Heel Pain Causes and Treatment

Heel pain is generally the result of walking abnormalities that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. Heel pain is a very common but potentially disruptive affliction that has many possible causes, including stress fractures, arthritis, nerve irritation, cysts, tendonitis and most often, plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, no matter what is causing your heel pain, the podiatrists at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry can treat it.


Heel pain is not usually caused by a single injury, such as a twist or a fall, but rather the result of repetitive stress and the pounding of the heel. Your feet can handle a heavy load, but too much stress pushes them over their limit. Heel pain is frequently triggered by wearing flat footwear, because this type of footwear can stretch the plantar fascia to such an extent that the area becomes swollen (inflamed). When you continue to walk on a sore heel, it will only get worse and could become a chronic condition leading to more problems. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition, but methods may include resting from the activities that caused the problem, doing stretch exercises, using pain medication and wearing open-back shoes.


If you are experiencing heel pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide, visit www.newjerseyfoot.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Frank Killian of Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC, call our Hamilton, NJ, office at 609-585-3200 or our Toms River, NJ, office at 732-557-4266.

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