Anyone who enjoys walking, hiking, or running knows that heel pain can quickly put a damper on your daily activities. Even if you are not an athlete and spend most of your time in an office, dealing with heel pain is difficult. While it is possible to maintain your daily activities while suffering from upper body pain, pain in the feet makes it difficult to move around easily. If you suffer from any kind of heel pain, then it is important that you get help as soon as possible so that you can regain your quality of life.

Causes of Heel Pain

The main cause of heel pain in Perth is plantar fasciitis. This is caused when the tissue in the foot that runs from the toes to the heel becomes inflamed. It begins as a mild irritation of this tissue that, if not treated, becomes inflammation, resulting in extreme heel pain. There are a several things that can cause this inflammation, including obesity, wearing footwear that does not correctly support your feet, and even tight calf muscles that need to be stretched.

One of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis is when there are problems with the physical form of the foot. People who have high arches or flat feet are at a higher risk of plantar fasciitis. It is important to see a doctor and talk about foot orthotics if you are flat-footed or have very high arches.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain that begins upon getting out of bed and may last all day. Some patients have more pain in their heel after they have been sitting for a while and may be able to “walk off the pain” once they get moving. A doctor will be able to diagnose this condition using an x-ray or ultrasound in conjunction with their in-office examination.

Treatments

Treatments for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis vary from conservative treatments to surgical ones. Some conservative treatments people opt for include stretching, orthotics, and modifications of the shoe. Others are more invasive, such as infection therapy that will counteract the inflammation. In some cases, surgery is the only option to permanently eliminate heel pain.

You should not have to suffer with heel pain. If you have problems walking and the pain in your feet is interrupting your ability to complete daily activities, then it is time to visit your doctor, get a diagnosis, and discuss treatment options. This is not a condition you can take care of on your own, and finding a great doctor is the first step to feeling better.