The foot has 26 bones and 33 joints supported by 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons. You are likely to experience heel pain at some point resulting from the average miles you walk and active lifestyle. However, heel pain is different from person to person and it might result from various causes. For some people, heel pain might become a chronic condition that can last for more than 3 months.
By this time, you  will need assistance from a professional podiatrist who can give you solutions that will bring about relief. The podiatrist will diagnose the condition and suggest an appropriate solution. Heel pain, when left untreated, might become severe Heel pain, when left untreated, might become so severe that it can prevent you from having a good quality of life.Discover the common causes of heel pain to to help you find  a professional podiatrist.

Plantar fasciitis

This is inflammation of the plantar fascia. It is a strong ligament running through the foot. The plantar fascia is for shock absorption in the foot and supporting the arches. Conditions including poor arch support, sudden weight gain, tight Achilles tendons, and obesity might lead to  this pain. Additionally high arches are also likely to cause plantar fasciitis.
Small tears are likely to develop on the plantar fascia membrane with time. This promotes inflammation leading to plantar fasciitis. The solution to avoid further damage is to visit a podiatrist in Houston. This condition has various treatments that will depend on the extent of damage to the plantar fascia. The remedies might include prescription insoles for supporting the arch and taking the weight off the nerve. Other solutions include surgery and cortisone injections.

Sever’s disease

The significant cause of heel pain in adults is usually plantar fasciitis. However, heal pain in adolescents usually results from sever’s disease. There is a likelihood that the heel bone can reach physical maturity earlier than the Achilles tendon during the bodies development of the lower extremities.This may cause heel issues leading to pain during physical activity in adolescents.

Achilles tendinitis

The Achilles tendon runs from the ankle to the heel bone. This can become inflamed leading to Achilles tendinitis. You can tell you have this condition when feeling pain at the back of the heel or above the heel bone. Other common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include:

• Tightness and tension in the ankle
• Morning stiffness in the heel and calf
• Searing pain when walking

Achilles tendinitis might result from overuse that usually happens when you run great distances up or down a hill. This might make the Achilles tendon tear or rupture. You have to seek immediate treatment from a professional podiatrist to avoid serious consequences.

Flat feet

Also called fallen arches, this problem might not have any symptoms or serious pain. You might experience pain in the heel resulting in the extra burden on the ligaments and tendons. This happens because there is no arch support. Flat feet can affect one or both feet  and and you might even experience pain in the of your foot, hip, legs, and back. There is also a possibility of feeling stiff when getting up after sitting for some time or in the morning when rising.
Delaying  professional assistance encourages the uneven distribution of bodyweight making the symptoms worse with time. This condition might be genetic  as well as other causes including:

• An injury
• Arthritis
• Weak ankles

Muscular disorder

The foot doctor might prescribe custom designed insoles to support the arch or customized orthotics. To preserve mobility, surgery might become necessary.

Heel spurs

These are bony calcium deposits protruding from the underside of the heel. Heel spurs result from neglecting to treat plantar fasciitis. You might experience painful heel spurs resulting from strain on the feet. This comes from the stretched fascia and torn membrane cover. You might experience foot trauma at some point. This condition might result from lifestyle situations including:

• Poor arch support
• Obesity
• Spending long hours wearing high heels
• Physical stress impact athletes’ feet
• Regular activities from life events
• stress on the heels from training on hard surfaces

Your foot doctor might recommend exercises, orthotic insoles, and physical therapy or nighttime splints. For severe conditions, the only solution would be surgery.

Importance of getting a podiatrist-prescribed treatment plan

The best thing to do when feeling heel pain of any kind is to visit a Houston podiatrist. During the visit, the foot doctor will diagnose the cause of the problem and recommend appropriate treatment. Regardless of the prescribed treatment plan you must follow it to the  letter . Don’t stop the treatment just because you feel the pain has gone. Sooner than later, you are likely to find yourself feeling pain in the same spot.

In conclusion

Healthy feet allow moving from one place to another when going about regular chores. However, sometimes, the feet are exposed to more than they can handle especially very busy individuals or the very active kind. Some heel pain is natural but you have to visit a podiatrist if the pain persists for more than 3 months.

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