Foot and Heel Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

 Staying pain-free is challenging, especially if you are a diabetic, an athlete or on a ‘12,000 steps’ a day challenge. Our feet go through a lot on a daily basis and when it comes to self-care, we think about them the least. As a result, we tend to suffer from painful sore feet conditions.

Foot and heel pain problems are very common. Injury or overuse could be the underlying reason for the stabbing pain for people of all age groups. Stop hurting your feet, take proper care of them. Educate yourself, find out what works best for your condition, and if needed, get custom orthotics. 

In this post, we will discuss the conditions which could cause  you to experience soreness around the heels or the ankle region. Depending on the causes of your condition, you can find suitable sore feet treatment from a specialist. 

How do you define foot and heel pain?

A discomforting sensation around your heel or ankle region can  var in intensity. For some, it’s a stabbing pain that almost immobilises and for some, it is a dull lingering pain that keeps them up all night. 

Pay attention to your heels closely, if you see a bony growth, it’s time to see a doctor. Any sign of redness or a bruise is also a point of serious concern. Get yourself checked immediately to find out the reason. You obviously need sore heel treatment when the pain is combined with symptoms of swelling, stiffness, and tenderness. 

What are the reasons for sore heels and foot pain?

There are many reasons for the discomfort in our lower limbs which are made up of 26 bones and 33 joints. It is recommended to let an expert diagnose your condition and find out the actual reason behind your discomfort. However, the most common reasons for foot and heel pain are listed below.

Plantar fasciitis: Applying too much pressure on the feet could result in pain and stiffness and inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament, which is a band that connects your toes to the heel bone.
Achilles tendonitis: The calf muscles are connected with the heel through tendons. When these tendons are affected due to overuse, you might experience inflammation and pain.
Sprains and strains: Athletes or anyone who is involved in strenuous physical activity can experience mild to severe injuries to the feet. In case of a broken bone during the injury, urgent care becomes essential.
Foot fungus: Those unsightly nails can be ignored for a long time because people think it’s just a cosmetic concern until  the untreated infection becomes painful. It could result in severe damage to the nail matrix - that requires an immediate appointment for Laser Fungal Nail Treatment. 
Other medical conditions: Apart from the above mentioned general overuse injuries, foot abnormalities often occur in people suffering from arthritis, spondylitis, osteochondrosis or diabetes. 

What are your foot pain treatment choices? 

To keep the problems at bay, you should educate yourself about preventive foot care. Rest as much as possible and pay attention to the fit of your shoes. Your feet need  much-deserved care and attention, don’t hurt them with ill-fitted shoes. Most kinds of heel pain are a result of overuse and can be treated with proper rest or an ice pack. Apply ice to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day, if needed you can take over-the-counter pain medications. However, medicines can increase liver toxicity, therefore, it’s better to consult a podiatrist and decide on an effective treatment plan. 

In most cases, patients don’t need surgery to resolve the issue. To ease the pain, inflammation and swelling, a proper diagnosis and a comprehensive understanding ofyour medical history is important. The basic treatment choices for sore heels are:

Steroid injections
Orthotic devices 
Non-steroidal pain-killers
Massages and physical therapy
Stretching exercises
Laser Fungal Nail Treatment

Custom orthotic devices could be enough to provide the required support and diminish the painful symptoms. In the case of diabetic foot care, immediate treatment of infections is also important. For  fungal nail, laser treatments are considered the safest and most effective treatment choice. It’s rare that you would need surgical intervention to treat your heel or foot pain problems. However, the treatment course may vary for every individual, so it’s better to book an appointment in a timely manner to rule out the possibility of needing to go  under the surgical knife. 

When to see a podiatrist

Don’t just wait to see a Podiatrist Nail Fungus conditions , you can get periodic consultations to keep your feet in good shape. Most of us have a tendency to save time and get over-the-counter pain medications. Overuse injuries are very basic and waiting for them to subside on their own is understandable. However, you should not try to treat yourself if you see a sign of swelling, redness or inflammation. 

Ifyou notice heel pain, get proper rest and spend some time doing stretching exercises or massages. The discomfort can subside on its own in many cases. However, if you still feel the pain even after a week, it’s best to get yourself diagnosed by a podiatrist and lower the risk of any foot complications. 

Final words

Care for your feet, pay attention to them just like you rigorously brush your teeth or groom your face. Find out the underlying reason for your heel pain problems, possibly one discussed in this post. For more guidance or a comprehensive examination, you can find a board-certified podiatrist on the link given below. 

https://www.suncoastpodiatry.com.au/contact-us/