Brooklyn Heel Pain

The heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot, and projects backward beyond the leg bones to provide a useful lever for the muscles of the calf. The heel bone bears all of the body's weight with each step. The stress on it and its associated structures is tremendous. Painful heels and heel spur syndrome are usually secondary to biomechanical faults. (Biomechanics is the dynamic study of the changes that occur with weight-bearing or walking).

iomechanical faults such as flexible flat feet, high arched foot deformities and tight achilles tendon cause a great amount of stress on the plantar fascia (a long band of fibers that attach at the bottom of the heel bone and extend to the beginning of the toes to help create the arch of the foot). Other causes of stress on the heel and plantar fascia include recent gain in weight, high impact athletic activities, prolonged standing or walking. Other causes of heel pain include plantar fasciitis (an inflammation of the plantar fascia), heel bursitis (an inflammation of a fluid filled sac at the attachment of the plantar fascia), and low back fractures or problems. It is also thought that a micro- traumatic fracture of the heel may have occurred, causing a heel spur as a result of this injury. Dr. Perlstein will examine you and require appropriate tests, including Xrays, and blood tests if needed. Heel spur syndrome mayor may not show evidence on X-ray, we may need to perform an ultrasound in our office.

Treatment-"See Our Heel Pain Video"

Treatment for heel spur syndrome usually involves rest, a series of steroidal injections, anti-inflammatory oral medication, steroidal or non-steroidal, physical therapy, heel cups, and orthotics (an insert for the shoe to relieve stress on the plantar fascia and other biomechanical faults). Resistant heel spurs are treated surgically in our office, with minimal invasive Cryo Surgery.