A painful heel can be a complicated and troublesome issue. Whenever we experience pain in our feet or ankles, it can lead to frustration. The best thing to do is to see a podiatrist Scottsdale for a proper diagnosis to know what treatment options are best to find you the relief you need.

Causes of Heel Pain

There are actually a few different causes to heel pain. These include pain at the bottom of the heel known as plantar fasciitis, pain in the back of the heel known as Achilles tendinitis, or an Achilles tendon rupture.

Plantar fasciitis is the irritation and injury to the plantar fascia, the thick band of connective tissues that travels along the bottom of your foot and stretches between the toes and heels as you put weight on it. Symptoms include a stabbing or painful sensation in the heel or along the foot that worsens over time. The pain is often times worse in the morning. Common causes on plantar fasciitis include repetitive stress, excessive tension, inflammation, or irritation.

Injuries to the Achilles tendon, which is the largest tendon in the body that stretches from your calf to the heel bone, can be very painful. This tendon can rupture, causing excruciating pain or inflammation of the tendon. The cause of these injuries are from overuse, stress from certain shoes (like high heels) and lack of stretching before exercise. If untreated,  it could produce even more micro tears and worsen over time.

Treatment Options for Heel Pain

To find relief from plantar fasciitis, always start by resting the area and applying ice to the painful area. The next step is to visit a plantar fasciitis doctor Scottsdale to find the best treatment option for you. Some anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed to help deal with the pain or you might have to wear special orthotics to help with the irritation, or even wear a splint to prevent the pain from worsening. Physical therapy is also an effective treatment that is encouraged. Severe plantar fasciitis cases will indeed require surgery to help restore the natural movement of the foot and receive relief from the pain. Remember though, surgery is a risky treatment option that will usually require you to keep off of your feet for a few weeks. This is where regenerative medicine might be the best treatment option. For faster recovery, regenerative medicine can treat intense foot and ankle pain, including heel pain such as injuries to the Achilles tendon. Regenerative medicine also tends to be more affordable and comes with less recovery time. Also, some patients who undergo traditional surgery can see the condition come back after time, whereas with regenerative medicine, the condition is less likely to reoccur. Such treatment options such as stem cell therapy are simple procedures that will produce cartilage, helping to relieve pain and discomfort. Shockwave Therapy is a quick regenerative medicine treatment, with each session taking only about 5 to 10 minutes. Minimal maintenance is needed after shockwave therapy and the recovery time is much faster than other treatment methods. There are virtually no risks or side effects with shockwave therapy and the results are seen immediately. In fact, over 80 percent of patients have reported being pain-free after just 4 weeks. PRP injection is another popular form of regenerative medicine and is popular for heel injuries. This promotes natural healing of the tissue and is a much easier process than surgery, delivering remarkable results.

Foot and Ankle Center of Arizona

The Arizona Foot and Ankle Center offers a variety of surgical as well as regenerative medicine and non-surgical options for foot and ankle pain. We are home to the highly trained and experienced Dr. Kris DiNucci, who delivers exceptional patient care and treatment options. Our entire staff is friendly, efficient and strives to deliver only the best results for each patient. If you are suffering from foot or ankle pain, schedule an evaluation with the Arizona Foot and Ankle Center today.