The Fastest Ways to Cure Heel Pain

If you have a sharp pain in your heel while walking, exercising, playing sports , or putting weight on your feet, you may have plantar fasciitis. This is one of the most prevalent foot illnesses, frequently affecting those who are:
- Overweight
- Frequent exercisers
- Flat-footed
- Wearing poorly fitting shoes
- Constantly on their feet

Fortunately, numerous effective treatments exist for this disease, both at home and with a podiatrist. Here's a list of at-home cures, followed by how your foot pain specialist may assist.

Start Walking AgainA heel pain doctor specializes in providing effective pain relief for a variety of foot conditions, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, bunions, and more. If you are suffering discomfort and unsure of the source, consult professionals who can accurately diagnose your pain and recommend the best treatment approach.

Why Does My Heel Hurt?Chronic heel pain could signify several diseases. However, Plantar Fasciitis is the most common ailment, affecting millions of people and accounting for the bulk of heel pain occurrences. Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by overuse of your feet, specifically the thick band of tissue in your foot known as the plantar fascia. Straining this band of tissue, which is essential for balance and weight bearing, can have catastrophic and debilitating repercussions.

Treat Your Heel Pain With These 6 Methods
1. Rest, rest, rest
Resting as much as possible is the best thing you can do to relieve your heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is a condition caused by misuse of the feet. Sports , running, walking , or even wearing the wrong shoes can all cause your plantar fascia to become irritated. Resting allows your body to focus on mending rather than using the tendon, which means you'll be able to resume your favorite activities pain-free.

2. Stretch Your Feet
Stretching your muscles and tendons increases blood flow to the area being stretched. Blood flow is essential for mending injuries because it transports oxygen and nutrients to the body. Here are two stretches you can employ to relieve heel pain:
- While sitting, wrap a towel as if to wring it out and grip the two long ends. Place the towel in the middle of your foot's arch and draw the ends while pushing down with your foot, similar to tightening your shoelaces. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds, then repeat three times on each foot.
- Fold one leg over the other while sitting, allowing you to sit up straight while reaching your big toe with your arm. Grab your big toe and slowly pull it towards your body until you feel a stretch. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then repeat three times with each foot.

3. Ice to Reduce Inflammation
Icing an injured joint, tendon, or muscle reduces swelling and allows blood vessels to get more oxygen and nutrients. To ice your plantar fascia, raise your foot and tape a cold pack to the bottom of it. Alternatively, you might freeze a plastic water bottle and roll your foot across it to massage and ice it at the same time.

4. Use Pain RelieversOver-the-counter pain medicines will not treat your heel pain but can help you experience less pain throughout the day. If over-the-counter pain relievers fail to give adequate relief, your foot doctor may prescribe NSAIDs.

5. Shoe Inserts
If you have shoe inserts from Superfeet, Dr. Scholl's, or another brand, they may help reduce strain on your plantar fascia. However, these are unlikely to be custom-made for your foot shape.

6. Avoid Painful ShoesWhile it may be tempting to put on those beautiful high heels or great-looking dress shoes for a night out, this might be quite harmful if you have plantar fasciitis. Always try to wear appropriately sized, comfy footwear.

Furthermore, many believe that going barefoot is an effective strategy for promoting healthy feet. This may be true when walking barefoot on soft surfaces. However, avoid walking barefoot on rough surfaces, as this might be more harmful than beneficial.