That stabbing pain in your heel when you take your first steps in the morning isn’t something you should ignore, even if you don’t think it’s a big deal. At Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates in Mission Viejo, California, serving patients throughout South Orange County, we see countless patients who’ve been living with heel pain far longer than necessary.
Heel pain rarely affects just your feet. That nagging heel pain forces you to walk differently, putting extra stress on your knees, hips, and spine. These compensations create a domino effect, putting stress on your ankles, knees, and lower back. Slowly, you may stop activities you love because the pain isn’t worth it anymore.
What starts as occasional discomfort often becomes a chronic issue when left untreated. Your body adapts to protect the painful area, creating long-term movement patterns that become more difficult to reverse the longer you ignore the problem.
Your calcaneus (heel bone) takes the brunt of impact forces as the biggest bone in your foot. While plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the band of tissue connecting your heel to your toes — is the most common culprit of heel pain, several other conditions might be behind your discomfort:
Without proper diagnosis, you might be treating the wrong condition entirely. Only a trained podiatrist can effectively diagnose and treat the true source of your foot pain.
Many patients try managing heel pain at home with limited success. While rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers help temporarily, they rarely address the root cause of chronic heel pain.
At Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates, we offer solutions that target the actual source of your discomfort:
The multivwave locked system (MLS) laser delivers focused light that jumpstarts healing and cools down inflammation in damaged heel tissue.
Radial shockwave therapy applies high-energy acoustic waves to increase circulation in your heel.
Custom orthotics provide proper support and cushion for your foot mechanics.
Specialized injections including steroid, prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and amniotic grafts deliver relief directly to the painful area.
Unlike temporary fixes, these treatments repair damaged heel tissues rather than just dulling the pain signals.
No two cases of heel pain are identical. Your treatment plan should consider your age, activity level, overall health, and specific diagnosis. During your consultation, our team physically examines your feet, assesses for discoloration or swelling, and may recommend diagnostic imaging to get a complete picture of what’s happening.
This thorough approach prevents wasting time on treatments that aren’t right for your specific condition.
Many patients wait months or even years before seeking professional help for heel pain. Unfortunately, this delay often lengthens and complicates recovery timelines. Damaged tissues that might have healed quickly with early intervention become chronically inflamed and more resistant to treatment.
The sooner you address your heel pain, the faster you can return to pain-free movement. Call Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates in Mission Viejo, California, at 949-364-2525, or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation. Our team will help you find the lasting relief you deserve.
