Heel pain accounts for up to 15% of all foot problems and affects around 2 million people every year. The level of heel pain can vary from mild to debilitating, and because there are so many potential causes, it’s important to get the pain checked and treated by a professional before it becomes chronic. At PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas, Eric Blanson, DPM, helps patients reduce their pain and get back to their everyday lives. If you suffer from heel pain, call the office or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
Request an AppointmentWhat causes heel pain?
Heel pain may result from an injury, a chronic disease like arthritis, overuse, nerve irritation, and in rare instances, cysts.
The majority of heel pain comes from plantar fasciitis. Your plantar fascia is a band of tissue that extends from your heel to your toes.
Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative condition in which repetitive micro-tears in this band of tissue interfere with your body’s ability to repair itself, resulting in inflammation and pain.
How do you diagnose heel pain?
Your provider at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic performs a physical exam to assess the exact location of your pain and determine its severity. During the exam, your provider asks questions about symptoms you may experience and checks your:
- Reflexes
- Muscle tone
- Sensitivity to touch
- Balance
- Coordination
Your provider may also order additional imaging tests like an X-ray to determine if you have an injury or any other potential causes of heel pain.
How do you treat heel pain?
Treatments at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic always start with more conservative options, with the aim to reduce inflammation and address the underlying cause of your pain.
If your heel pain is due to nerve damage, your provider can suggest treatments to decompress the nerve, which reduces inflammation and pain. If your heel pain is due to plantar fasciitis, your provider can suggest a regimen of stretching in combination with orthotics to reduce pain.
If conservative treatments like stretching, more comfortable shoes, or orthotics don’t reduce your pain levels, the practice also offers:
Stem cell treatment
Your provider uses targeted injections to deliver concentrated doses of stem cells directly into the affected area. As your body’s most basic building block, stem cells have the ability to become any type of specialized cell your body requires. When they’re injected into your heel, stem cells promote tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment
In PRP therapy, your provider draws a small amount of your blood and runs it through a centrifuge machine to separate the protein-rich platelets from other blood components. The platelet-rich solution is injected back into targeted areas of your foot to promote cellular regeneration and pain relief.
Laser therapy
Your provider uses laser light therapy as a noninvasive, painless treatment to accelerate the speed and quality of tissue repair while reducing inflammation.
To learn more about the various innovative treatments for heel pain available at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic, call the office or use the online booking tool to make an appointment.