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Heel Pain & Heel Spur

Heel Pain & Heel Spur Treatments, Pittsburgh Area

Heel Pain & Heel Spur

When heel pain strikes, it can be debilitating. Many people with heel pain or heel spurs in Pittsburgh, can’t walk—let alone enjoy an active lifestyle—because it can be so painful. But, using state-of-the art technology, Dr. Christina and her staff at Beaver Valley Foot Clinic can resolve your Plantar Fasciitis, or heel pain, and you can regain your life!

Why Are You Experiencing Heel Pain or Heel Spurs?

Heel pain and heel spurs can often be aggravated by your job, your weight, your age, and your choice in shoes. These factors can cause pain in your heel:

heal pain Pittsburgh

HEEL PAIN AFTER WALKING

  • Weight
  • Activity level
  • Increasing age
  • Overall general health
  • Sports injuries
  • Unsupportive footwear

Who Is Most Susceptible to Heel Pain and Heel Spurs?

  • People who lead an active lifestyle, such as athletes
  • People who must stand and walk a lot for work
  • Women who have just started a walking program to get in shape

Where Is the Heal Pain Located?

  • Pain under the foot( where the arch meets the heel bone: Plantar Fasciitis
  • Plantar Fasciitis (sometimes called a heel spur), is a painful heel condition that inflames the bottom of the foot when a ligament that runs from the heel bone to your toes becomes strained.
  • Pain behind the heel: Achilles tendinitis
  • Achilles tendonitis occurs when tissue connecting your lower leg’s calf muscles to your heel becomes overused, causing heel pain. Runners frequently experience Achilles tendinitis.

What are heel spurs? 

Long standing irritation can cause formation of calcium deposits at the point where the plantar fascia inserts into the heel bone. The result is the appearance of a heel spur on x- ray. The spur itself is not the cause of pain. The terms heel spur syndrome and plantar fasciitis are often used interchangeably in medicine, and the cause and treatment for the conditions are the same.

Heel Pain & Heel Spur Solutionsfoot stretch image

Heal pain problems, in some cases, can be resolved through traditional conservative therapies like orthotics, exercise, ice, physical therapy, cortisone injections, or anti-inflammatory medications. However, sometimes heel pain can’t be resolved through these remedies.

How is heel pain treated in Runners?

There are many treatments for heel pain, Pittsburgh.

At the first sign of pain in the arch or the heel, consider the following:

  1. Shoe recommendation/ modifications like proper shoes for your activity.
  2. Rest. Take  a few days off or decrease training.
  3. Cross-training activities like swimming, walking, elliptical, or biking helps rest the aggravated area
  4. Taping for biomechanical treatments helps temporarily.
  5. Ice the area. Apply frozen veggies for ten – twenty minutes after activity or after work.
  6. Stretch (toes to nose) before getting out of bed in the morning and several times through out the day after resting or driving.
  7. Wear shoes at home inside the house- do not go barefoot.
  8. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) give temporary relief.
  9. Cortisone injections.
  10. Physical therapy modalities
  11. Custom molded orthotics
  12. ESWT for treating heel pain.
  13. Surgical options are a last resort.

If you think you may have heel pain or plantar fascia pain, Pittsburgh, you can CONTACT US for assistance 878-313-3338 to find the nearest Beaver Valley Foot Clinic office in your area.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a noninvasive alternative to painful surgeries. It treats chronic plantar fasciitis as a cause of heel pain. This is an excellent office procedure when all other conservative methods have failed!

Surgery is the best option for a rupture of the Achilles Tendon, which is characterized as pain on the back of the heel

Achilles tendon rupture cannot be solely treated with OTC medications, physical therapy, and heel lifting devices. If you feel a sudden “pop” or like you were shot in the back of the leg or can’t stand on your tip toes, surgery is sometimes needed. If your Achilles tendon has ruptured, you may need surgery that will attach your tendons back together, and will then have a cast for six to 10 weeks.

