When you begin to experience foot discomfort, you might try to self-diagnose with a little research. After some digging around online or talking with friends, Frisco heel pain patients often assume that their discomfort is caused by a heel spur. However, a visit with RNV Podiatry often uncovers a different root cause.
Heel Spurs and Frisco Heel Pain
A heel spur is a protrusion that has developed on the bottom of the heel bone. X-rays can often identify these growths. In cases in which Dr. Verville determines that heel spurs are the cause of heel pain, she may recommend specific exercises, orthotics, medications, or possibly surgery.
Yet in the majority of cases that Dr. Verville sees, heel spurs are not the source of discomfort. While they can cause problems, it is important to rule out other, more common medical concerns.
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel spurs are often present when patients are actually experiencing discomfort from plantar fasciitis. You can learn more about this condition on the RNV Podiatry website, but in brief, plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the tissue at the bottom of the foot that connects your heel bone to the ball of your foot (this tissue is a ligament, similar to the one injured in a Frisco sprained ankle.)
A physical examination by Dr. Verville will often reveal plantar fasciitis as the underlying condition. Your appointment gives you the opportunity to discuss your heel pain in greater detail, including:
- Whether your heel hurts just after you wake up in the morning.
- If stretching helps reduce the pain.
- Whether your first few steps out of bed are tight and uncomfortable but improve over time.
Heel spurs are more likely to cause discomfort throughout the day, so a “yes” answer to any of these questions above may signal that Frisco heel pain patients have plantar fasciitis instead. The tissue at the bottom of the foot is typically tightest and therefore most painful when it has had time to constrict, like when you are asleep.
Other Causes of Heel Pain
Beyond plantar fasciitis, patients have heel pain due to a variety of other concerns. These include…
- Similar to plantar fasciitis, a patient’s Achilles tendon can become inflamed from overuse. Patients who feel discomfort mostly in the back of the foot may actually have this condition.
- A stress fracture. Too much exercise can create a small crack in the heel bone. The treatment that Dr. Verville recommends will depend on the severity of the fracture.
- Flat feet. Can be a cause of plantar fasciitis. Flat feet is typical in patients who have low-arched feet.
If you are experiencing heel pain, schedule an appointment in Frisco with Dr. Verville. Call (214) 385-8822 or make an appointment on our website.
