When you do a lot of walking and standing daily, you may start to feel pain and ache in your heels. Something wrong with your heel could be causing the pain to be persistent or to stick whenever you perform an activity. You should never ignore such type of pain at all. A common thing about all heel pain is that they require proper handling and treatment to heal. The effect of heel pain Scottsdale can be addressed using various treatment methods which include:
Medication
When you experience pain in your heel, your doctor could administer pain relief medications like naproxen and ibuprofen. This medication will help greatly in reducing inflammation, or getting rid of the pain symptoms. Additionally, your doctor could use steroid injections for temporary pain reduction for certain conditions.
Rest and Ice
When you develop heel pain due to plantar fasciitis, your doctor may restrict you from certain strenuous activities, or you take complete rest to avoid worsening the heel pain symptoms. Regular application of an ice pack on your impacted foot can help greatly reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. You can apply the ice pack after every 2-3 hours for not more than 20 minutes each time. Please avoid applying an ice pack when your leg develops numbness. Alternatively, you can roll your painful heel on a frozen or cold water bottle to soothe the pain.
Custom Orthotics
When you develop certain conditions in your heel, like plantar fasciitis, your doctor may recommend custom orthotics to help reduce or improve your heel pain. A podiatrist mainly prescribes orthotics, and your doctor can prescribe a custom made for your specific needs, including structural and gait complications. Custom-made orthotics can help position your feet properly and offer appropriate support and cushioning for your ankles and feet.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps in reducing heel pain. Your doctor may recommend specific exercises to help strengthen and stretch your affected Achilles tendon and plantar fasciitis. When you develop tight muscles in the calf and foot, it can aggravate heel pain. Therefore, it would help to perform gentle stretching exercises to keep your calf muscles more flexible and relieve tightness and pain.
Shock Wave Therapy
Certain podiatric disorders such as Achilles pain and plantar fasciitis can be handled using a particular shockwave therapy called Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT).EPAT is noninvasive and involves using pressure waves to stimulate metabolism on your feet and enhance blood circulation. This treatment helps accelerate heel pain healing and helps your body regenerate healthy tissues.
The majority of heel complications can be addressed by a doctor after reviewing your medical history and performing a physical examination. In some cases, your doctor may request that you undergo additional testing. If you notice that you are experiencing persistent heel pain, contact Phoenician Foot & Ankle Specialists today and speak with a doctor or a clinic representative over the phone, or schedule an online consultation. You will receive comprehensive treatment to improve your heel health.