Why does my heel hurt?

The most common reason for heel pain is plantar fasciitis. This is an inflammation of the band of tissue on the bottom of your foot. It hurts at the heel because the attachment of the fascia there is weaker, so it pulls off of the bone slightly.

I have a heel spur. What should I do about it?

The treatment for heel spurs is the same as the treatment for plantar fasciitis, because they are the same! Heel spurs do not cause pain by themselves, but are more of a sign that we use to diagnose chronic, or long term, plantar fasciitis. This bone spur is a result of the pull of the fascia on the heel.

Do I need surgery to fix my spur?

No, surgery is not needed the vast majority of the time. Since the spur is not the problem, treatment is aimed at decreasing inflammation and irritation around the fascia. This is achieved through several modalities, from very conservative like following the Rest Ice Compression Elevation (RICE) protocol; to rarely, surgical. Our new MLS laser is exceptional at treating heel pain, as well.

What if I don’t want to take any medications?

Some medications are very effective at treating Plantar Fasciitis through the reduction of pain and inflammation, though some people just don’t want to take pills. Thankfully, there are many ways to treat this. The mainstay treatments are all aimed at stretching and strengthening the leg, from the hip to the foot, as well as decreasing inflammation, which can be as simple as icing regularly.