Heel Pain

Heel pain can start suddenly and might be so disruptive that you can’t walk comfortably. At Advanced Foot & Ankle in Denton, Texas, leading local podiatrist Dr. Jaret Walker, DPM, offers heel pain relief. He strongly focuses on the most conservative strategies initially before surgery is even contemplated. To find out how innovative treatments can effectively stop heel pain, call the office or request an appointment online today.  

What causes heel pain?

Your heel pain might occur for several reasons, such as:

• Plantar fasciitis: inflammation in the tissue band on the bottom of the foot
• Heel spurs: on the back of your heel
• Peripheral neuropathy: nerve damage, usually related to diabetes or a lower back issue
• Fractures or stress fractures within the calcaneus (heel bone)
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome: nerve compression in the ankle
• Achilles tendonitis: inflammation of the tendon running along the back of the heel
• Short Achilles tendon:  a leading cause of non-traumatic foot and ankle injuries
• Skin conditions:  foreign bodies, calluses, or intractable plantar keratosis
• Inflammatory diseases

How is heel pain diagnosed?

At Advanced Foot & Ankle, Dr. Jaret Walker completes a full podiatric exam of your foot. During your physical exam, Dr. Jaret Walker may palpate different aspects of your foot and ankle to determine the focal point of the pain.  He may also perform range of motion testing on your foot and ankle.  

He also asks about your symptoms and lifestyle habits in detail. Conditions like plantar fasciitis have specific characteristics (for example, heel pain that’s most severe first thing in the morning and fades after you walk around for a while), so be as detailed as possible when you talk about your pain. 

You may need diagnostic studies like X-rays, which can done comfortably and quickly in the office.  This allows Dr. Jaret Walker to view the bones and joints in your foot to help determine the proper diagnosis.  If Dr. Jaret Walker suspects nerve involvement, for example, he may recommend nerve conduction studies as well.

What is the best treatment for heel pain?

Dr. Jaret Walker strongly recommends conservative, nonsurgical treatments whenever possible. Fortunately, with a combination of traditional techniques and advanced new treatments, most heel pain improves dramatically without surgery.

A few of the most common approaches to treat the most common type of heel pain, plantar fasciitis, are arch supports, ice, prescribed exercises, oral or injected steroids, and temporary activity modifications. 

Seek help for your heel pain by calling or requesting an appointment at Advanced Foot & Ankle in Denton, Texas today.