Popular Treatment Options for Your Chronic Heel Pain

A variety of problems may cause chronic heel pain. However, the most prevalent ailment affecting millions of individuals and is the root cause of many heel pain cases is Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is often caused by misuse of your feet, specifically the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue in the foot. Because this band of tissue is so essential for balance and weight support, straining it can cause significant disabling injury.

Fortunately, there are numerous effective treatments available, both at home and from a podiatrist.

Here are six common treatments for your condition. If they don’t work, contact one of the heel pain specialists for help as soon as possible.

1. Rest

Resting as much as possible is the best thing you can do for your heel discomfort. Plantar Fasciitis is a foot condition caused by overuse. Sports, running, walking, or even typical daily use in inappropriate footwear can all cause your plantar fascia to become inflamed. Resting allows your body to focus on mending rather than using the tendon, which means you'll be able to resume your favorite activities without discomfort shortly.

2. Stretch Your Feet

Stretching your muscles and tendons increases blood flow to the stretched areas. Blood flow is crucial to injury recovery because it transports oxygen and nutrients to the injured area. Here are two stretches to help with heel pain:

- Wrap a towel around yourself as if you were wringing it out, holding the two long ends. Place the towel in the middle of your arch, and draw the ends while pushing down with your foot as if you were tightening your shoelaces. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds, then repeat thrice for each foot.

- Fold one leg over the other while sitting so you can sit up straight and reach your big toe with your arm. Take your big toe and slowly pull it towards you until you feel a strain. Hold for 15-30 seconds before repeating three times with each foot. 

3. Ice to Reduce Inflammation

Icing any inflammatory joint, tendon, or muscle reduces swelling and allows the blood vessels to absorb more oxygen and nutrients. You can ice your plantar fascia by elevating your foot and taping a cold pack to the bottom of your foot. Alternatively, you may freeze a plastic water bottle and roll your foot out on it to massage and ice your foot at the same time.

4. Use Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter pain medicines will not cure your heel pain, but they can be useful for lowering pain during the day. If over-the-counter pain relievers do not provide adequate relief, your NYC foot doctor can prescribe NSAIDs.

5. Shoe Inserts

If you have shoe inserts from Superfeet, Dr. Scholl's, or another brand, they may help relieve strain on your plantar fascia. However, these are unlikely to be tailored to your specific foot form. We can deliver custom-fitting orthotics that support your plantar fascia and provide immediate relief at To Healthy Feet Podiatry.

6. Avoid Painful Shoes

While it may be tempting to put on those beautiful high heels or nice-looking dress shoes for a night out, these could be quite harmful if you have plantar fasciitis. Wear appropriately sized, comfortable footwear whenever feasible.

Furthermore, many believe walking barefoot is a fantastic approach to encourage healthy feet. This can be true when walking barefoot on soft surfaces. However, avoid walking barefoot on rough surfaces, which might be more harmful than beneficial.

What Can a Podiatrist Do To Help?

While you can use some of these at-home remedies, only a podiatrist can provide precise treatments. If none of the above home cures relieve your heel pain, make an appointment with your foot doctor, who can provide the following treatments to alleviate your pain:

• Tenex


• Physical therapy


• Splinting


• Custom orthotics


• Steroid injections


• NSAIDs medication


• Surgery