Heel & Foot Pain

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Its Various Causes

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome compresses the Tibial nerve as it travels along the inner leg. This foot condition causes pain and tingling in the ankles, pain radiating up the leg and into the foot, swelling of the heel, electric-like shocks, hot and cold sensations, and even a burning sensation starting at the bottom of the foot and going upward.

Naturally, this condition is most unpleasant and strange. Often patients will feel like their feet don’t have enough padding but they don’t know why. TTS can be caused by a variety of issues (including benign cysts, varicose veins or tendon sheath Inflammation), but it’s important for you to come in to Ottawa Foot Clinic and have the problem properly diagnosed and treated. Don’t delay!

Sever’s Disease: Causes and Treatments

Sever’s disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is a common cause of heel pain among active children between 10 to 13 years old. This spontaneous heel pain results from injury to the heel bone’s growth plate which is caused by overuse rather than specific injury or trauma. The condition is common among athletic children, particularly those active in soccer, football, and baseball.

Children are at a higher risk of developing Sever’s disease when they are in the early stages of a growth spurt. During times of growth, muscles and tendons become extremely tight. Movements during athletic activities like soccer, tennis, and gymnastics can put added force on the growth plate in the heel, which is pulled tight by the Achilles tendon. Over time, the growth plate becomes inflamed and painful.

There are several factors that increase a child’s risk of developing Sever’s disease, including:

• Excessive pronation. 
• Flat or high arches.
• Short Achilles tendon.
• Weight gain (which results in more force on the feet).

Sever’s Disease Symptoms

The pain associated with Sever’s disease is usually felt along the back of the heel and becomes worse when running or walking. In some children, the pain is so severe they may limp when walking. One of the diagnostic tests for Sever’s disease is the “squeeze test”. Squeezing both sides of the heel together will produce immediate discomfort. Many children feel pain immediately upon waking and may have calf muscle stiffness in the morning.

Treatment of Sever’s disease

Parents can assist with the treatment of Sever’s disease by making sure their children reduce physical activity until pain subsides. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine may recommend flexibility exercises, custom orthotics and anti-inflammatory laser treatments. In severe cases, a splint or soft cast may be necessary to immobilize the foot and give it a chance to heal. Most cases of Sever’s disease will resolve by the age of 16, when growing subsides. But severe  and permanent damages with the tendon and its bony insertion may happen if the inflammation is not treated fast enough. Call Ottawa Foot Clinic now to have your child’s heel pain condition assessed and treated to avoid permanent damages!

Painful Heels Can Change your Life

Another Change The World campaign—the effort to get high school kids to volunteer in their community—has drawn to a close. Ottawa teens turned in their volunteer hours in support of a host of special events and ongoing projects. Changing the world is a big and worthy concept, but even a small thing like painful heels can change your world, too—for the worse. Although it may not compare to treating cancer or finding a cure for MS, we offer heel pain treatments that can help you heal, so you can go on to help others.  Such a worthy goal, don’t you think!

Sore heels can result from a variety of issues. Heel pain causes include:

• Plantar fasciitis– inflammation of the ligament under your arch
• Achilles tendonitis – inflammation of the tendon behind your ankle
• Overpronation – excessive rolling of your foot to the inside as you take a step, which contributes to pain in your heel
• Heel spurs – bony growths under or at the back of the heel that can irritate surrounding tissues
• Arthritis, an inflamed bursa, or a bruise in the soft tissue next to the heel bone

Pain Relief is Essential

No matter where it comes from, you are looking for a change: relief from the pain so you can function normally again. The good news is we can usually help you with conservative, non-surgical treatments.

Remedies such as better types of shoes, taping and strapping methods, or custom orthotics designed by us to address your faulty foot movements can be surprisingly effective. We can always prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medications (oral or injected) that help you over the hump until your tissues heal. Physical therapy using certain stretches and exercises can also be beneficial.

In a few cases, you may not find enough relief from these treatments. That is when surgical procedures may be a final option. A torn Achilles can be repaired surgically so it heals better, and an inflamed bursa or heel spur can be removed if needed.

Find the expert foot care you desire at Ottawa Foot Practice in Ontario. You can call us at (613) 595-9700 or set up an appointment through our website. We want to change your painful heels to healthy ones, so you can go out and change the world.