If you are looking for some suggestions on how to help you heel pain, check out our suggestions below:
What is Plantar Fasciitis? And What Causes This Heel Pain?
Night Splint
Heel Pain
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A night splint can be an easy way to stretch the heel/plantar fascia. You can sit and watch TV and the Splint helps to prevent the plantar fascia from contracting.
People often ask what is the best over the counter insert for heel pain. Our favorite is the Powerstep. We sell in the office the Powerstep Protech but on Amazon they sell a similar insert
Dr. McGowan's and Dr. Henne's favorite running shoe for Plantar Fasciitis
What is a Bone Spur?
Patients become obsessed with if they have a bone spur or not when they come into the office. We take the time to explain to our patients that a bone spur is almost a by product of the tight band or fascia attaching to the heel bone. When the fascia is tight the bone does not want to break with that first step in the morning and the plantar fascia does not want to rupture. A compromise is made between these structures. The fascia pulls on a clear structure around the bone called the periosteum. This pulling of the fascia on the periosteum causes a little new bone to form. Some patients come in for other problems entirely and have huge spurs on X-ray but don't hurt at all. So I always impress upon patients that the tight fascia should be your primary concern. If your stretch the fascia, wear good support and try not to go barefoot you may never need heel surgery!
What is the Surgery for Plantar Fasciitis or Bone Spurs on the Heel?
Though having to have surgery for heel spurs or plantar fasciitis is rare the following are some options the foot doctor could discuss with you: 1. Endoscopic plantar fasciectomy, is small incisions with the aid of a camera to cut the tight fascia to elongate it. 2. Heel spur resection, where a small incision is made on the side of the heel and the fascia is cut and a resection or removal of the bone is performed.
There is a band of tissue on the bottom of your foot and this structure is called the Plantar fascia. Due to the way we are built with strong big calf muscles we often predispose ourselves to developing plantar fasciitis.
When the posterior muscle group or calf muscles are tight this structure, the plantar fascia, also can get tight. That is why in the treatment section you will see we talk a lot about stretching your calf muscles to get your plantar fascia better.
People often describe a lot of pain on the bottom of the heel after waking up in the morning or after resting and getting up from sitting down. People also relate having pain in their feet after standing for more than a couple hours when they have plantar fasciitis.
Not enough support is another reason someone can develop plantar fasciitis or heel pain. If you are wearing flat or unsupportive shoes, you may develop plantar fasciitis while straining your foot just walking. This is the reason we speak so highily of good shoes and support to help improve and prevent plantar fasciitis.
Dr. Henne & Dr. McGowan Discuss Plantar Fasciitis
Powerstep Orthotics
