Is Heel Pain An Epidemic?

We treat a lot of heel pain in our four offices, and it's obviously a diverse enough topic for us to dedicate an entire, weekly blog to it.
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
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook.

Related articles

• Botox Found To Help Plantar Fasciitis
• Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment

Bursitis and Heel Pain

A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that forms in areas of extra rubbing and friction. They are usually present with a bone deformity as the bone is pressed against other structures like a tendon or against the ground as you walk. The bursa acts like a shock absorber and is a way for your body to protect you from damage. When this bursa or sac-like structure becomes swollen and inflamed it is called bursitis. The bursa may have an anatomical meaning normally present, or it may be adventitious meaning, only present because of a problem. Many bursa are present and do not cause pain.

Symptoms of bursitis usually occur after rest and relaxation. Upon activity there is usually more intense pain in the area of the bursa. The common areas to have bursitis in the foot are in the bottom of the heel, behind the heel near the attachment of the Achilles tendon as well as along the side of a bunion. A bursa may also form in multiple areas, especially along the metatarsal heads, or "ball" of your foot. You may actually feel the sac-like fluid when rubbing the area of pain.
Causes of bursitis can be any kind of friction between bone and soft tissue. The most common cause is due to abnormal pronation.
Prevention can be accomplished by controlling your foot structure with good supportive shoes or arch supports. Pay attention to early signs of friction like blister formation. This tells you where the areas that are more likely to cause a bursa to form and subsequently bursitis.
Diagnosis is first by clinical suspicion of symptoms. This can be mistaken for gout or infection, especially in the big toe region. A diagnosis of bursitis is usually used in combination of the underlying cause, for instance a bunion deformity, Haglund's Deformity, or Heel Spur Syndrome. Many times the cause needs to be addressed to rid the problem of bursitis.
Podiatric care may include using an anti-inflammatory oral medication or an injection of medication and local anesthetic to reduce the swelling in the bursa. An injection may be used for both the diagnosis and treatment. When you go to your doctor, x-rays are usually required to evaluate the structure of your foot and ankle to ensure no other problems exist in this area. They may advise you on different shoewear or prescribe a custom-made orthotic to try and control the foot structure, especially if you have excessive pronation. Sometimes patients are sent to physical therapy for treatment as well. To aid in relief of pressure points, some simple padding techniques can be utilized. Most all patients respond to these conservative measures once the area of irritation is removed.
Surgery is rarely done strictly for treatment of a bursitis. If any underlying cause is the reason, this may be addressed surgically. During the surgery for other conditions, the bursa may be seen and removed surgically.
If you are having pain because of a bursa or heel pain, and do not currently see a podiatrist, 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
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• Causes of Heel Pain

  ---