The heel is the back part of the foot below the ankle. Most of us don’t really pay attention to it until we are experiencing discomfort or pain. Are you suffering from heel pain? According to the Mayo Clinic, “heel pain usually affects the underside or back of your heel. Although heel pain is rarely a symptom of a serious condition, it can interfere with your normal activities, particularly exercise”. Some typical things people do include, changing their shoes (over and over), icing the area, taking Advil, Motrin or Aleve. Other possible types of things people find themselves doing more of are rolling their foot on a golf ball, buying over the counter inserts and just hoping it all goes away. Most give up because nothing works and the other foot starts hurting.
Q&A
Have you been told you have plantar fasciitis?
Heel spurs?
Did you know that you may have neither?
What Dr. Arti C. Amin has to say…..
There are many reasons for having heel pain. First, heel spurs on the bottom of the heel do NOT hurt; it’s what causing the heel spur that hurts. Besides plantar fasciitis, you may have a condition called tarsal tunnel syndrome, which is a pinched nerve or even a partial tear of the plantar fascia or a bone bruise. There are less common conditions that affect the heel.
The Number One cause of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis. Plantar simply means the bottom of the foot. Fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia, which is the type of tissue that is inflamed. The plantar fascia originates at the heel and inserts on each toe. It helps to support the arch and the bones/joints of the foot. The inner band becomes inflamed or injured at the heel. This causes the pain. Typically, the pain is worse with the first step in the morning when you get out of bed and after sitting for a prolonged period of time.
Number two cause is tarsal tunnel syndrome. This is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome but not the same. The large nerve in the tarsal tunnel, which is located in the inner ankle area, gets pinched. This causes the heel and sometimes arch pain. This condition is usually worse as the day progresses and you’re on your feet longer.
The treatment for plantar fasciitis is opposite to tarsal tunnel syndrome.
So which condition do you have? Make an appointment today so Dr. Arti C. Amin can help you with your heel pain!
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Dr. Arti C. Amin is a board-certified Podiatrist who specializes in the conservative and surgical management of the foot and ankle, including wound management. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Biology from UC Irvine, Dr. Amin earned her podiatric medical degree from the California College of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her surgical residency training at Bellwood General Hospital and Bellflower Medical Center in Bellflower, California. She currently is a diplomat of the Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry in the treatment and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers and board qualified in Primary Podiatric Medicine and Foot and Ankle Surgery. She is also an associate professor at Western University, Pomona.
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