Experiencing Heel Pain Houston?

If your first steps in the morning are of stabbing heel pain Houston then it might be plantar fasciitis. This is the inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue connecting the heel to the toes. Heel pain can cause walking to feel impossible. With the best foot doctor for plantar fasciitis, the condition is resolved within several months. However, when you are in pain it can be overwhelming to determine the next course of action.

If you experience numbness in the heel or if you experience heel pain in Houston even when resting you need to see a podiatrist. A foot doctor or podiatric specialist specifically deals with the bones, muscles, tissues, and joints of the feet.  A podiatrist with experience can quickly recommend treatments that will help with the condition. Although plantar fasciitis can be treated at home effectively, knowing that medical interventions are readily available is an important step.

Repeated strain to the ligament that supports the arch causes it to have tiny tears leading to swelling and pain. Other causes of plantar fasciitis include:

• Excessive rolling of the feet inward when walking.
• If you have flat feet or high arches.
• Overweight is another reason.
• If the footwear is worn out or does not fit well.
• If you have tight calf muscles and Achilles tendons.
• Standing, walking, or running for long on hard surfaces.

Plantar fasciitis pain is vivid with the first steps you take in the morning but it seems to get better after a few steps. Later in the day, that foot might hurt more especially as you climb the stairs or if you have been standing for a long time. If the foot pain continues at night, it means that it is a different problem affecting the feet.

Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis

A podiatrist will first observe your feet as you stand and walk and ask questions. Then take the history of your past health injuries and illnesses and enquire about what time of the day you experience pain? Where does the pain hurt most? Does it pain when you are active or resting? What types of activity do you engage in daily? An X-ray may be recommended to rule out other conditions such as stress fracture.

Different treatments work for different people, so the best thing is to rest and cut back on activities that hurt your foot. If possible keep your feet off hard surfaces that you run, stand, or walk on. Reduce pain and swelling by taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Put ice on the heel.

Therapy Treatment

This strengthens and stretches the foot to relieve symptoms.

This is a non-intrusive therapy, it is a series of exercises used to stretch the tendon and the plantar fascia to strengthen the muscles. A therapist teaches one to apply athletic taping to support the bottom of the foot.

Night splints and used to stretch the arch and calf of the foot while you sleep. The splint holds the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in a lengthened position overnight.

Orthotics can be custom made or off the shelf. They are used to distribute the pressure to the feet more evenly.