Conservative Treatments for Heel Pain
Heel pain might seem like a “minor” medical issue, but it can be a major impediment in your life. (If you’ve been there, you know.) Aching heels take a lot of the fun out of life. And if they keep you from staying active, they could contribute to a long-term reduction in fitness, mobility, and physical health. So, treatment isn’t something you should shrug off!
Fortunately, most cases of heel pain can be dealt with effectively long before surgery ever enters the picture. As long as you’re disciplined, conservative treatments are almost always sufficient to remedy the problem. Common “first line of defense” treatments for various heel pain conditions include:
- RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation)
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories
- Switching to roomier, more supportive shoes
- Prefabricated arch supports
- Physical therapy exercises to stretch out a tight plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, or calf muscle
- Splints you wear at night to maintain a slight stretch while you sleep
- Steroid Injections
- Custom orthotics. Unlike standard arch supports, these are individually crafted based on a thorough evaluation of your pathology and precise measurements of the structure of your feet. That makes them better equipped to deal with tougher pain, especially pain related to biomechanical and structural misalignments.
- Shockwave therapy. This device uses acoustic pressure waves to stimulate healing and repair processes in inflamed and damaged tissues. The shockwaves create “micro-tears” in the soft tissue, causing blood, nutrients, and oxygen to rush in.
- MLS laser therapy. This particular laser therapy uses a pair of synchronized lasers to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and accelerate tissue repair. Light energy breaks up scar tissue and stimulates cellular metabolism to fight acute and chronic pain.