Displaying items by tag: Heel pain

Pain in the arch of the foot is quite common. Adults and kids are equally prone to pain here. In kids, flat feet are most often the foot type that causes arch pain; in adults, high arches can also be the culprit.

Arch pain can occur because of an injury, but most often that isn’t the cause. Having a job that involves standing all day can predispose you to pain in this part of the foot. The symptoms of arch pain can be aching, sharpness, cramping, or throbbing sensations.  

There are several causes of arch pain, but three of the most common are:

Tendinitis

There are a few tendons that attach to bones near the arch of the foot. One of them can get strained, causing pain with every step. 

Someone with flat arches (flatfeet) is more prone to straining one of these tendons. The pain can occur in the arch or bottom of the foot, the inside of the ankle, or the top of the foot.

Pinched Nerve

Just like Carpal Tunnel in the hand, a nerve in the foot can get pinched, causing pain in the arch. The term is Tarsal Tunnel. The nerve gets pinched just below the ankle but the pain can radiate to the arch.

The symptoms of a pinched nerve are sharpness, aching, cramping, or pins and needles. Pain from a pinched nerve can be bothersome even when sitting or lying down, unlike pain from a tendon, ligament, or bone.

Plantar Fasciitis

This condition is much more common in the heel but can occur in the arch. A person with a low or high arch can strain the plantar fascia. Usually, the pain is very localized to the arch as opposed to the other two conditions noted here.

A lump can develop in the arch, causing pain from walking barefoot or wearing certain shoes. This is known as a Plantar Fibroma. It’s a form of a tumor but not serious. Any lump on the foot should be checked for the possibility of something more serious than a benign lesion.

If you have pain in your arch(es), start by making sure your shoes have good support. If shoes make your arch hurt more, it could be a sign of a pinched nerve or a torn tendon. Like most other foot conditions, temporarily avoid jogging and jumping to allow the foot to rest. Ice and an anti-inflammatory can help. A soft, inexpensive store-bought insert may relieve some of the pain. Also, being barefoot on a hard surface isn’t recommended.

As always, if your arch hurts for more than a couple of weeks, having us evaluate it is in your best interest. We’ve discovered tears, broken bones, and tumors that could have caused long-term suffering had the patient waited too long. Long-standing pain in the arch of the foot can be difficult to relieve. In some cases, we’ve had to resort to a cast or surgery. 

It’s common to try a new or different pair of shoes if your arch(es) hurt. However, don’t fall into the trap of buying multiple pairs if the first couple don’t help. We’re astonished how much money some people will spend on shoes, inserts or other home remedies before seeking medical attention. It’s usually cheaper and faster to have us get the solution you need. 

Arch pain can slow you down if you let it. Since there are many possible causes, the sooner you have a specialist address it, the faster you can get back to doing what you enjoy without the pain.

We are here to help you get fast relief and avoid surgery.

Facts about Conservative/Nonsurgical Treatment of heel pain and plantar fasciitis

• Avoid going barefoot. When walking without shoes, you will put pressure and strain to your feet and especially to the plantar fascia as well as you can create inflammation to the heel bone.
• Limit activities. It is important to limit your activities so that you can give your feet a rest and be able to heal.
• Do stretching exercises. Stretching exercises will help and also decrease pain to the area.
• Ice your foot. Icing will help calm down the inflammation. Place a thin towel on your foot and then apply an ice pack for 15 minutes. Do not apply the ice pack directly on the skin to avoid injury.
• Wear Supportive Shoe. When you wear a supportive shoe it will help support the foot. It is important to wear an arch support to avoid strain to the plantar fascia.
• Heel lift. Wearing a heel lift will decrease the strain on the plantar fascia.
• Anti-inflammatory medications. Anti-inflammatory medication will help decrease pain and inflammation.
• Custom Made orthotics. Since custom made orthotics are specifically made for your foot type, they are the best type of support for your feet. They fit into your shoes and will help correct the underlying structural deformity causing your plantar fasciitis.
• Padding, taping and strapping. Padding into your shoe will decrease the amount of pressure to the heel while walking. Taping and strapping will help with supporting of the foot and decrease the strain on the plantar fascia. They can be uses until you obtain proper arch supports or orthotics.
• Cortisone injection therapy. Cortisone injections are considered to help decrease pain and inflammation.
• Night splint. A night splint when properly worn, can help stretch the plantar fascia and decrease pain to your feet.
• CAM walker. A CAM walker can be used to immobilize the foot for a few weeks. It will avoid unnecessary stain and motion to the foot which will allow it to rest and heel faster.
• Laser Pain therapy. It is used to help decrease pain and inflammation. It is noninvasive, nonpainful and quick 10minute treatment. A series of treatments is usually needed, about 6 sessions.
• Regenerative injection therapy. Regenerative therapy treatment will stimulate the connective tissue’s ability to heal and also regenerate the plantar fascia.
• Physical therapy. Physical therapy can also be used to help decrease pain and inflammation.

Ever wonder why your pain fluctuates from very little to intense but never goes away?   How many times have we had a sore foot, and after a few days of rest, the pain went away?

But, sometimes the pain lingers.  It is almost like a pendulum swinging back and forth.  Right when you think, “I’m going to make an appointment to see the doctor, “ it starts to feel better and you decide to wait it out.   You let the process continue and before you know it, it has been 6 months or a year with a nagging, maybe not horrible, but annoying pain. 

Treating chronic issues are different than treating acute injuries.  Usually, rest is simply not enough.  Even medications lose their ability to help with the pain. 

Heel pain is a great example.   Plantar Fasciitis is a common problem that many people suffer from.  Most of the time, we can treat people quickly and get them pain free in a matter of days or weeks.  Luckily, we have some of the best tools to diagnose and treat pain.  The right formula for pain free feet is different for everyone.

Some people need orthotics because their foot structure is causing re-injury.  Some people need stem cells because their body isn’t providing them with the right tools for healing.   Some people need steroid injections to help with the healing process.  A few people may need to have surgery.   There are usually options when treating your chronic pain, but more rest is not going help.

You could be doing more damage by waiting it out.  If you have been having pain for more than two weeks, you need to make sure your injury is not more severe.  Like anything else, the sooner you attack a problem, the easier and faster it is to solve.