14/10/2020
Heel Pain - Are you listening to the right people to treat your FOOT Problem?
Heel pain is a complex issue, which is often oversimplified and attributed to its most common diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis. However there are many, many reasons why your heel may hurt:
Plantar fasciitis, plantar fascia tear, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Baxter’s nerve entrapment, calcaneal stress fracture, calcaneal cysts, soft tissue mass, heel spur, gout, systemic arthritis (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis), retrocalcaneal bursitis, Achilles tendonitis/tendinosis, sural nerve entrapment, severs disease, peroneal tendinopathy, tibialis posterior tendinopathy, flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy..... to name but a few.
Are you following recommendations on Facebook for various treatments from people who may have heel pain for a completely different reason to yourself? Different factors related to stiffness or mobility, different foot structure, different foot posture, different gait characteristics, different footwear, different activity levels, different BMI and perhaps a completely different issue to yourself?
Have you purchased a generic pair of ebay / facebook / cruise ship / shopping centre - insoles/gels/orthotics, of an inappropriate type, density and structure and started wearing them without any adaptations or knowing if they are suitable or optimal for your condition?
Have you bought a common brand of squidgy shoes because someone recommended them and said they’re really comfy...but have found them squidgy and comforting but ultimately not helping your condition?
Are you being told “it doesn’t go away”, “there’s nothing that can be done”, or “just do some stretches”?
Have you been to see the lady/man down the road because their friend on facebook said he/she is great.... only to find they are a generalist, or they specialise in back pain, shoulder issues or toenail cutting for example?
A clinician or practitioner can only diagnose within their knowledge and training and essentially should only diagnose and treat within their scope of practice, if they don’t know anything about the conditions listed above as an example, they definitely won’t know their characteristics or how to test for them............let alone treat them.
An extended scope Podiatrist, who specialises in musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions of the foot and lower limb is better placed to heal heels.
