But is heel pain an epidemic? Diabetes is certainly an epidemic, but heel pain?
Past president of the American Podiatric Medical Association Michael King, who practices in Fall Rivers, Massachusetts, argues that it is, saying that he "sees 18 to 20 patients a day with plantar fasciitis. Heel pain is epidemic." As for a number of how many people who have this condition he can only guess. "Some people just tolerate the pain and try to get by."
Think about it: if you've had heel pain in the past, how have you dealt with it? Have you immediately made an appointment with a podiatrist, or have you said to yourself, "Well, I'll wait and see if this gets better. It's not that bad right now."?
We've blogged a lot lately about athletes who have had multiple, recurrent cases of plantar fasciitis and heel pain. Joakim Noah has been in and out of basketball, Pau Gasol tried to ignore it and he ended up tearing his plantar fascia, and Albert Pujols has been suffering for seven years. Seven years!!!
What frustrates podiatrists most about heel pain and plantar fasciitis is that it can be completely preventable when you take care of your feet and see a doctor right away. Who really wants to wake up in the morning and not be able to get out of bed because they can't move their feet?
One of the culprits of heel pain is the flip-flop, the podiatrist's nemesis. "Flip-flops seem to be a major source of foot pain. People walk into the office wearing shoes that they should have replaced months ago," says podiatrist Elizabeth Kurtz, who practices in Chicago.
King sees it too. "I see a lot of people with pain in the fall because they've been wearing cheap flip-flops all summer," he says.
Heel pain doesn't just affect those who don't wear proper footwear. Runners and walkers are often hit with heel pain if they've recently increased their mileage or pace. It also appears in middle-aged people who live sedentary lives and have a little extra weight.
If you've tried over the counter products, you'll find that they only provide temporary relief. Some will purchase heel cushions to try to ease the pain, but the source of the pain isn't actually from the heel- it's from the arch. Orthotics, whether over the counter or custom made by a podiatrist, will be the best fix for your heel pain, as they will ease the pain.
When looking to recover from heel pain, remember that it's going to take longer than a week. The damage that created the pain took longer than a week to develop, so it will likely take several weeks up to several months. Don't go barefoot and don't wear flimsy shoes, especially flip-flops. Our Bristol office offers shockwave therapy, which can reduce the inflammation and pain. Traditionally shockwave therapy has been used to break up kidney stones.
Reference: LA Times.
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
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