Are you thinking about getting custom orthotics? Great news! We have made it even more convenient to get your custom orthotics so that you can get heel pain relief easier. Come in for an appointment that will save you money and treat you right the first time! You may have to wait a couple of weeks, but we know it will be worth it!
Learn more about why custom orthotics may be your best option. Both new and existing patients qualify!
What Conditions Can Cause Heel Pain?
- Plantar fasciitis. This is inflammation, thickening, or tearing in the plantar fascia, a band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot. Pain tends to be worst in the early morning, making simply getting out of bed a very difficult experience. This condition can also be associated with a heel spur, a bony prominence that begins building at the bottom of the heel bone.
- Achilles tendinitis. Repetitive stress and pressure can lead to strain and damage in the fibers of the tendon. Here, pain tends to be located just above the heel along the back of the leg, where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone.
- Achilles tendon bursitis. A sac of fluid, called a bursae, that provides lubrication and cushioning for the ankle joint may become swollen and painful.
- Haglund’s deformity. Also known as “pump bump,” this outgrowth of bone at the back of the heel may result from wearing tight, hard-backed shoes.
- Sever’s disease. This is the most frequent cause of heel pain in early adolescents, particularly those who are active. It is an overuse or stress injury to the growth plate in the heel. This heel growth plate becomes painful when it gets pulled on by the attached muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
How is Heel Pain Treated?
Many milder cases of heel pain can be resolved entirely through conservative care methods. This includes getting some rest and avoiding strenuous physical activity, going through daily stretches and exercise, and using ice, massage, or OTC painkillers if necessary to temporarily ease symptoms. We also offer Aquaroll technology, which uses waves of refined glass beads to soothe aching feet and boost circulation to relieve stress and pain.
For heel pain that’s more stubborn or unresponsive to foundational treatments, we offer other options. Three of our most significant are orthotics, laser therapy, and HyProCure.
Orthotics
Whether the condition itself is plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, or something else, most cases of heel pain emerge from a biomechanical issue with the shape or structure of your feet—in short, certain joints or tendons are forced to bear more weight and pressure than they should. Orthotic devices, which are inserted into your shoes to provide additional cushioning and support, are one of the most effective ways to mitigate that pain.
Our office provides both custom orthotics and what we call “customized” orthotics, and both provide significant advantages over generic insoles you can buy at the store. The full custom orthotics are specially made based on a biofoam mold of your feet in the proper position, so they offer the best possible fit and performance. By contrast, a customized orthotic is a prefabricated insert that we reshape in our office using heat in order to better match the contours of your feet.
Therapeutic Laser Therapy
Over the last several years, laser therapy has emerged as a powerful treatment tool for quickly relieving pain throughout the body, including the heels. The technology uses a safe, non-invasive beam of light tuned to a specific wavelength (980nm) shown to provide significant therapeutic benefits. The laser energizes your body’s own cells, stimulating them to repair tissue damage and fight pain and inflammation at an accelerated rate.
The procedure is quick, painless, FDA-approved, drug-free, and has no downtime or known side effects. It allows many to avoid painful shots in the heels and other parts of the feet. In addition to heel pain, we also use it for other painful inflammatory conditions and injuries, such as sprains and strains.
HYPROCURE MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE
Some cases of heel pain may be linked to a collapse of the sinus tarsi, a small, naturally occurring gap between the ankle and heel. When this collapse occurs, the foot and arch can fall out of alignment, resulting in excess stress and the development of heel pain.
HyProCure is a fast, minimally invasive surgical treatment that restores the shape of the sinus tarsi by installing a small, metal stent to support it. This long-term solution realigns the foot and arch, relieving the source of the heel pain.
Dr. Foster is one of only a few podiatrists in Missouri who performs the HyProCure procedure, and the only in the state who is certified by the Atlas Foot Alignment Institute.
Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT)
EPAT, also known as shockwave therapy, uses high-energy pressure waves to stimulate natural healing responses within the body. EPAT treatment is capable of not only accelerating the healing of many soft tissue injuries such as sprains and plantar fasciitis but can also “kickstart” chronic sources of pain that have slowed or stopped their healing process.
Each session of EPAT typically takes 20 minutes or less, and patients feel progressively better results with each successive treatment.
Aquaroll Therapy
Aquaroll therapy is a form of regenerative therapy that has been long trusted by sports professionals – and we’re proud to be able to provide it to our patients as well.
Aquaroll sessions use a basin of warm water and 30,000 tiny glass beads to stimulate natural healing and pain relief responses within the feet and ankles. It can be a recommended form of treatment for patients with soft tissue sports injuries, nerve pain, arthritis, and various other conditions that could benefit from a faster recovery.
Take the First Step Toward Relieving Your Heel Pain
There’s no one-size-fits all approach to heel pain—the best treatment method for you must consider all the factors that make you unique, and will be a mutual decision between you and your physician. Dr Foster is a podiatrist who always take the time to listen to his patients, ensures they have all the information they need about their condition and care, and works alongside them to provide the best possible treatment for their lifestyle.
If your heels are hurting, let our team help you overcome it. To schedule an appointment with us in Lee’s Summit, MO, please call (816) 246-4222 today or simply fill out the contact form to request your appointment.
