Seattle Heel Pain Center

Seattle’s Heel Pain Specialists – Effective Relief of Plantar Fasciitis and All Types of Heel Pain

Plantar Fasciitis and Other Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is the most common complaint we treat.

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis – but it is critical to understand that there are many other causes of heel pain also.

If you think you have plantar fascitiis, read our complete Guide to Plantar Fasciitis Treatment before going any farther.

Heel Pain Specialists

Dr. Huppin and Dr. Hale are experts in the effective treatment of heel and arch pain. Pain in the heels and arches is the most common problem treated in our clinic and we have become the regional referral center for treatment of even the most difficult and longest lasting cases of heel pain. We are usually able to help patients who have already seen numerous other practitioners.

Since heel and arch pain is such a pervasive complaint, a decade ago we established a specific protocol based on the best available research, to address the needs of our patients suffering from this ailment for months and even years, without relief. There’s no need to suffer this ongoing pain when most heel and arch issues respond to a properly prescribed and conservative treatment plan.

Anyone suffering from plantar fasciitis or other causes of heel or arch pain is a candidate for our Heel and Arch Pain Protocol and we even have specialized protocols for patients with special needs including:

• Patients with previous treatment failure
• Athletes
• Arthritis patients
• Pregnant patients
• Children

If you are suffering from heel pain, contact us today for an appointment in our Seattle foot and ankle clinic.

Our Heel Pain Treatment Protocol Explained

At our heel pain clinic, we use conservative treatments such as specialized orthotics and Shockwave Therapy. Surgical options are available if all conservative treatments fail, but Dr. Hale and Dr. Huppin emphasize exhausting conservative treatments before considering surgery. Surgery is almost never required. Our treatment program focuses on three main areas:

• Identify the underlying case
  We will discover the underlying cause of your heel pain and devise a personalized treatment plan to not only relieve your pain in the short run but also prevent it from reoccurring. We will evaluate your feet, walking pattern (gait), shoes, activities, exercise methods and other relevant information and then devise a treatment plan unique to you.
• Reduce tension on the plantar fascia
  Many studies have shown that the most common underlying cause of plantar fasciitis is tension on the plantar fascia. These studies show that foot orthotics that conform extremely close to the arch of the foot are the most effective method to reduce tension on the plantar fascia. These are called “total-contact orthotics”.
• Relieve the inflammation/degenerative changes
  We want to relieve your pain and get you back participating fully in the activities you enjoy. To this end, we try to relieve the inflammation/degenerative change which is causing your pain. This may involve exercises, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, heel cups, over the counter arch supports, custom total contact orthoticsor a combination of these therapies.

A Second Opinion You Can Trust for Your Heel Pain

If you have chronic heel pain that isn’t responding to treatment with your current doctor or if invasive treatment such as heel surgery has been recommended, make an appointment to see our doctors at the Seattle Heel Pain Center for a second opinion. Second opinions are always a good idea to help ensure you have all the information necessary to ensure you can cure your heel pain.

Your second opinion appointment will include:

• Complete medical history and examination
• In-depth evaluation of any orthotics or arch supports
• Shoe evaluation
• Detailed and easy to understand explanation of our findings and treatment options
• Recommendations on a specific treatment plan

When you come to your second opinion, please bring with you:

• Any current foot x-rays
• Current CT, MRI or bone scans of the feet along with the radiologist’s report
• Notes from current and past foot specialists who have treated your heel pain. You can download a records request form here and fax it to your doctor(s).
• Orthotics and / or arch supports
• A sample of shoes you usually wear
• A written summary from your perspective of your treatment so far can also be helpful

After a complete history and evaluation, we will provide you with all of the available options for treatment of your heel pain, whether it is due to plantar fasciitis or another condition. Our opinions are based on the latest research on heel pain and our own experience over the past 20 years. Contact us today for an appointment at the Seattle Heel Pain Center.

Morning Heel pain? You’re Not Alone

Do you wake up in the morning and have sharp, stabbing pain in your heel? This is a common complaint we hear often at the Seattle Heel Pain Center. Pain first thing in the morning is a very common problem and occurs most often in people suffering from plantar fasciitis and other types of heel pain.

The heel pain usually occurs when you first get out of bed and lasts from just a minute or two up to half an hour. The pain may also occur after sitting for a period. Our goal when treating you is to determine the exact cause of your heel pain and then develop a targeted treatment plan.

Our treatment plans are based on ongoing reviews of the medical literature and our 20 years’ experience. We can usually treat the most chronic cases of heel pain – even if you have seen many other doctors. Almost all heel pain can be treated conservatively and surgery is almost never necessary. If you are suffering with heel pain of any sort, make an appointment today to see us at the Seattle Heel Pain Center.

 

FAQs About Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Pain and Treatment Options

#1 How long will it take for my heel pain to get better?

The most common cause of heel and arch pain is plantar fasciitis. If not under-treated or mistreated, this problem can last months or years longer than it should. When treated correctly, most patients start to see significant relief within weeks. To achieve the most rapid relief, we will develop a treatment plan designed specifically for your feet. The sooner treatment starts, the easier the problem is to treat.

#2 Can orthotics relieve my arch and heel pain?

Studies have shown that custom foot orthotics were effective both short-term and long-term to treat pain from plantar fasciitis and other conditions. Some patients will do well with quality prefabricated orthotics and others require custom full contact orthotics. We will help you find the most effective orthotic for your condition at the least cost.

#3 How do you determine the best orthotics for my heel pain?

To ensure best outcomes for your heel pain, we first perform a detailed examination including slow motion video analysis of how you walk and how your big toe joint works. A laser mold of your foot is then taken in a very specific position and the orthotic devices are prescribed in a manner to ensure best function of your feet.

#4 Will prefabricated orthotics help my arch and heel pain?

Although custom orthotics, if correctly made, work the best to reduce tension on the plantar fascia, not every patient requires a custom orthotic for pain relief. Many patients will do fine with a prefabricated arch support. We will help you determine the best choice for your feet and the most affordable option that will effectively treat your plantar fasciitis.

#5 How do your orthotics differ from other orthotics?

Dr. Huppin and Dr. Hale are specialists in and teach orthotic therapy to other doctors at seminars throughout North America. We take great pride in providing patients with the best possible orthoses for their specific problem. Quality of orthotics varies considerably. We guarantee our patients that their orthoses are the finest quality and biomechanically accurate.

Trust the Experts at the Seattle Heel Pain Center of the Foot and Ankle Center

Heel pain is the most common condition we treat in our Seattle clinic and the experts at the Foot and Ankle Center in Washington can offer you rapid and long-lasting relief from your heel and arch pain. Each type of heel pain has its own treatment protocol. We’ve devoted an entire division of our practice – The Seattle Heel Pain Center – to treating all types of heel pain.

We have a special interest in treating patients who have not had success with treatment from other doctors and therapists. We have a better than 95% success rate and can usually cure even the most long-lasting heel pain. Don’t live with heel pain. Make an appointment now to see us in our Seattle office.

 

 

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