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Adelaide Podiatrists Talk About Heel Pain

Is Heel Pain Killing You?

Is Your Heel Pain Really Plantar Fasciitis?

If your heel pain has failed to heal itself and has been present for quite a long time, the heel bone will sometimes try to protect itself at the thick attachment beneath the heel by calcifying and giving the plantar fascia something better to “grip” on to. This calcification is called a “heel spur”, and by itself is usually not a problem.

However, if there is inflammation of the surrounding soft tissues associated with the heel spur or, if the heel spur is fractured, it can become very painful with walking and arising from periods of rest.

Gait analysis to assess walking pattern

Believe it or not, a vast number of heel pain cases that are diagnosed as plantar fasciitis are not actually plantar fasciitis at all!

This is because of the muscle and nerve interactions with the heel that can also produce similar symptoms, but require different treatment. One such example is tarsal tunnel syndrome which involves entrapment or irritation of the posterior tibial and/or medial calcaneal nerve.  In this situation, the symtoms may be very similar to plantar fasciitis when the real cause of the problem is quite different.

A vast number of cases of heel pain that are diagnosed as plantar fasciitis are not actually plantar fasciitis at all! Share on X

So, if your painful heel has not responded to traditional therapy, there may be something else that has been missed. The Adelaide Podiatrists at Posture Podiatry are trained to find these obscure problems and have many tools at their disposal to ensure your diagnosis is accurate and treatment is effective.

Call us today on 8362 5900 to speak with a podiatrist if you have any questions about your heel problem. Alternatively, click here to book an appointment online. Ask about our “Initial Low Gap or Gap Free* Assessment”

On the other hand…

If you wake up in the morning and your heels are painful, or if you get painful heels with arising from rest, you may well have a condition known as plantar fasciitis. Prolonged periods of standing, walking and running can also exacerbate plantar fasciitis. Given there are many possible causes of heel pain, the diagnosis is very important to ensure treatment is specific and effective.

The right diagnosis is important…

In older clients, similar symptoms may be experienced and referred to as plantar fasciosis which better describes degenerative changes rather than the all too common acute plantar fascial injury.

Plantar Fasciitis is the term that refers to inflammation (“-itis”) of the connective tissue (“Fascia”) under the base of the foot (“Plantar”). It usually occurs at the point where the plantar fascia originates at the heel bone.

The plantar fascia itself is one of the strongest structures in your body. Studies have shown up to 30 times your body weight can be loaded through the plantar fascia with heavy impact. Naturally the ‘weakest point’, therefore, is the attachment point at the heel bone.

What About Heel Pain in Children?

Children can suffer with heel pain as well but the more common cause of heel pain in children is Sever’s disease. This is quite different to the adult version of heel pain in that it’s caused by inflammation of the heel growth plate secondary to overuse. Fortunately, children’s heel pain is very easy to treat and responds well to the right conservative management.

Heel pain treatment in adults and children will vary depending on the underlying cause. Other causes of pain in the heel can include:

  • Arthritis in its various forms
  • Bursitis below the foot or behind the heel bone
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Baxter’s nerve entrapment
  • Joint subluxation
  • Cuboid syndrome or subluxation
  • Stress fracture
  • Bone cyst or tumour
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Spinal stenosis and sometimes even a prolapsed intervertebral disc can cause pain in the heel.

Adelaide Podiatrist, Will Duncan, mobilising feet and ankles

So It’s crucial to diagnose the exact cause of your heel pain to ensure treatment is appropriate and effective.

Contact Us if you’re ready to take back control and permanently resolve your heel pain. Click here to book an appointment online. Ask about our “Initial Low Gap or Gap Free* Assessment”

What to expect in your consult?

On arrival, you’ll be greeted with a smile and invited to enjoy a complimentary foot massage or a nice cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

You’ll meet your podiatrist, who will listen to your history, work with you to perform a thorough assessment and begin treatment to get to the bottom of your concerns.

Your time is valuable, so you can complete your client forms either in person or online before your appointment to make things run smoothly. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask. We’re here to help!

We’ll stay in touch by sending personal emails or SMS (not bulk spam), and also ask for feedback after your appointments so we can continue to improve our service to you.

FAQ’s

• Heel pain, arch pain and forefoot pain
• Plantar Fasciitis and Severs Pain
• Neuromas and nerve entrapment conditions
• Shin Splints and Shin pain
• Skin and Nail care (Yes, we can cut your toenails for you!)
• Removal of Corns and Calluses
• Ingrown Toenail removal
• Gait and posture problems
• Child and Adolescent injuries
• Overuse injuries
• Ankle Sprains

We do our best work finding the true cause of your foot pain, and treating problems that have been around for a while.

No, you do not need a referral to see a Podiatrist. You can call and book in right away!

Our podiatrists are popular, however in most cases we can help you see a podiatrist today. You can check availability by selecting a service below, and if nothing suits give us a call and we’ll make something work.

We allocate 45 minutes for all initial podiatry appointments to allow us the time to adequately assess, diagnose, develop a management plan and treat your condition or injury. Once we get to know each other, the subsequent appointments are generally 30 minutes in duration. Once we get to know each other the subsequent appointments are generally 30 minutes in duration.

Yes, podiatrists can refer you for X-Rays, Ultrasounds, and MRI imaging, (and we also know who the good radiologists are, so you won’t miss a thing!)

Yes, we provide on the spot claims with your health fund with our Hicaps machine, or directly to your phone with Hicaps Go at the time of your appointment.

Yes, we accept Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) gold card holders, and WorkCover clients. Just bring details from your GP about your claim.

Yes, we accept American Express cards.

No, however we are registered with Medicare who will contribute $52.95 towards your appointment fee if you have a GP referral under the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan. You just pay the difference, that’s all. Your doctor (GP) can refer you for up to 5 sessions in a year for chronic conditions such as Diabetes.

What can we help you with? Give us a call or chat with us here online and we’ll be happy to talk about the fees with you.

Prefer to chat first over the phone?

Posture Podiatry Resources

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