It’s commonly said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This is as true for heel pain as it is many other foibles in life. Plantar fasciitis is often assigned as the rock bottom reason for painful heels, but that always isn’t the case. If treatments for plantar fasciitis aren’t showing results, then something else might be at play. Perhaps an entrapped nerve?

Nerves run all through the feet to provide sensation and contribute to your overall stability. Unfortunately, a portion of a nerve may become compressed or trapped against neighboring structures. Nerves along the heelbone, also known as calcaneal nerves, can cause a burning pain if they become entrapped. This is sometimes mistaken for another condition, which unfortunately leads to improper treatment and a longer period of time before real relief can be found.

In some cases, a change in footwear or orthotics to realign the balance of the foot can be enough to take the pressure off the nerve. In other cases, decompression surgery may be necessary. The important part is to provide relief to the nerve before lasting damage happens.

At Parker Foot and Ankle, we want to ensure the proper diagnosis for your heel pain is hit much sooner rather than later. That’s why we use tools such as the MEHPS Questionnaire, which stands for “multiple etiology heel pain syndrome” and diagnostic ultrasound measurement to “grade” your heel pain severity into mild, moderate, and severe, to better pinpoint the cause of your discomfort.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (281) 497-2850.