Heel Injury Causes, Prevention and Treatment
Brookfield Foot Doctors Provide Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment Diagnose and Treat All Types of Heel Injuries
Heel injuries happen all the time. They have many causes, usually resulting from too much stress on your heel bone and the tissue surrounding it. Our foot specialists in Brookfield, WI and Milwaukee area accurately diagnose heel injuries and provide the most highly effective treatment for your specific heel pain. Our Brookfield foot doctors also recommend things you can do to avoid most heel injuries.
Common Heel Injuries
There are a variety of common heel injuries, including:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Heel Spurs
- Heel Bruises
- Severs Disease
- Heel Stress Fractures
- Acute Heel Fractures
Heel Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Footwear: Wearing non-supportive shoes on a hard surface for a long time can cause plantar fasciitis. High heels, shoes without soles and other poorly made or ill-fitting footwear can lead to heel injuries and other causes of foot pain.
If you are a runner or other type of athlete, be sure to replace your sports shoes regularly. A running shoe should last for about 400 miles of running. After this, the mid soles weaken. If you need heel cups or shoe inserts, be sure to wear them in both shoes, even if only one heel hurts.
Stretching: Stretching before rigorous exercise is critical to avoid heel injuries and other foot or ankle injuries.
Pace: Many heel injuries occur over time, gradually causing painful damage. If you’re trying a new exercise regimen, go careful and gradual. Work yourself into the program. Don’t do too much too fast.
Heel Pain DIY Treatments and Tips
- Rest until the pain goes away. Rest means rest. Don’t stop exercising and then spend time doing heavy manual labor. If you must do hard, physical work, be sure to wear shoe inserts to cushion your heels or tape them for more support.
- Listen to your body. If you have an injury, the faster you care for it, the shorter and more complete will be your recovery. The longer you wait, the longer it will take for your heel injury to recover. Surgery is not often needed and is usually considered only after conservative treatments are undertaken.
- Ice packs on the injured area will help reduce swelling.
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen reduce pain and inflammation.
In general, heel injuries and related foot pain can be treated conservatively without surgical intervention.
If you’ve recently suffered a heel injury or are experiencing chronic or severe heel pain make an appointment with our heel specialists in Brookfield, WI or Milwaukee area. Our foot doctors quickly and accurately diagnose heel injuries and related foot pain causes. We provide the most advanced treatment customized to your specific needs, helping you heal faster and completely.