Heel Spur Treatments Pittsburgh Area
Images of arch supports and orthotics

We have arch supports and orthotics

Heel pain in 10-12 years olds -diagnosis and treatment

Commonly occurring in boys of 10 to 12 years old and  8 to 10 years old girls, Calcaneal apophysitis often  occurs during or after a growth spurt and at the start of sports seasons. Your child may complain of pain during or after running and jumping activities. Tight Achilles tendons or plantar fascia, along with overuse, high-impact sports, improper footwear and uneven training surfaces all may lead to heel pain in children. The “squeeze test,” involves squeezing the bone of the heel medially and laterall y causing compression over the growth plate which is called the apophysis, causing pain. Treatment  may include decreased running and increase cross-training activities until the pain diminishes.

If you are experiencing plantar fasciitis or heel spurs, or any type of heel pain, call Beaver Valley Foot Clinic’s 4 convenient locations today at 878-313-FEET (3338) so that Dr. Christina can assess your situation, administer treatment, and get you back on the road to feeling good again!

Click Here to E-mail Dr. Christina Teimouri

HOURS OF OPERATION BY APPOINTMENT

  •  Before and after work and lunchtime appointments available
  • Emergency appts reserved for Weekend, same day and evenings.

Why choose us as your Allegheny, Beaver or Butler County Foot Care Office?

  • Podiatry clinics in Ambridge, Moon, Bridgewater and Cranberry
  • Surgically Board Certified by ABFAS
  • Practicing 23+ years!
  • Options that fit each patients needs
  • Non-invasive options others don’t have
  • We cater to cowards
  • Boarded and Certified very friendly assistants

Heel Pain

Pain in the heel may be plantar fasciitis which is caused by irritation or inflammation of the plantar fascia on the bottom of your feet. It typically produces the most pain in the morning when getting out of bed. It can be felt in the arch or heel of your feet. 

To treat it:

  • Rest your feet
  • Do heel and foot stretches for the surrounding muscles
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as NSAIDs
  • Wear shoes with good support and a cushioned sole.

Heel spurs are another common source of foot pain. They are caused by abnormal growths of bone in the bottom of the heel. It can occur via abnormal gait or posture, as well as wearing the wrong shoes or running. Spurs can be painful while walking and standing. Most people do not experience pain symptoms with heel spurs. Individuals with flat feet or high arches are more at risk for heel spurs. 

To treat heel spurs:

  • Wear a cutout heel pad
  • Use a custom-made insert (called an orthotic)
  • Wear shoes that fit well and have shock-absorbing soles.
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as NSAIDs
  • Rest
  • Physical Therapy
  • If you still have pain, ask your doctor about medical procedures.

A stone bruise is identified as a deep bruise of the fat pads of the heels or balls of the feet. This most often occurs from an impactful injury, but may also happen if a hard object is stepped on. The pain has been described like walking on a pebble, and it will gradually subside with time.

In the meantime:

  • Rest your foot.
  • Ice the area.
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers.

A heel fracture is usually caused by a high-impact injury such as a fall or car accident. Your heel bone may break or shatter. Heel pain, bruising, swelling, and trouble walking are the most common symptoms of a heel fracture. 

To treat it:

  • Do not put pressure on the heel. Crutches are recommended
  • Protect the heel with pads.
  • Wear a splint or cast to protect the heel bone.
  • Ask your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers such as NSAIDs
  • Physical Therapy
  • If you’re still in pain, ask your doctor about surgery.

Are there non-surgical treatments for heel spurs, and how effective are they?

Yes, there are non-surgical treatments for heel spurs that can effectively alleviate pain and discomfort. These treatments may include:

  1. Rest: Giving your feet time to rest and heal can be effective.
  2. Ice: Applying ice to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and pain.
  3. Stretching exercises: Stretching the calf and Achilles tendon can relieve tension on the heel.
  4. Orthotics or shoe inserts: Custom or over-the-counter inserts can provide better arch support and cushioning.
  5. Anti-inflammatory medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and inflammation.
  6. Physical therapy: Exercises and techniques provided by a physical therapist can improve heel pain.

How can one differentiate between heel spurs and other causes of heel pain, such as plantar fasciitis?

  1. Location of Pain:

   – Heel Spurs: The pain from heel spurs is typically located at the front and bottom of the heel, often beneath the heel bone.

   – Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis pain is generally concentrated on the bottom of the heel and often radiates along the arch of the foot.

  1. Onset of Pain:

   – Heel Spurs: Pain from heel spurs may develop gradually and become more persistent over time.

   – Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis pain often begins suddenly, especially after activities like waking up in the morning or after prolonged periods of rest.

  1. Contributing Factors:

   – Heel Spurs: These are often associated with prolonged stress on the heel bone, such as from running or repetitive activities.

   – Plantar Fasciitis: Tight calf muscles, obesity, high-impact sports, or improper footwear can contribute to plantar fasciitis.

  1. Imaging:

   – Heel Spurs: A diagnostic X-ray may reveal the presence of a heel spur.

   – Plantar Fasciitis: While plantar fasciitis is often associated with heel spurs, it can be diagnosed clinically based on symptoms and physical examination.


FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

What do you do when your heel hurts?

  1. Call a podiatrist
  2. Rest until it is evaluated
  3. Ice the area
  4. take NSAIDS for comfort

 

Can Plantar fasciitis go away on its own? Sometimes if you catch it quick enough in the beginning, heel pain can resolve on its own, but if it has been present two weeks or more, get it checked out. It may become chronic, thus harder to treat.

  • ESWT or Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy is a noninvasive treatment option for heel pain relief especially chronic with plantar fasciitis as a cause of heel spurs. Originally used as lithotripsy to dissolve kidney stones, Shockwave therapy for heel pain involves pressure waves, or sound waves, being directed extracorporally (from outside the body). Unlike surgery, which is very invasive, this noninvasive procedure directs the pressure waves into the heel of the foot. This stimulates the body’s own healing process. ESWT can also over-stimulate lcaolly inflamed nerves, reducing their sensitivity and tenderness in the heel spur area. Shockwave Therapy is not new, having been developed in the 60s' for kidney stones, and since 2002 has been FDA approved to treat plantar fasciitis. Since then thousands of patients heel pain and many other chronic joint injuries have been treated with non-invasive  ESWT. The Dornier Epos Ultra machine delivers many tiny bursts of very high intensity acoustic energy to the damaged fascia or tendons —it is these tendons, and not the "spur" ( which is a common misconception) which cause the painful symptoms in most patients.  It is not ultrasound energy -the same type used by ultrasound machines to image babies and abdominal organ, that is the treating energy; the ultrasound in this machine is used for guidance and illuminates the areas of maximum inflammation, indication where treatment should be directed.    We typically recommend that our heel pain Cannonsburg patients choose ESWT after exhausting conservative options like stretching, arch supports and local injections or other antiinflammatory medications.

Heel Spur Treatments Pittsburgh Area

  • The Dornier Epos Ultra for heel spurs is specifically designed for use to treat orthopedic problems. It is the only FDA approved system in service since 2002. This High Intensity, ultrasound guided ESWT system is composed of three main parts:1) Shock Wave Therapy System - this portion creates the actual shock waves (also known as acoustic waves, sound waves or pressure waves). These waves travel through the water filled bladder of the therapy head. Your foot is placed against this cushion during treatment.2) Articulated Arm - This easily movable arm makes finding a comfortable position much easier for your ESWT treatment near me.  The therapy head is attached and can move around your heel to pinpoint the exact area of pain and inflammation in the heel.3) Ultrasound Imaging System - This allows the Podiatrist to see inside your foot and target the plantar fascial attachment to the heel spur, but not directly hit the bone, or blood vessels; which helps to keep complications to a minimum. It is more effective and safer than any other ESWT machine on the market. This allows the Podiatrist a "real time" image during treatment to assure proper placement of pressure waves and  to correlate your areas of pain with physical findings.
  • Shockwave therapy intentially creates calculated amounts of targeted damage, known as micro-trauma, aimed at the precise area the patient marks their pain, which is usually where the plantar fascia inserts into the heel bone.
  • Why would a patient want more damage?  Shockwave therapy  triggers the body’s  natural healing mechanisms; jump starting the bodies healing process. Increased fresh collagen and new tissue growth into the area then occurs via neovascularization.  Fascia is made mostly out of collagen. In over-use injuries collagen never gets a chance to heal after overuse, either during work or leisure activities and gradually breaks down, creating chronic inflammatory scar tissue.
  • It is this tissue that leads to most of the heel pain. The micro-trauma created during ESWT for heel pain causes subclinical acute pain and inflammation which triggers the body to produce fresh collagen as part of the natural healing process. By creating a controlled targeted fresh acute injury, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy begins an increased blood flow to the freshly injured area.
  • Your bodies immune system draws fibroblast, osteoblasts and chondroblast- the bodies healing cells- to the area to heal your heel!  ESWT directly addresses the fact that ligaments, tendons and fascia have anatomically poor blood flow (kind of like the tendon in a chicken leg). Shock wave is the gold standard treatment for plantar fasciitis for Pittsburgh patients.  

  • Before any procedure of any kind is started, a thorough history is taken and a thorough exam is performed.  Once you’ve been cleared for Shockwave therapy, you’ll be prepared for treatment—the treatment area is cleaned and local numbing medication such as novocaine or lidocaine may be used.  Shockwave is generally very well tolerated, and local numbing isn’t even needed in most cases.  The elbow is placed on a specialized “water bubble” which is part of the ESWT generator.  This is important, because ultrasound energy travels best through water.  Many small pulses of ultrasound energy are delivered to the tendons and ligaments of the elbow and the treatment is concluded.  The patient will hear a clicking sound as the shockwaves are generated, and usually feels no discomfort.  The treatment usually takes under 20 minutes.

  • Yes, Shockwave therapy has excellent success rates when compared to other common treatments, and has saved many patients from invasive surgery.  Several research papers have estimated ESWT’s success rates to be as high as 80%.  In this case, success is defined as a “good” or “excellent” outcome, which means that the patient has normal function with some minor pain, or normal function without any pain at all.  It often amazes patients that several extremely common treatments such as cortisone injections have practically no research supporting them, and their value is questionable at best.  Dr. Teimouri in Bridgewater has been in practice for over 22 years and is very satisfied with these rates of success.

Does ESWT hurt?  Is it painful?

  • No.  Patients feel either minor discomfort or nothing at all.  Our patients with tennis elbow in Pittsburgh are usually amazed at how comfortable treatment actually is.

Who is the ideal candidate for ESWT?

  • Any patient who has tried the most basic treatment measures (such as NSAIDs and rest) without relief is an excellent candidate for Shockwave therapy.  Any patient considering an invasive surgical procedure should certainly consider all non-invasive procedures such as ESWT first—we strongly recommend Shockwave to many of our achilles tendonitis Moon patients.

Is there anyone who shouldn’t get Shockwave Therapy?

While there will always be individual patients who don’t qualify for a specific procedure, ESWT has been used successfully on all major patient populations.  See the contraindications below for specific conditions it is not recommended for.

  1. Make sure  plantar fasciitisis the cause of your heel pain
  2. Pregnant
  3. Cortisone or prednisone ttherapy 2 weeks prior to ESWT
  4. Pacemaker or active heart disease
  5. Infection in treatment area
  6. Nerve disorders including diabetic polyneuropathy
  7. PVD, bleeding disorders, Factor 5 and other factor deficiencies
  8. Compromised tissue healing; autoimmune disorders
  9. Calcaneal stress fractures and other bone disorders
  10. Rheumatoid arthritis

I’ve had cortisone (steroid) shots and they didn’t work.  Is ESWT still OK for me?

  • ESWT is generally a good option for heel pain/ heel spur patients whose symptoms have not resolved with cortisone injections. Shock wave therapy often eliminates the need for future cortisone injections in most patients.

Are patients happy with Shockwave Therapy?

  • Yes.  In fact, many of our patients with heel spurs in Pittsburgh have been happy enough to recommend it to others. Many patients have flown in family members from other states to have treatment at our facility; both because it worked for them, and because we are a portion of the charge in other places.

Is ESWT surgery?  Is Shock wave therapy invasive?

  • ESWT is not considered surgery.  Shockwave therapy does not break the skin so is considered a non-invasive treatment. It's a major reason podiatrists prefer it as an option prior to open surgery.

Is ESWT a good option for people who have already had failed surgery for plantar fasciitis?

  • Yes.  Although this aspect has not been officially studied and failed surgery can complicate any  treatment: Anecdotally  and in our own experience, many patients get exceptional results with Shockwave therapy after failing surgery.

Heel Spur Treatments Pittsburgh

What are the side-effects?  What are potential complications?

  • Doctors around the world, especially in Europe, have successfully used this same shock wave technology since the early 1990s'. ESWT in NYC isn’t an invasive procedure and therefore has very few unintentional effects and complications.  Most patients experience some soreness for several days after the procedure with no other ill effects.  Our heel pain Bridgewater patients frequently report this as the extent of their discomfort.

How should I prepare for a Shockwave Therapy treatment?

No special preparation is necessary prior to ESWT in Philadelphia PA.

Are there any medications I should stop taking before my treatment?

  • NSAIDs and Steroids!. The podiatrist will review your med list as she would before to any procedure just to be certain. Patients using Coumadin are usually asked to come off this medication for 7 days before the procedure date.  As a rule, no medication type disqualifies a patient from Shock wave therapy.

  • ESWT was originally developed to break up kidney stones, and was soon adapted to treat other conditions.  Today Shockwave therapy is commonly used to treat achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and other soft-tissue injuries.  In theory, ESWT can be used to provide a broadly effective treatment in any over-use injury involving tendons and ligaments.

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What exercises should you do for plantar fasciitis? Gentle stretching is best.

What is the recovery time for plantar fasciitis? Every one is different.

What should I do after my procedure?  What’s the after-care?

  • You can resume normal activities of daily life immediately after a shock wave. No special after-care is needed, but no high intensity activies for 2 weeks are recommended.  Sometimes patients use Tylenol or heat  as necessary for a couple days, but neither is necessary. Orthotripsy, ESWT machine for heel spurs, Pittsburgh PA

When can I expect maximum results?

  • This time period varies, but patients generally experience significant relief by the 6th to 12th week.  Symptoms gradually lessen in the weeks and months after Shockwave therapy, and often disappear completely.

How soon can I go back to normal, everyday activities like driving, walking, and doing household work?

  • Immediately.

How soon can I go back to vigorous, higher impact activities like sports and weight lifting?

  • We recommend that our patients with achilles tendonitis in Coraopolis wait for 14 days before vigorous activity in order to be absolutely certain of an optimal outcome.

What’s the absolute best outcome I can expect from Shockwave?

  • Complete relief of achilles tendonitis symptoms and return to all normal activities without restriction.

What’s the absolute worst outcome I can expect from Shockwave?

  • No procedure succeeds 100% of the time.  For example, a patient with several failed surgeries who has extensive joint, tendon, and ligament damage may experience no relief at all.  This being said, ESWT cannot make  achilles tendonitis (or any other condition) worse.

Does insurance cover ESWT?  How much does it cost?

  • Our staff will check your insurance eligibility.  Many of our achilles tendonitis Seven Fields patients have had their insurance plan cover this procedure.

Is ESWT approved by the FDA?

  • Since ESWT isn’t a surgical procedure or a drug, it doesn’t have to be FDA approved.  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) reviewed the procedure in 2015 and approved Shockwave therapy for general use in all medical facilities.