If your heel pain has begun to interfere with your life, it's time to pay a visit to your West Orange, NJ, podiatrists at Foot Health Center. Your foot doctors treat a variety of conditions that cause heel pain and provide treatments designed to ease your pain and promote healing.

What types of treatment are available for heel pain?

Your treatment plan depends on the type and severity of your injury but may include:

• Casts, Walking Boots and Crutches: It's difficult for your heel to get better when it's constantly subjected to pressure when you walk or stand. Wearing a cast or walking boot and using crutches reduces pressure, allowing your condition or injury to heal. These devices can be helpful if you have a fracture, plantar fasciitis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, Achilles tendonitis and other conditions.
• Orthotics: Orthotics can be helpful for many heel conditions, including plantar fasciitis, stone bruises, Achilles tendonitis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, heel spurs and arthritis. Orthotics are prescription shoe inserts designed by your podiatrist. The inserts keep your foot properly aligned and supported and also cushions your foot, reducing pressure on your heel. Your foot doctor may recommend a full-length orthotic or a heel cup, an orthotic that fits in the heel portion of your shoe.
• Night Splints: Night splints hold your foot in a neutral position when you sleep and can help reduce pain due to plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.
• Corticosteroid Injections: Corticosteroid injections relieve pain and also reduce inflammation, which could be a contributing factor in pain.
• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy: This therapy uses low-energy shockwaves to improve blood flow to your heel, ease pain and speed healing. It may be helpful if plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis doesn't improve after trying other treatments.

Your podiatrist may also recommend physical therapy. Physical therapy treatments strengthen the muscles that support your heel, reduce stiffness and improve range of motion. Although most people never need surgery for heel pain, your West Orange, NJ, foot doctor may recommend a surgical procedure in some cases, such as a compound fracture, a torn Achilles tendon or plantar fasciitis that doesn't respond to other treatments.

Are you struggling with heel pain? Call your podiatrists in West Orange, NJ, at (973) 731-1266 to schedule your appointment.