Heel Pain Treatment - Doctor in Kansas City, MO and Overland Park, KS

 

Heel Pain Treatment - Doctor in Kansas City, MO and Overland Park, KS - Thomas Bembynista, DPM

 

Dr. Thomas Bembynista of KC Foot Care discusses the symptoms, causes and treatments for Heel Pain.



Visit our website: http://www.kcfootcare.com

Heel Pain-- Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis

Pain is located in the center of the heel into the arch. This issue is among the most common foot conditions. It causes pain just getting up after sitting or in the a.m. With fasciitis it is very common for an x-ray to show no heel spur. Reasons For Heel Pain

We utilize the terms plantar fasciitis and heel spur interchangeably for heel type pain. There are lots of structures attached to the heel bone. The primary structures are the plantar fascia and plantar muscles. As we walk or run the arch flattens to absorb the body's weight, causing tension on the fascia and pulling away of the heel bone, triggering a bone spur. It typically takes years to develop spurs. Pain in the heel can be brought on by the bone, fascia or heel nerve.

Poor fitting shoes can intensify the pain. You should use well cushioned and helpful shoes with good lateral support.

Symptoms and signs of Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs

The pain can be centrally located in the heel or arch it can be worse in the morning and after sitting however improves as the day goes on. The pain with first steps in the morning and after rest is caused by pulling of the fascia and plantar muscles off of the heel bone. If you have pain-- without weight bearing-- that is shooting in nature, it is brought on by the nerve on the side of the heel.

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs Heel spurs are triggered by inflammation at the insertion of the plantar fascia into the heel bone. The condition can be dealt with successfully using a conservative method in 98% of the cases. Medical diagnosis consists of a physical exam and possible an x-ray, specifically if there is a history of injury. Heel pain can be minimized by using trigger point injections of a moderate steroid from the side of the foot with a cold spray to numb the skin to considerably minimize the pain from the injection. Normally, treatment requires 1 to 3 office sees for evaluation and injections. If nerve pain is present that triggers shooting pain at rest, this can be treated with dehydrated alcohol injections to ruin the painful section of the nerve.

As we begin treatment it's essential to support the arch with an OTC arch support, covering the arch with multiple-use covers or coban. When treating long term, Custom Orthotics are typically the best choice. They are constructed from a flexible plastic material and can made to fit both health club and dress shoes.

If heel pain is intolerable or continues after conservative treatment, new treatments are offered-- PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections or Shockwave Therapy. Surgery today is rare but, if needed after all treatments, it is usually effective.

It causes pain simply getting up after sitting or in the a.m. With fasciitis it is very typical for an x-ray to reveal no heel spur. Pain in the heel can be triggered by the bone, fascia or heel nerve.

The pain with very first actions in the early morning and after rest is caused by pulling of the fascia and plantar muscles off of the heel bone. Heel spurs are triggered by swelling at the insertion of the plantar fascia into the heel bone. Heel pain can be decreased by using trigger point injections of a mild steroid from the side of the foot with a cold spray to numb the skin to considerably decrease the pain from the injection.