Why write about heel pain?

It is rare for a day to pass in my office when I do not hear a complaint from a patient that they are suffering from heel pain. Often, it has been going on for quite some time, and by the time they see me, they've tried everything in the book, and some things that are quite creative to relieve and eliminate their pain. Quite simply, heel pain is one of the most common conditions that I treat, and also one that causes the most disruption to a person's life.

It would be nice if there was a quick & simple way to remedy heel pain that worked every time. This is not the case. The most common cause of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis (and may also be known by some as heel spur syndrome), but this is by no means the only condition that can lead to pain in the heel. The first step is to find out what is actually causing the pain, then treatment can be tailored to eliminate the cause of the pain, and equally as important, to relieve the pain itself.

In the coming days and weeks, I will discuss what are likely reasons for a heel to be painful, how these conditions can be diagnosed, and what treatments are available to get you back to a normal life without pain. I will also be discussing what things you can do yourself at home to help relieve pain prior to seeing your doctor, and also what you can do once you are seen by a doctor to help you to recover more quickly. Feel free to follow along, and add your comments or questions. The good news for the vast majority of patients, heel pain is treatable. The process may take awhile, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!