Category: Heel Pain

Foot Pain

Posted on by Staff

Foot pain is what Podiatrists do. There are plenty of good and bad resources on the web on foot pain.

Foot pain is a common complaint that can arise from a variety of causes—ranging from overuse and injury to underlying medical conditions. The human foot is a complex structure with 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments, all of which must work together smoothly to support body weight and enable movement. When any part of this intricate system is stressed or damaged, pain can develop in different areas such as the heel, arch, toes, or ball of the foot. The nature and location of the pain often provide clues to its cause.

One of the most frequent culprits is plantar fasciitis, a condition involving inflammation of the thick band of tissue (plantar fascia) that connects the heel bone to the toes. This typically causes sharp pain in the heel, especially during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged periods of rest. Other common causes include bunions, flat feet, high arches, Achilles tendinitis, and stress fractures. Footwear plays a huge role too—shoes lacking proper arch support, cushioning, or fit can gradually lead to discomfort or exacerbate existing problems.

Systemic conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and gout can also manifest as foot pain. Diabetic neuropathy, for instance, leads to nerve damage that causes burning, tingling, or numbness, especially in the feet. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause swelling and deformity in foot joints, while gout results from a buildup of uric acid crystals, often striking suddenly with intense pain in the big toe. These types of foot pain usually require medical management beyond just physical therapy or orthotic support.

Treatment depends entirely on the cause. For overuse injuries or inflammation, rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may offer relief. Proper footwear, custom orthotics, stretching exercises, and weight management can go a long way in preventing recurrence. Chronic or severe pain should always be assessed by a healthcare provider, as ignoring it can lead to long-term dysfunction or more serious conditions. If your foot pain lasts more than a few days or interferes with your daily activities, it’s best to get it checked sooner rather than later.

Most Useful Resources:
Foot Health Forum (Foot Health Forum)
Foot Pain Info (Foot Pain Info)
Foot Pain (ePodiatry)
Foot Health Friday (Foot Health Friday)
Dr the Foot Without the Dr (Dr the Foot Without the Dr)

Plantar Heel Fat Pad Atrophy

Posted on by Staff

The fat pad under the heel protects the foot by providing cushioning and shock absorption. A problem can arise if that fat pad atrophies and it can result in heel pain.

Most Useful Resources:
Heel fat pad atrophy (Foot Health Forum)
heel pad atrophy HELP (Foot Health Forum)
Fat pad atrophy (PodiaPaedia)
Heel Fat Pad Atrophy (Foot Health Friday)
Heel Fat Pad Atrophy Cushioning Pad (FootStore)
Fat Pad Atrophy (Croydon Foot)

Rupture the plantar fascia to treat plantar fasciitis

Posted on by Staff

This is something of a legend that happened in Australia where a footballer with a chronic plantar fasciitis allegedly jumped from a height in order to rupture his plantar fascia to facilitate healing. A surgical cutting of the plantar fascia is often used to treat chronic plantar fasciitis. It apparently worked.

Most Useful Resources:
Deliberate Rupture of Plantar Fascia to Treat Plantar Fasciitis (PodiaPaedia)
Rupture the plantar fascitis to help? (Podiatry Experts)
Deliberate rupture of plantar fasica to treat plantar fasciitis (Podiatry Arena)

Treatment for a plantar fascia rupture typically involves a combination of conservative measures and, in some cases, surgical intervention:

Rest and immobilization: Initially, it’s important to rest the affected foot and avoid activities that worsen the pain. Immobilization through the use of a walking boot, cast, or crutches may be necessary to allow the plantar fascia to heal.

Ice therapy: Applying ice to the affected area as soon as it happend can help reduce pain and inflammation. Ice packs or frozen water bottles can be used for 15-20 minutes several times a day.

Pain management: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking any medication.

Physical therapy: A physical therapist may provide specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles and tissues surrounding the foot and ankle. These exercises can help improve mobility, reduce pain, and promote healing.

Orthotic devices: Wearing orthotic devices, such as arch supports or custom-made shoe inserts, can help alleviate stress on the plantar fascia and provide support during the healing process.

Night splints: Night splints are devices worn while sleeping to keep the foot and ankle in a stretched position, which can help prevent the plantar fascia from tightening and promote healing.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT): In some cases, ESWT may be recommended. This treatment involves using shock waves to stimulate healing and reduce pain.

Surgical: If thee above conservative measure do not help, then surgery is an option.

Corticosteroid injections: Corticosteroid injections may be considered if conservative treatments are not effective. However, these injections are generally used sparingly due to potential risks.

Surgical intervention: Surgery is typically considered only when conservative treatments fail to provide relief. Surgical options may include plantar fascia release, where the tight or damaged portion of the plantar fascia is surgically cut or detached to relieve tension.

Oscon for Severs Disease

Posted on by Staff

Severs disease or calcaneal apophysitis is a common problem causing pain in the heel of kids; it is an overuse type injury to the growth plate at the back of the heel bone. It is a self limiting problem that always comes right eventually when the growth in the heel bone stops. Several treatments have been advocated for it treatment. One of these is a dietary supplement called Oscon which consists of selenium and vitamin E. It is only supported by the use of testimonials and no clinical study has been done on it. It is not clear if it is worth trying or not as most children do get the minimum dietary requirements for Vitamin E and Selenium from their normal daily intake.

The best treatment for Severs disease is generally managing the activity levels and using a cushioned heel raise.

Most Useful Resources:
Oscon Supplements for Severs Disease (PodiaPaedia)
Discussion on Oscon and Severs (Podiatry Arena)
Does Oscon work for Severs disease? (Podiatry Experts)