Why does my heel pain keep coming back?
In most cases, once heel pain is treated it usually goes away and stays away. However, there is a protocol to follow. In some cases recurrent heel pain occurs because the cause of the condition was not treated, that is the over-pronation or excessive turning out of the heel during gait. Most heel pain has inflammation as well excessive tension of a tendon or ligament on the bone. Injections, physical therapy, taping, anti-inflammatory medications all help with the swelling aspect of the pain. However, it does not treat the cause. Custom orthotics are usually necessary in recurrent heel pain. These devices are made for your feet. They are made to correct the alignment of your foot structure. Without it, your heel pain will most likely recur. If you have orthotics, then maybe they were not made correctly, or you needed different materials. In addition, it is recommended to have your orthotics looked at every six months. They can wear out or just a simple adjustment might be needed. Also, your feet do change as you get older. So, please make sure you stretch properly before any activity, wear proper shoes and have a good pair of orthotics.
