Heel Pain

Heel Pain Specialists

It’s estimated that 2 million Americans experience Heel Pain Left unmanaged, Heel Pain can negatively affect your mobility and quality of life. At Eastside Podiatry PLLC in St. Clair Shores and Fraser, Michigan, board-certified podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons Hatim Burhani, DPM, FACFAS, Siraj Panchbhaiya, DPM, FACFAS, and the team specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of Heel Pain. If you regularly experience heel pain, request your appointment today by calling the office or clicking the online scheduling tool.

Heel Pain Q & A

What is Heel Pain?

Heel Pain is a common podiatric problem characterized by persistent heel pain. It occurs when your plantar fascia –– a thick band of fibrous tissue that runs from your heels to your toes –– experiences wear-and-tear as a result of daily activity such as walking, running, and climbing stairs.

Over time, these activities cause small fissures to form in the plantar fascia. These fissures become irritated and inflamed, leading to pain, discomfort, and in serious cases, immobility.

What are the symptoms of Heel Pain?

The most common symptom associated with Heel Pain is a sharp, stabbing pain in the bottom of one or both heels. Other common signs of Heel Pain include heel pain that occurs when you wake up in the morning and heel pain that gets worse after exercise, not during it. If you regularly experience heel pain and it doesn’t respond to conservative treatments like rest or over-the-counter pain medicine, make an appointment at Eastside Podiatry PLLC right away.

Who is at risk of developing Heel Pain?

Heel Pain affects people of all ages and backgrounds, but it’s especially common in athletes who participate in sports that feature running and jumping. Other factors that increase your risk of Heel Pain include:

Being middle-aged or older
Being overweight
Having flatfeet
Having a high arch
Having an abnormal gait

You’re also more likely to experience Heel Pain if you work a job that requires you to stay on your feet most of the day. Factory workers, construction workers, and teachers are especially at risk.

How is Heel Pain diagnosed?

To diagnose Heel Pain, your Eastside Podiatry PLLC provider reviews your medical history, asks you about your symptoms, and conducts a physical exam. Your doctor also checks for areas of tenderness on your foot, particularly under or around your heel. If necessary, your doctor might also order X-rays or an MRI to get a closer look at the bones, joints, and soft tissues in your feet.

How is Heel Pain treated?

At Eastside Podiatry PLLC, the providers usually recommend conservative, minimally invasive treatments such as ice, rest, and over-the-counter medications. If your pain persists or gets worse, they might recommend regenerative medicine treatment using platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP uses your body’s own growth factors and platelets to ease swelling, promote circulation, and encourage healing. If your Heel Pain is severe, surgical intervention may be necessary.

Don’t let heel pain keep you sidelined. Request your Heel Pain appointment at Eastside Podiatry PLLC today by calling the office or clicking the online scheduling tool.