Heel Pain

Heel Pain

More than 2 million Americans experience heel pain every year, and it’s one of the most common issues Acacia Foot and Ankle Surgeons treats. Led by Kaveh Panahi, DPM, the practice offers exceptional heel pain care for patients of all ages in Peoria and Phoenix, Arizona. Whether you have plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, or a stress fracture, the expert providers offer unique treatments to fit your needs. 

What are the causes of heel pain? 

You may experience heel pain behind the heel, beneath the heel, or within the heel bone itself. Several conditions can lead to heel pain:

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It occurs when the ligament on the bottom of your heel and arch tears or stretches due to overuse or injury. Read More About Plantar Fasciitis.   

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS)  

Flatfoot deformity, chronic swelling, arthritis, diabetes, and varicose veins are the most common causes of TTS. Read More About Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Haglund's deformity  

Also called a “pump bump,” this is a gradual growth of bone on the back of your heel that becomes painful over time. 

Achilles tendinitis

The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscle to your heel bone — when overused, it can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the back of your heel.

Bursitis

Bursitis can occur if you spend a lot of time on your feet, causing fluid-filled sacs (bursae) to swell. 

Stress fracture

This is a rare condition that usually develops only in patients participating in high-impact activities.

Reach out to the practice if you have persistent, severe heel pain, swelling, or tingling.

What are nonsurgical treatment for heel pain?

Dr. Panahi may first recommend several nonsurgical methods to treat your heel pain, including: Rest, Ice, New shoes, Pain & anti-inflammatory medications, Physical therapy, Bracing or splints, Taping, Steroid injections, Custom orthotics  Learn More About Orthotics, Protective boots (for stress fractures), or advanced non-surgical treatments and procedures. The practice reserves surgical procedures for patients who don’t find relief with conservative, nonsurgical care.

Orthotics

We offer both state-of-the-art custom and high-quality over-the-counter orthotics right in our office, using advanced 3D scanning technology for precise foot mapping. These orthotics are designed to provide optimal support, improve foot alignment, and reduce pressure points—especially beneficial for patients dealing with heel pain from plantar fasciitis or flat feet. By restoring proper biomechanics, they help relieve discomfort, improve stability, and support long-term foot health.

Physical Therapy

In addition to in-office care, we offer comprehensive home and professional physical therapy solutions tailored to help treat and manage heel pain. Our guided home exercise programs are specifically designed to stretch and strengthen the foot and calf muscles, improve flexibility, and reduce strain on the plantar fascia. These evidence-based routines complement in-office treatments and are ideal for promoting healing and preventing recurrence of conditions like plantar fasciitis. For more complex cases, we can also coordinate professional physical therapy referrals to ensure a well-rounded recovery plan.

Administration of Steroid 

For patients with persistent heel pain, we offer corticosteroid injections as an effective in-office treatment option. These injections deliver powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected area, helping to quickly reduce pain and swelling—particularly in conditions like plantar fasciitis. While often used as part of a broader treatment plan, steroid injections can provide significant short-term relief and allow patients to resume normal activities more comfortably. Our team carefully evaluates each case to determine if this option is appropriate and discusses potential risks and benefits with you beforehand.

Advanced Non-Surgical Option

We also offer advanced, non-surgical treatment options designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing response and support long-term relief from heel pain. These therapies are ideal for patients seeking alternatives to surgery, with minimal downtime. To learn more about these innovative solutions and how they may benefit you, please visit our pages on

Radial Shockwave Therapy and Advanced Non-Surgical Options.

What are surgical treatment for heel pain?

Before recommending surgery, Dr. Panahi performs a thorough exam, orders an X-ray, and may suggest other tests. 

For TTS, a tarsal tunnel release surgical procedure allows Dr. Panahi to create an opening behind your ankle that extends down to the arch of your foot. He carefully divides the ligament so it’s not pressing against your tibial nerve.

For Haglund's deformity, Dr. Panahi can remove the heel bump, and for Achilles tendinitis, he can repair your Achilles tendon.

Endoscopic, in-office surgery involves two small incisions under your ankle bone. Dr. Panahi inserts a small camera (endoscope) in one of the openings and a tiny knife in the other to release your plantar fascia and relieve pain.

To learn more about heel pain treatment, call Acacia Foot and Ankle Surgeons today at (623) 439-2200 or schedule an appointment online.