Know when it’s time to visit a medical professional regarding your heel pain.
When it comes to heel pain, if you’re dealing with minor symptoms then chances are fairly good that you’ll be able to tackle them all on your own by resting your feet as much as possible, and avoiding activities that could make the problem worse; however, if your heel pain is severe or isn’t responding to home care then it’s time to turn to our Tyler, TX, podiatrist Dr. James Kent.
Here are some ways a podiatrist can treat your heel pain,
Custom Orthotics
Some people are more prone to heel pain than others. Blame the type of athletic activity you’re involved in or blame faulty foot mechanics. The good news is that prescription orthotics (shoe insert) can take some of the stress off your feet when walking or running. Not only are orthotics great for alleviating heel pain, but they can also provide support for the heel and arches of the feet to prevent heel pain from returning.
Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
Another way to ease pain and swelling while also helping to retrain and strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the feet and calves is by performing specific foot and ankle exercises. Some exercises can help alleviate symptoms while others are designed to strengthen the muscles and soft tissue within the feet to prevent problems in the future. Your Tyler, TX, foot doctor can show you a variety of exercises that can alleviate your heel pain.
Splinting
Your podiatrist may also recommend wearing a splint at night or bracing the foot while standing or walking. A splint can provide additional support for the heel and arches of the affected foot while reducing the burden placed on the feet. Wearing a splint at night can also ease those painful morning symptoms.
Corticosteroid Injections
Some cases of heel pain are chronic, which makes the problem a bit trickier to manage. If you are dealing with persistent or severe heel pain that isn’t been relieved through over-the-counter medications then your podiatrist may recommend steroid injections, which can treat severe inflammation and pain.
Shockwave Therapy
Ultrasound therapy is another way to ease severe, persistent or recurring cases of heel pain. This type of treatment produces microtrauma to the tissue, which stimulates the body’s natural healing response to repair the inflamed or damaged tissue. This type of therapy is often recommended for patients with chronic heel pain.
If heel pain is making it difficult to get around let alone get through your normal day-to-day activities then it may be time to turn to our Tyler, TX, podiatrist Dr. James Kent at East Texas Foot & Ankle Centers. Call us at (903) 939-3668 to schedule an evaluation.