Heel Pain

pain-back-heel

Heel pain is one of the top reasons why patients come in for help at Toronto Orthotics.

The natural history of heel pain is that it can continue for months or years and it is not uncommon for heel pain to eventually affect both heels. 

The heel bone is called the calcaneus. Heel pain may be felt on the bottom (plantar surface), back (posterior), side (medial) and outer (lateral) surface of the calcaneus. 

The specific location of pain on the calcaneus is important to know since there are multiple causes of heel pain.  

A Proper Diagnosis of Heel Pain is Crucial: heel-spur-calcaneus-x-ray

As a primary health care practitioner with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Horowitz is trained in diagnosing conditions of the Spine, Joints and Nervous System.  

Since spinal nerve pain often refers pain to the feet and there are a number of inflammatory conditions that affect the heel and feet, Dr. Horowitz is able to determine if your heel pain is coming from the spinal nerves or if the injury is actually located in the heel itself. 

Gathering the details and history of your particular condition allows her to decide if any advanced imaging is required for diagnosis. It also allow the doctor to rule in/out a specific condition that should not be overlooked. 

By conducting a thorough examination (rather than just an assessment), she is able to identify which tissues, muscles, ligaments and nerves are involved which leads to an accurate diagnosis. 

Dr. Horowitz works with you to identify the stresses causing the pain and suggest a treatment program that not only alleviates the pain, but also helps you to prevent it from recurring. 

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What Causes Heel Pain? flat-feet-standing-achilles-bowing

  • Plantar Fasciitis/Strain 
  • Calcaneal Bursitis 
  • Achilles Tendonitis/Tendinosis 
  • Haglund Syndrome 
  • Calcaneal Stress Fracture  
  • Bone Spur 
  • Plantar Fibromatosis 
  • Sciatic Referral & Radiculopathy  
  • Systemic Illnesses such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Reiter’s Syndrome 
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome 

Foot & Body Structures Associated with Heel Pain: 

  • Flat Feet 
  • Pes Planus 
  • High Foot Arches 
  • Heel Overpronation 
  • High BMI (though many people within their normal weight also get heel pain)  
  • Equinus Deformity 
  • Tarsal Coalition 

Common Factors & Activities Associated with Heel Pain: 

  • Improper footwear for your foot type 
  • Absence of weekly foot & leg stretching or leaving out certain muscles groups 
  • Prolonged standing, particularly on hard, man-made surfaces (nurses, medical doctors/surgeons, teachers, culinary professionals, lab technicians, researchers, assembly line workers, store salespeople)  
  • Prolonged sitting and inactivity E.g Working in IT, banking, finances, accounting, data entry  
  • Prolonged walking  
  • Walking barefoot on hard surfaces (including when working from home) 
  • Beginning a new exercise program such as jogging, after a period of deconditioning 
  • Increasing the intensity or duration of activities following a break period of more than a few weeks 
  • Improper warm-up after a long period of sitting. E.g Eagerly beginning an exercise routine after a long day at work 
  • Repetitive sport injuries 
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Heel pain is commonly experienced in adults. It reduces your ability to remain social, active and healthy which negatively affects your quality of life. 

Why continue suffering from heel pain when help is a call away? 

Rest assured, with the proper diagnosis and treatment, heel pain heals more quickly than taking a wait-and-see approach. 

Have Questions about Heel Pain Treatment and how we can help? 
 
Contact us by calling (647) 349-4909, use the Chat button (lower right corner) or ask Dr. Horowitz a question by filling out this form below: