When you have foot pain, especially in your heel, it can make your mobility difficult. Thanks to the professional team at Total Foot Care, you don't have to continue to live with such pain any longer. Dr. Richard Cohen and Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg are trustworthy podiatrists who have experience helping others with heel pain in Greenbelt, MD.
What Are the Common Causes of Heel Pain?
Your pain may result from strain or injury. In many cases, people may have heel issues because of bone spurs. Bone spurs are deposits of calcium that build up on bones. As a result, they can stretch the Achilles tendon and be a cause of inflammation. However, you may not have any symptoms with these growths and only become aware of them when your podiatrist takes an X-ray.
If you're very active and cause stress to the soft tissues of your heel, it can encourage the growth of the spurs. That's why runners or athletes who don't wear the appropriate footgear are likely to develop them. The likelihood of bone spurs can also increase with age.
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that happens near the heel. It affects the thick connective tissue that runs from your heel along the bottom of your foot. It can also create heel pain.
How Can a Podiatrist Help?
Whether you develop inflammation or pain from these conditions, your local Greenbelt, MD, podiatry team can help. When you visit Dr. Cohen or Dr. Steinberg for your heel problems, the first step is an examination for a proper diagnosis.
Your podiatrist may use an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to diagnose the underlying problem. They can tell if there is inflammation of the tendons, bone spurs, or broken bones. Your treatment may involve the use of orthopedic devices to wear in your shoes. They may even recommend you wear special shoes for a while.
Your podiatrist can also show you various stretching techniques to help ease the pain, particularly from plantar fasciitis. If your bone spurs become a major problem, your podiatrist may have to do surgery to remove them. They may also use injections of cortisone or similar drugs to help relieve intense inflammation and pain. Your treatment plan will depend on the extent of the injury, inflammation level, and how well it has responded to less invasive techniques.
Painful feet can affect your quality of life. That's why it's essential to find a foot specialist you can trust. Thanks to Dr. Cohen and Dr. Steinberg, you have reliable care for your heel pain in Greenbelt, MD. Contact Total Foot Care at (301) 345-4087 for an appointment today.