When there is any type of foot pain, every step seems like torture. Getting rid of heel pain in Joliet is a priority for most people for a very good reason. When the pain is not caused by an injury or trauma to the heel, such as a jump down or a fall from an elevated position and landing on the heel or heels, there are two common sources of pain.
It is important to not try to diagnosis heel pain in Joliet on your own. Not getting the right treatment may provide some temporary relief of the pain, but it may allow more damage to occur, limiting treatment options and full recovery.
To get a brief understanding of the two most common types of heel pain in Joliet it is important to know the basics of Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.
Achilles Tendinitis
The most common symptom of Achilles tendinitis is pain along the back of the heel and down into the base of the heel area. The heel pain in Joliet often radiates up the leg along the Achilles, which is the wide and flat tendon down the back of the ankle.
In most cases, injuries either at the heel bone level, the insertion of the tendon, or further up the ankle, are due to repetitive stress and degeneration of the tendon. It can be associated with suddenly increasing activities, such as running, or failing to stretch the tendon and the calves before running or exercising.
This type of heel pain in Joliet can be severe and can include foot stiffness in the morning, swelling, thickening of the tendon at the site of the inflammation, as well as the development of bone spurs.
Rest, physical therapy and strengthening exercises can be effective in treating this type of pain, but it can take three to six months for many patients to fully recover.
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain starting as a stabbing pain on the bottom of the heel that is most pronounced with the first few steps may be linked to plantar fasciitis. This is an inflammation of the band of thick, connective tissue, the plantar fascia, which connects the heel to the ball of the foot and the toes.
This is also associated with repetitive stress, but it can also occur with specific conditions of the feet, such as being flat footed. Other issues that can make it more problematic include changing the intensity of repetitive exercises such as running, rapid weight gain, and incorrect footwear.
If you have heel pain, seeing a podiatrist or an orthopaedic specialist should be a priority. Early treatment can significantly speed up recovery and limit further damage.
At Business Name, our highly skilled doctors can determine the cause of your heel pain in Joliet and put you on the path to full recovery.
