Heel pain is a common podiatric complaint that can make simple activities feel like significant challenges. When your heels howl in pain with every step, it can be difficult to get through the workday—much less take your dog on long walks or hike the Lemolo Falls Trail with friends. Fortunately, you don’t have to let heel pain stop you from enjoying the Umpqua Valley’s rugged outdoor lifestyle.
Wilks Advanced Foot Care offers comprehensive care for your feet and ankles. Since 1999, our family-owned podiatry practice has helped countless Douglas County residents overcome heel pain. Our trusted Roseburg podiatrist, Dr. Jason Wilks, works to identify the source of your discomfort and develops personalized treatment plans to get you back to the activities you love. Discover why we’re Southern Oregon’s top choice for top-notch podiatric care.
Understanding Common Causes of Heel Pain
What causes heel pain? This discomfort can stem from a variety of factors and doesn’t always indicate an underlying condition. For example, your painful heels might be due to:
- Work demands. Jobs that require standing for long periods, especially on hard surfaces like concrete, can trigger heel pain or worsen pain resulting from other conditions.
- Footwear choices. Wearing shoes that fit poorly, lack adequate support or cushioning, or are the wrong type of footwear for your activity may contribute to your heel pain and discomfort.
- Physical activities. Participating in sports or activities involving frequent running or jumping or suddenly increasing the intensity or duration of exercise can strain the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your heels, leading to persistent pain.
- Foot structure. Patients with flat feet or high arches are more likely to experience pain in their heels.
Treating All Conditions Causing Heel Pain
At our office in Rosenburg, our skilled foot and ankle doctor and friendly staff address all podiatric injuries and conditions causing heel pain, including:
- Plantar fasciitis. A common cause of heel pain, this condition involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis causes sharp heel pain that’s typically worst in the morning but often eases with movement.
- Achilles tendinitis. The Achilles tendon is the large tendon that connects the calf muscles to your heel bone. When the tendon becomes inflamed, you can experience pain and stiffness along the back of your heel. This discomfort usually worsens during or immediately after activity but may ease with rest.
- Heel spurs. These calcium deposits form on the underside of the heel bone and can cause consistent pain when walking or standing.
- Stress fractures. These tiny cracks develop on the surface of the heel bone, often due to repetitive stress. They can cause pain, tenderness, and swelling that increases throughout the day and worsens with activity.
- Sever’s disease. When your child’s growing heel bone outpaces the growth of the surrounding muscles and tendons, it can cause pain during activities. This common growth-related foot problem typically affects athletes between the ages of 8 and 15, especially those who participate in sports involving frequent running and jumping.
Exploring Our Treatment Options for Lasting Heel Pain Relief
At Wilks Advanced Foot Care, we offer treatments tailored to your specific condition, goals, and lifestyle. Your heel pain care plan could include any of the following interventions:
- Conservative care. Minor heel injuries or conditions often respond to conservative solutions, such as stretching exercises, ice therapy, activity modifications, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Custom orthotics. These prescription shoe inserts hold your foot optimally and provide precise support and cushioning to ease heel pain and discomfort.
- Footwear guidance. Dr. Wilks can help you select shoes that offer suitable support for your foot structure and daily activities.
- Shockwave therapy. This is a painless procedure that reduces inflammation by sending thousands of shockwaves through your tissue into the targeted treatment area. The procedure increases blood flow to the injured area, helping your body speed its own healing process. As such, this treatment is considered a form of regenerative medicine.