Heel and arch pain

50 CENTERS FOR HEEL PAIN

Our podiatric doctors are specialized in the effective treatment of heel pain. Heel or arch pain is the most common issue we treat in our office, and we have become a referral center for treating the most challenging and persistent cases of heel pain. We are typically able to help patients who have already consulted many other practitioners.

Treatment Goals — Rapid Pain Relief and Prevention of Symptom Recurrence

Our goal in treating your heel or arch pain is to relieve your pain as quickly as possible and prevent the issue from returning. There are many underlying causes of heel and arch pain. We first assess the cause of your pain and then develop a treatment plan so that you can return to your daily activities as soon as possible. When this type of condition is treated properly, surgery is almost never necessary.

How long does recovery take?

The most common cause of heel and arch pain is plantar fasciitis. We find that plantar fasciitis is often not treated properly (or treated insufficiently), leading to a problem that lasts for months or even years longer than expected. When treated properly, most patients experience pain relief within a few weeks. To achieve faster relief, we will develop a treatment plan designed to address the cause of the pain in your feet. The earlier treatment begins, the easier it is to address the condition. If you are experiencing heel or arch pain, schedule an appointment today to come see us.

What is involved in the treatment?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the foot flattens too much, leading to an elongation of the arch and high tension in the plantar fascia. Our first mission is to reduce the feeling of tension in the plantar fascia. If we don’t do this, the treatment will likely fail.

Step #1 — Decrease tension in the plantar fascia. This could include:

Ensure that you wear appropriate shoes (bring sample shoes with you to your appointment)
Use prefabricated or custom orthotics to support the arch
Use special tape or a walking boot to allow the painful area to rest for a few weeks

Step #2 — Reduce inflammation and pain. This could include:

Ice
Anti-inflammatory medications
Steroid injections
Physical therapy

Step #3 — Prevent recurrence with custom or over-the-counter orthotics.

How should orthotics be made to better relieve arch and heel pain?

Through studies conducted in 2001 and 2006, researchers concluded that custom orthotics and night splints were effective both in the short term and long term for treating plantar fasciitis pain, stating that “…custom orthotics are the best choice for the initial treatment of plantar fasciitis.1-3” Other studies have shown how to prescribe orthotics so that they work better for relieving heel and arch pain. A sophisticated study in 1997 conclusively demonstrated that orthotics must be prescribed with very precise alignment for optimal results.

The orthotics must fit closely to the arch of the foot.

It is essential to support the arch and prevent it from collapsing. If the arch continues to collapse, you will still experience tension in the plantar fascia, and pain is likely to occur. Several studies have shown that the most effective way to achieve this is by using custom-made orthotics that fit very well to the arch of the foot. This is known as a high-adherence orthotic. Many orthotics (if not most orthotics) fail to completely eliminate the problem because they do not adhere properly to the arch. This allows the foot to flatten and increases tension in the plantar fascia. Many patients visit our office with custom orthotics that simply do not provide enough support to heal plantar fasciitis.

Guaranteed comfort

Our doctors are specialized in prescribing, molding, and troubleshooting all types of orthotics, including high-adhesion orthotics. The comfort of your orthotics is guaranteed 100%.

Prefabricated orthotics

While custom orthotics, if properly made, work most effectively to reduce tension in the plantar fascia, not all patients require custom orthotics for pain relief. A prefabricated arch support will work for many patients. We will help you choose the solution that works best for you.

Non-invasive treatment for chronic heel pain.

For cases of plantar fasciitis that do not respond to our standard treatments, we have two options to help you avoid surgery:

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous approach for treating plantar fasciitis (or “dry needling”): This intervention has a success rate of about 95% for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. It involves numbing your foot to irritate the plantar fascia, causing minor bleeding that promotes healing.
Shockwave therapy: This is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment option for intense and persistent heel pain associated with chronic plantar fasciitis.

Is surgery necessary?

There are rare cases of plantar fasciitis that do not respond to conservative treatment. If surgery becomes necessary, we will provide you with state-of-the-art, comprehensive care. However, you should always try conservative treatment for at least 6 months to allow it to work effectively. Conservative treatment should include several of the following elements: physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, exercises, shoe recommendations, pre-fabricated foot supports, and high-quality custom orthotics.

Other causes of heel and arch pain include arthritis, infection, fractures, sprains, and even certain systemic diseases. Due to the multiple possible causes, you should consult your Podiatrist for a thorough evaluation if you experience pain in your heel or arch.

To relieve your heel or arch pain as soon as possible, schedule an appointment today to see us. For more information on the causes and treatment of plantar fasciitis, continue reading below.

MORE INFORMATION ON PLANTAR FASCIITIS

The most common cause of heel and arch pain is a condition called “plantar fasciitis.” This is an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs along the arch of the foot, from the heel to the toes, and helps stabilize your arch during walking and running. Symptoms affect two areas: the arch of the foot and, more commonly, the inner heel area. This can lead to intense pain, especially in the morning when you first get up. Common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

Pain in the morning when you get out of bed
Pain and stiffness when you begin walking after sitting for a while
Increased heel or arch pain toward the end of the day
Tired feet by the end of the day

WHAT CAUSES PLANTAR FASCIITIS?

Heel and arch pain is usually the result of a biomechanical defect (gait abnormalities) that puts too much strain on the heel bone and the surrounding soft tissues. This increased tension causes localized inflammation and pain. The most common cause of this increased tension is a condition known as “overpronation,” which means that the foot deviates inward when you walk. As the feet roll inward, the arch of the foot elongates. When the arch elongates, it causes an increase in tension in the plantar fascia.

HOW IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS TREATED?

At Dr. George Bochi’s Podiatric Clinic, we are qualified for the treatment plantar fasciitis and other causes of heel and arch pain. This is the most common complaint among our clinic patients, and we find that more than 99% of the time, this condition responds well to our specialized treatment program. Surgery is almost never necessary.
Our treatment program focuses on two main aspects:

We want to relieve your pain and allow you to participate in the activities you love. To achieve this, we aim to reduce the inflammation causing your pain. This may include exercises, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, heel cups, arch supports, custom orthotics, or others.

Most importantly, we will find the underlying cause of your condition and design a personalized treatment plan to provide short-term relief and prevent the pain from returning. We will assess your feet, gait, shoes, activities, exercise methods, and any other relevant information to help us develop a treatment plan.

CUSTOM ORTHOTICS:

In the most stubborn cases of plantar fasciitis, custom orthotics may be prescribed. Research indicates that cases of mechanical heel and arch pain respond more effectively to treatment with high-quality prescribed orthotics.

Orthotics for plantar fasciitis are specifically prescribed to help relieve pressure from the plantar fascia. To ensure the best results, we first conduct a thorough examination, including a video gait analysis to observe how you walk and how your big toe joint behaves. A mold of your foot is then made in a very precise position, and the orthotics are prescribed to ensure optimal function of your feet.

Our podiatrists are trained in orthopedic treatment. We take great pride in offering our patients the best possible orthotics tailored to their specific issue. The quality of orthotics can vary significantly and depends on many factors. We guarantee our patients that their orthotics are of the highest quality and biomechanically correct.

Other causes of heel and arch pain include arthritis, infection, fractures, sprains, and even certain systemic diseases. Due to the multiple possible causes, you should consult your podiatrist for a thorough evaluation if you are experiencing heel or arch pain.

You don’t have to live with heel or arch pain. Call today to schedule an appointment at our podiatric clinic.