With every mile you walk, you put 60 tons of stress on each foot, which can certainly lead to chronic heel pain. Before living another day with foot pain, see how expert podiatrist Tim Grace, DPM, of Family Foot Health Center in Puyallup, Washington, can help. Dr. Grace provides personalized heel pain treatment plans, so you can expect fast relief. Schedule your heel pain evaluation by clicking on the online scheduler or by calling the office directly.
Heel Pain Q & A
What causes heel pain?
Your heel bone is the largest bone in each of your feet. It’s also commonly the first bone to hit the ground and absorb impact with each step you take. If you feel pain in one or both of your heels, it could stem from:
- Unsupportive shoes
- Overuse or repetitive motions
- Heel spurs
- Plantar fasciitis
- Stone bruise
- Achilles tendinitis
No matter what’s causing your heel pain, though, it’s important to find out the cause. Otherwise, your condition is probably going to worsen with each step you take.
When should I see a podiatrist for heel pain?
Ideally, you’d schedule an appointment with Dr. Grace at Family Foot Health Center as soon as your heel pain begins. But it’s especially important to have a thorough foot evaluation if you’re experiencing any of the following issues:
- Heel pain that’s keeping you from work or daily activities
- Heel pain that’s not improving or that’s getting worse
- Discomfort and inflammation along your arch or into your ankle
- Difficulty bearing weight on the affected foot
To get to the root of what’s causing your heel pain, Dr. Grace performs a comprehensive evaluation. He may request X-ray or ultrasound images to help diagnose the cause of your heel pain, or to rule out possible issues. Once Dr. Grace better understands why you have heel pain, he designs your treatment plan.
What is the treatment for heel pain?
Treating heel pain depends on what’s causing it. Dr. Grace helps you select heel pain treatments to minimize pain and inflammation, and prevent it from coming back. In many cases, heel pain starts to improve quickly by combining several of the following solutions:
- Physical therapy
- Custom orthotics
- Daily stretching exercises
- Wearing open-back shoes
- Corticosteroid injections
- Pain medications
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Additionally, we utilize several innovative and regenerative therapies to treat heel pain, such as MLS (Multiwave Locked System) Therapy Laser, EPAT® (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) Shockwave Therapy, and Interfyl injections.
MLS combines both synchronized and pulsed emissions which can be delivered precisely to where it is most needed. It reduces inflammation and pain, and due to its precise controls, we can deliver these results consistently to provide you with the most relief from your heel pain.
EPAT® is a simple, non-invasive treatment that uses gentle pressure waves to increase blood flow, tissue regeneration, and generally speed up the healing process. In clinical trials, it dramatically reduced patients’ heel pain and Achilles tendonitis!
Interfyl injections are comprised of human connective tissue matrix which aids in the regeneration of deep dermal tissue loss due to wounds, ulcers, fistula tracts, and more.
Dr. Grace also offers 3D printed orthotic inserts which are customized to fit your feet. Orthotics can correct foot and ankle problems that may be causing heel pain non-surgically and non-invasively. These orthotics can be ready for you to use in a fraction of the time traditional custom orthotics would take to create!
If your heel pain stems from a bone spur or serious soft tissue damage, Dr. Grace might suggest surgery. Most heel pain procedures are minimally invasive to shorten your downtime and help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (253) 841-4262.