Heel Pain Treatment in Rochester, NY

Heel pain, often the result of Plantar Fasciitis, can be a painful and long-lasting condition without the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Because there are multiple potential causes of heel pain, it’s important to visit Rochester Community Orthopaedics and have an honest discussion about where exactly the pain is, how severe the pain is, how often it occurs throughout the day, and any other questions you may have. If you’re struggling with heel pain in the Rochester area, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Give us a call at (585) 218-4337 or request an appointment through our secure online form. Our board-certified orthopaedic surgeons have extensive experience diagnosing the causes of heel pain and effectively treating it, and will work with you to help you find relief.

What Is Heel Pain?

Heel pain can be described as pain or discomfort around the underside or back of the heel. And although heel pain rarely is a pre-indicator of a more serious condition, it can cause great discomfort and interference to your daily lifestyle.

What Causes Heel Pain?

In addition to heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, heel pain can derive from a ruptured Achilles tendon, or it may be a result of overextending the heel at an unnatural angle, known as excessive pronation.

Here is a list of other possible causes of heel pain:

• Stress fractures
• Inflammatory joint disease
• Arthritis
• Bone tumor
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)

Another cause of heel pain is wearing unsupportive footwear when walking on hard or uneven surfaces. Sandals and slippers, for example, provide little foot support so it’s important to wear sneakers that cover the whole foot when walking on these types of surfaces.

What Are the Symptoms of Heel Pain?

Depending on the activeness of your lifestyle, you may experience the following symptoms of heel pain:

• Gradual pain over days or weeks
• Pain at the bottom of the heel
• Pain that comes when standing up
• Pain at the arch (bottom) of the foot
• Swelling of the heel

Due to the commonality of this kind of pain,  it’s important to not overreact to the pain and immediately assume it’s serious. Most of the time, there are treatments that can be purchased over the counter or with simple exercises, but it’s important to discuss with a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon to be sure.

Are Non-Surgical Treatments Available?

The key to treating heel pain is to try the simple remedies first, such as exercise, over-the-counter medication, and simple lifestyle changes. Some additional preliminary treatments include:

• Stretching exercises the foot
• Ice
• Wearing protective footwear outside (even in the backyard/front yard)
• Medication- Ibuprofen, Tylenol
• Limiting outdoor activities

If these treatments don’t work and the pain persists after a couple of weeks, then it may be time to visit the podiatrist who may recommend one of these non-surgical treatments:

• Injection therapy
• Physical therapy
• Adding pads or medical tape to protect and secure the foot in place
• Removable walking cast
• Custom orthopedic device (for day or night use)