Chronic Heel Pain at Compleet Feet

Treating chronic heel pain at Compleet Feet is something we are very good at. It is one of the most common presenting foot conditions in our clinic. Heel pain is often lumped together with plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a misused term to encompass all conditions occurring around the heel and arch. It can be used incorrectly. There are many etiological causes for heel pain such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, bone oedema or a cyst.

Treating chronic heel pain at Compleet Feet

Atrophy, thinning or damage of the heel fat pad can result in chronic heal pain.

It is the job of the podiatrist to work out what the cause may be. It is important to understand the cause of the heel pain before deciding on a treatment plan. An in-depth examination is undertaken called a biomechanical assessment. The foot structure and anatomy are examined in relation to the ankle and lower limb. The positioning and function of the foot is observed on sitting, standing and during gait. Does it fit into average parameters of alignment and movement or not? It takes a trained eye to observe often the smallest and most subtle of variations. Podiatrists can observe what other health professionals miss.

Developing heel pain can have a sudden onset or be insidious. It normally has an insidious onset whereby a structural misalignment of the foot has led to poor mechanical functioning. If structures are put under repetitive strain for a long period of time something inevitably ‘gives’. Often there is a trigger. The foot can no longer compensate for a mechanical issue. I have frequently observed individuals come back from a holiday with heel pain. Swapping their firmer shoes for flat sandals was the last straw.

Heel Pain Treatments

• Rest and ice
• Non- steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
• Supportive and corrective insoles and orthotics
• Tapping heel
• Heel lift
• Changing footwear 
• Stretching and massaging the sole of the foot
• Leg and foot exercises

• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

• Low level laser therapy (3LT)
• Ultrasound
• Hydrocortisone injections (last measures)
• Surgery (avoid)

Prognosis For Chronic Heel Pain

Heel pain is self-limiting. It can slowly resolve if treated correctly or exacerbate to the point of constant pain on walking and resting. It can persist for months or years. When eventually the right course of treatment is prescribed it can often take months to slowly resolve. Often patients give up. Feel their orthotics are not working, then suddenly they notice less heel pain in the morning and on standing. The danger is, patients then discard their orthotics soon after and sensible footwear like Joyas Soon the heel pain winds itself up again. Heel pain often occurs for a reason. If that reason is due to lowering of the foot’s arches, symptoms will slowly return without orthotic support.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy NICE Recommended Heel Pain Treatment

One of Compleet Feet’s most effective treatments for treating recalcitrant heel pain is extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). Using a device which delivers loud audible mechanical low frequency shockwaves into the painful heel area,  healing is stimulated. Often heel pain persists because of a plateaux in the healing process. A stagnation effect, whereby the presenting pain and dysfunctional tissue pathology becomes the norm.

Shockwave therapy is effectively used at Compleet Feet for chronic heel pain

ESWT creates inflammation. Inflammation is required in the case of heal pain to trigger a healing cascade process. There is an increased in circulation and break down of scar tissue and abnormal calcification.

ESWT  delivers an analgesic effect on painful heels. This pain relief allows patients to weightbear more normally to help restore normal foot function. Heel pain often occurs because of compensatory abnormal weightbearing. This exacerbates the problem; a common etiological reason for plantar fasciitis. Shockwave therapy can be combined with low level laser therapy for optimal pain relief.

A podiatrist will be able to determine what the etiological factors are for recalcitrant heel pain. Our chosen social media site: Fasciitis Fighter

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MelanieS-157L