If you suffer an acute injury like an ankle sprain or a toe fracture, it’s pretty obvious why you’re experiencing discomfort. But what happens if symptoms develop without an acute moment of injury, and moreover, what if they are only isolated to one of your feet? That’s an issue that many people face when they start to notice heel pain developing in just one foot. But why is this isolated heel pain developing, and more importantly, how can it be treated? We take a closer look at why heel pain may develop in just one foot in today’s blog.
Heel Pain In One Foot
For the sake of this blog, let’s assume that your heel pain developed without an obvious cause of injury. If you fell off a ladder and landed feet first or you stepped on a pointy rock with your bare feet, it’s clear why your heel is in pain. For this blog, we’re focusing on heel pain that seemingly comes out of nowhere and is isolated to just one foot.
It’s wise to consult with a foot specialist if you’re dealing with heel pain that has come out of nowhere and is affecting one foot. With that said, if the following are also true, there’s a good chance we know what’s going on with your heel:
- Does your heel hurt more with your first few steps in the morning?
- Does discomfort to improve a little as the day goes on?
- Have you recently increased the amount of steps you’ve taken or stress you’ve put on your feet?
- Do you notice discomfort after standing following extended periods of sitting?
If this describes your discomfort, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re dealing with a condition known as plantar fasciitis.
We’ve talked about plantar fasciitis at length on our blog in the past, but know that it is caused by inflammation and damage to the strong connective tissues on the underside of your foot. These tissues help to support your foot arch and connect your heel to your toes, and if they are overstressed, small tears can develop. These tissues tend to contract when seated or while you’re sleeping, and then the lengthen and bear weight with the first few steps in the morning, causing significant discomfort.
Fortunately, you can work to manage your plantar fasciitis symptoms on your own or you can connect with a foot specialist for individualized advice. Most doctors will recommend a course of non-operative treatments like rest, stretching exercises, physical therapy, braces and anti-inflammatory medication. Providing an ideal environment for healing to take place is essential, so limit your activity for a short while or at least avoid high impact activities. You can still walk, cycle or swim while being protective of your plantar fasciitis, so know that rest doesn’t mean you should just lay in bed all day and eventually expect to feel better.
Physical therapy can help strengthen nearby structures, taking stress off the fascia, and stretching can help elongate these tissues after periods of inactivity so your first steps aren’t as painful. Most patients don’t need surgery to address their plantar fasciitis, but at the same time, ignoring the problem rarely leads to a full recovery, and prolonged fasciitis will increase your risk of needing a corrective procedure.
So if you’re dealing with morning heel pain or heel pain that’s isolated to one foot, connect with a foot specialist and target the problem so it doesn’t linger for months. In the greater Scottsdale area, we hope you’ll connect with Dr. Silverman and the team at OrthoArizona. Give his team a call today at (602) 648-5444.