Heel Pain

Lowcountry Orthopaedic Sports Medicine - Charleston, SC

Injuries don’t keep office hours. When its urgent, get diagnosed and recover fast when you go straight to the orthopedic experts with Ortho After Hours.

As premier hip and knee replacement surgeons in Charleston, SC, Dr. Zimlich and Dr. Stem alleviate patient pain and discomfort using innovative techniques and technologies. Concentrating exclusively on knee and hip replacement, the Lowcountry Orthopaedics Hip and Knee Specialists operate at the Lowcountry Orthopaedics Surgery Center and area hospitals per patient preference.

Top rated for eight years in a row as Charleston’s Choice for best orthopedic surgeons, countless of satisfied patients walk away with a pain free, natural feeling knee or hip. From custom total knee arthroplasty using 3D printing to the area’s first and only outpatient surgery center based robotic knee replacement program, patients trust Lowcountry Orthopaedics Hip and Knee Specialists.

Signature services include:

  • Custom total knee arthroplasty using 3D printing
  • Same day robotic knee replacement program
  • Personalized joint replacement experience
  • Dedicated team of nurses, physician assistants, and physical therapists
  • Proven outcomes for quick recovery and pain-free lives

Same day appointments are available at one of our convenient North Charleston, Summerville, or Daniel Island locations.

Heel Pain

Every mile you walk puts 60 tons of stress on each foot. Your feet can handle a heavy load, but too much stress pushes them over their limits. When you pound your feet on hard surfaces playing sports or wear shoes that irritate sensitive tissues, you may develop heel pain, the most common problem affecting the foot and ankle. A sore heel will usually get better on its own without surgery if you give it enough rest. However, many people try to ignore the early signs of heel pain and keep on doing the activities that caused it. When you continue to use a sore heel, it will only get worse and could become a chronic condition leading to more problems. Surgery is rarely necessary.

Treatments

Conditions that cause heel pain generally fall into two main categories: pain beneath the heel and pain behind the heel.

PAIN BENEATH THE HEEL

If it hurts under your heel, you may have one or more conditions that inflame the tissues on the bottom of your foot.

Stone Bruise

When you step on a hard object such as a rock or stone, you can bruise the fat pad on the underside of your heel. It may or may not look discolored. The pain goes away gradually with rest.

Plantar Fasciitis (Subcalcaneal Pain)

Doing too much running or jumping can inflame the tissue band (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the toes. The pain is centered under your heel and may be mild at first but flares up when you take your first steps after resting overnight. You may need to do special exercises, take medication to reduce swelling, and wear a heel pad in your shoe.

Heel Spur

When plantar fasciitis continues for a long time, a heel spur (calcium deposit) may form where the fascia tissue band connects to your heel bone. Your doctor may take an X-ray to see the bony protrusion, which can vary in size. Treatment is usually the same as for plantar fasciitis: rest until the pain subsides, do special stretching exercises and wear heel pad shoe inserts.

PAIN BEHIND THE HEEL

If you have pain behind your heel, you may have inflamed the area where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone (retrocalcaneal bursitis). People often get this by running too much or wearing shoes that rub or cut into the back of the heel. Pain behind the heel may build slowly over time, causing the skin to thicken, get red, and swell. You might develop a bump on the back of your heel that feels tender and warm to the touch. The pain flares up when you first start an activity after resting. It often hurts too much to wear normal shoes. You may need an X-ray to see if you also have a bone spur.

Resting

Resting from the activities that caused the problem and placing ice on the back of the heel to reduce inflammation.

Pain Medication

Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and swelling.

Shoes & Stretches

Your doctor may want you to use a 3/8″ or 1/2″ heel insert and wear open-back shoes. Stretch your Achilles tendon by leaning forward against a wall with your foot flat on the floor and heel elevated with the insert.

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Services

General Info

Achilles Tendinitis

Arthritis

Bunions

Children’s Clubfoot

Hammertoe

Heel Pain

Ligament Sprains & Tears

Monday - Thursday 5pm to 7pm Saturday 8am to 12pm

No appointment necessary.
Call 843-266-4884 for information.

Lowcountry Orthopaedics’ Foot & Ankle Team

William Corey, MD

William Corey, MD

Foot & Ankle Specialist

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Hip & Knee Specialists

Fast forward to feeling better with Lowcountry Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine’s board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons that specialize in joint reconstruction and hip and knee surgery.

Same Day Appointments

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Same-Day Joint Replacement

The benefits of same-day total hip or knee replacement surgery include fast recovery, lower risk of infection, no risk of hospital-acquired illness, cost reduction, and increased patient satisfaction. Patients interested in same-day joint surgery should schedule an evaluation with Dr. Zimlich to review their medical profile for candidacy.

Joint Replacement Surgery
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