Do you have heel pain? At Family Foot and Ankle Center in Fairfax, Ashburn, Reston, and McClean VA, you can walk comfortably once again. Our seven podiatrists understand the reasons for heel pain and customize care plans to alleviate it.
The root of most heel pain in Fairfax
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) says the leading cause of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the connective tissue which runs across the arch of the foot.
Other reasons include nerve problems, arthritis, or tendonitis. Sometimes, people with plantar fasciitis may have a heel spur, a hard calcium deposit projecting off the front of the heel bone. Heel spurs are extremely painful and impede mobility.
Common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
- Pain and stiffness first thing in the morning (located on the arch and/or heel)
- Swelling of the heel
- Progression of symptoms over many weeks to months
People with plantar fasciitis often have very high arches, stand on their feet a lot for their jobs, and have weight issues. You'll want to contact your heel pain Fairfax professional right away. You can also contact our other offices in Reston, McClean, and Ashburn.
Diagnosing and treating heel pain
Your foot doctor will evaluate your heel pain in Fairfax and other locations with X-ray imaging and visual inspection of your foot. Your symptoms tell your podiatrist about your condition too.
Treating heel pain involves the application of some of the following strategies as your podiatrist deems necessary:
- Wearing custom-made shoe orthotics, or inserts, to support the arch and correct gait imbalances
- Changing shoes and refraining from going barefoot
- Icing and elevating your foot after periods of activity
- Over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen, to relieve pain and swelling
- Cortisone injections into the plantar fascia
- Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT), in-office application of sound waves which increase circulation and speed healing
- Physical therapy (morning stretching exercises)
- Night splinting
- Use of a walking cast
- Plantar fascia release (surgery may become necessary when all else fails)
Feeling better
You can manage your heel pain if you persist in the treatment outlined by your podiatrist at Family Foot and Ankle Center in Fairfax, Reston, Ashburn, and McClean VA. Call (703) 273-9818 for Fairfax, (703) 723-2719 for Reston, for McLean (703) 556-8637, and Ashburn VA, call (703) 723-9267.