Do you have sore heels? If heel pain is interfering with how you move, how you feel and how you live, then it’s time to get help from My FootDr.

Plantar fasciitis, often referred to as heel spurs, is the most common cause of heel pain that we see and treat. It causes pain at the bottom and inner edge of the heel, and can range from mild to severe.

If you dread those painful first steps in the morning or when standing after resting, there’s a good chance that the cause of your heel pain may be plantar fasciitis – and that our podiatrists can help.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Take your finger and trace from the bottom of your heel, out to all five toes like a fan. This is your plantar fascia, a connective tissue that fans out across your arch and helps stabilise and support your foot while you walk, run and move. When the plantar fascia is overloaded and strained, it can become injured, inflamed and cause heel pain. This is known as plantar fasciitis.

How long does plantar fasciitis last?

Plantar fasciitis and the heel pain associated with it, can last on and off for months and years if it is not properly managed and allowed to heal. This is because we continue to use it during each step, so it never gets a real rest – unlike when you have your arm in a cast or sling. We know how restrictive and limiting having a cast or moon boot is to your life and work can be, so our heel spur treatment of plantar fasciitis does not involve these measures, unless necessary like in a plantar fascial tear or rupture.

What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

You may feel:

Sharp heel pain and discomfort at the bottom and inside of the heel, which may radiate up into the mid-arch region

A ‘stone bruise’ type pain, like you are walking on a stone or a bony heel spur

Heel pain that is worst during the first few steps in the morning, and after sitting down to rest

Heel pain that is aggravated by physical activity and running

How we help treat plantar fasciitis

At My FootDr, we believe that healthy feet can lead to a better quality of life. Our team of podiatrists are qualified, board-registered and experienced. While together we’re the biggest podiatry team in Australia, giving us access to world-class, innovative heel pain treatments like shockwave, each clinic works very much locally to offer the best care for their patients while building genuine relationships.

Your heel pain treatment for plantar fasciitis will be tailored completely to your symptoms and life, and may include a combination of stretching, footwear modification, orthotics, shockwave, specially placed padding, dorsiflexion night splints, ice, and either topical or oral anti-inflammatories.

My FootDr’s top tips for healthy heels:

Seek a diagnosis from a podiatrist – you may have a problem that has similar symptoms to plantar fasciitis, but may not be plantar fasciitis, meaning that treatment may not be effective and your heel pain symptoms may worsen in the meantime Take the time to rest, and don’t do any activities that cause you heel pain Choose the right footwear for your feet, and try to wear supportive shoes as often as possible to avoid heel pain Wear custom foot orthotics if prescribed by your Podiatrist, especially until the heel pain settles Commit to an annual foot health check-up to reduce the risk of your heel pain returning in the future

Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis FAQs