Isn’t it time that you understood how to handle your heel pain?
If you are reading this, then chances are good that you are dealing with heel pain. Perhaps you just woke up one morning in pain or perhaps you noticed pain after physical activity and have ignored it, hoping it will go away on its own. If so, our Rockland County, NY, podiatrist Dr. Jay Levine is here to help you figure out what’s going on with your feet and how to manage your symptoms.
The Causes of Heel Pain
In a lot of cases, heel pain is the result of plantar fasciitis, a condition that causes pain along the bottom of the heel. If you are noticing pain in the back of the heel then your pain could be caused by Achilles tendinitis. Of course, there are other causes of heel pain including:
- Stress fractures
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Heel Fissures
- Heel Calluses
Seeing a Doctor
While not every ache and pain requires medical attention, it’s good to know when it’s time to turn to our Rockland County, NY, foot doctor for proper care. If you are experiencing severe pain or swelling, if you are having difficulty putting weight on the foot, if you can’t move the foot or if you are noticing numbness in the heel, then it’s time to see us as soon as possible.
While not an emergency, you’ll still want to schedule an appointment with us if your heel pain doesn’t go away after a couple weeks of at-home care.
Caring for Heel Pain
Dr. Levine offers conservative treatments for heel pain. A lot of the time, heel pain is self-limiting and will go away with conservative care. Home care may include resting your feet to temporarily ease your symptoms, or exercises to decrease your heel pain. Wearing shoe inserts to provide additional support and stability for your foot may also help. Of course, the shoes you wear are also important, as shoes that don’t provide enough cushioning and support could make symptoms worse.
For chronic heel pain, we may recommend Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), which directs sonic waves at the target area and stimulates the body's healing response. In some instances, surgery may be needed to treat your chronic heel pain.
If you are looking for professional podiatric care in Rockland County, NY, to help treat your chronic or severe heel pain then don’t hesitate to call Dr. Levine today at 845-623-5933 to schedule an appointment. Don’t let heel pain become the norm. Turn to us for help.