Heel pain

This is one of the most common conditions treated at The London Podiatry Centre.

The causes for heel pain can be varied, but one of the most common is a condition frequently referred to as plantar fasciitis. This involves strain to a long ligament underneath the foot called the plantar aponeurosis. The ligament can be injured where it originates from the bone, or further forward towards the arch area.

When the ligament pulls from the bone one sometimes sees the development of a heel spur. The spur however is often an incidental finding and occurs in approximately 10% of the normal healthy population. Excision of the spur is very rarely indicated and most patients respond to conservative treatment which is generally effective if the biomechanical causes and forces are properly treated and assessed.

Other causes for heel pain include bursitis, nerve entrapment and stress reactions to the bone itself. In adolescence, a common condition known as Sever's disease results in heel pain

Sever's disease occurs during childhood and involves a section of the heel where the bone has not yet fully fused. In such cases this area, known as the growth plate becomes inflamed and painful. The causes for Sever's disease are usually biomechanical and conservative / non-surgical treatment is generally very effective at settling the condition.

Sometimes invasive treatments are required to achieve healing and the Centre uses a variety of specialised techniques including ultrasound-guided injection therapy and various surgical techniques. Shock wave therapy is also available.

Some types of Plantar Fasciosis can be treated by means of cryosurgery. A small probe is inserted to expose the painful nerves associated with the condition to extreme cold. The procedure is minimally invasive and offers a real alternative to Plantar Fasciosis / Fasciitis which has not responded to conservative care.

Please contact the centre for more information.