Many people suffer with heel pain at one time or another, but do not necessarily know how to deal with it. When you have heel pain, daily activities like walking can become difficult. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help. If you are in the Brooklyn, NY area and suffer with heel pain, Dr. Joseph Stuto, can diagnose the problem and develop a treatment plan for you.

Causes and Types of Heel Pain

Heel pain typically develops over time. It doesn’t usually occur suddenly like some other types of foot injuries, such as sprained ankles. Instead, heel pain develops gradually from repeated stress on the heel area of the foot. Stress can be caused from different types of exercise that involve a lot of pounding on the heel, like running or kickboxing. Even walking can strain the heel over time and lead to heel pain.

Two common types of heel pain are plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonosis, also called tendonitis. With plantar fasciitis, pain is felt on the bottom of the heel, whereas with achilles tendinitis, it is felt behind the heel. Plantar fasciitis can also lead to heel spurs, which are calcium deposits that build up on the bottom of the heel. If you have are experiencing any of these types of heel pain, your Brooklyn podiatrist can help.

Treating Heel Pain

There are a variety of treatment methods for dealing with heel pain, whether due to plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonosis or some other cause. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, when you are experiencing heel pain it is often best to take break from the activities that lead to your injury. For instance, if you have developed pain in the back of your heel after running regularly, you might need to stop running for a while until your heel injury heals.

In addition to resting the heel, other treatment options can include icing the affected area, performing specific stretches, the use of orthotic foot supports or shoe inserts, and wearing properly fitted shoes with adequate support. Depending on the extent of the heel injury, physical therapy might be appropriate, as well. Your podiatrist might also prescribe medications to treat heel pain, such as anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. Finally, in severe cases of heel injury, surgery is a possibility.

Whatever the cause, you do not have to continue suffering with heel pain. In the Brooklyn, NY area, call (718) 624-7537 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stuto and experience relief from your heel pain.