Waking up and stepping out of bed should not cause sharp, stabbing pain in your heel. If your first steps of the day are painful, you may have plantar fasciitis. This common condition involves irritation of the thick band of tissue supporting your arch.
In Boca Raton, Florida, Dr. Pritesh Patel and our team help our patients find relief. We specialize in diagnosing and treating heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Our goal is to get you back to your favorite activities without discomfort.
Stretching before you stand up is an effective way to protect your heel. Stretch the plantar fascia and calf muscles by sitting on the edge of your bed and gently pulling your toes back toward your shin. This simple movement prepares the tissue for your body weight.
If morning pain remains severe, other tools can help. Physical therapy guidelines recommend a one- to three-month program of night splints for persistent morning pain. These devices keep your foot in a neutral position overnight so the tissue does not tighten.
We can show you the correct stretching techniques and help you find the right splint.
Our patients sometimes worry they will need expensive custom inserts to get relief. Fortunately, you can often start with simpler options. Prefabricated arch supports can provide short-term reduction in pain similar to custom-molded inserts. This benefit lasts for up to three months.
To get the most benefit, we may recommend pairing these inserts with supportive, stiff-soled athletic shoes. We help you choose the right supports for your foot type. If your pain continues or you have a complex foot shape, we can discuss advanced options.
Not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis. If your symptoms do not improve with stretching and inserts, you may have a different condition.
For example, a calcaneal stress fracture causes diffuse heel pain that worsens progressively with weight-bearing and does not improve in the morning. Dr. Patel uses his specialized sports medicine training to perform a detailed evaluation.
Our team ensures you get an accurate diagnosis so you don’t waste time on the wrong treatments.
You don’t have to live with chronic foot pain. We can guide you through a personalized recovery plan. To take your first step toward relief, call us or book an appointment online today.
