heel pain – Anderson Podiatry Center

The Three Most Important Treatments For Pain On The Back Of The Heel.

Posted on May 24, 2024June 27, 2025 by admin

Heel pain is one of the most common foot complaints. Plantar fasciitis, which is a thick band of tissue that connects to the heel on the bottom of your foot, is more frequent to experience pain rather than on the back of the heel. We will discuss what are the various conditions that cause pain on the back of the heel and what treatment options are available. For many of you what we discuss will differ from a lot of the conventional ideas and treatments you may have heard about. If you’ve heard that surgery may be needed for this condition, and you want to avoid it, this blog is for you. To understand our approach, we need to start with what is the cause.

The root cause of pain in the back of the heel.

There are three primary types of heel pain. The diagnoses that we will discuss, Haglund’s deformity, retro calcaneal spurs and Achilles tendonitis.

When you walk your foot pronates and supinates. With pronation that occurs from heel strike to the point where the ball of your foot has your body weight transferred onto it, the heel bone rolls inward. Then when you start to propel forward and roll up on the ball of the foot the heel bone is rolling outward. This twisting torsion is thought to cause friction between the Achilles tendon and the back of the heel bone. If you look at the back of your heel the lower half of the heel is where the Achilles tendon is attached, and the upper half is where it can rub against the bone. This rubbing is thought to be the source of the three primary diagnosis. This rubbing can create a breakdown, damage, to the Achilles tendon either where it begins to attach to the bone or just above this area where the bone rubs against it. Microtears are thought be created within the tendon when this occurs. Or in the situation with Haglund’s deformity or a retrocalcaneal spur extra bone will be created that is seen on x-ray.

Haglund’s deformity- this term is used to refer to an enlargement on the back of the heel in the area where the Achilles attaches to the back of the heel bone. This bump tends to be towards the outside of the back of the heel adjacent to the Achilles tendon, however it can be located throughout the back of the heel bone making it appear to be larger than normal. This can be seen on x-ray.
Retro-calcaneal spur- This is a condition where there is a spur on the back of the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel. This can be seen on an x-ray. Clinically the size of the spur may not present as large as Haglund’s deformity on the back of the heel. The pain is right beneath the Achilles tendon on the back of the heel. Whereas Haglund’s deformity tends to not only cause pain directly over the Achilles area but also on one or both sides of the heel bone adjacent to the Achilles.
Achilles tendonitis– Of the tendons and muscles in the foot and ankle the Achilles tendon is very important. It’s the largest tendon in your body and important for normal ambulation. It connects the calf muscle to the foot. The two calf muscles attach to the Achilles tendon. This occurs when there is pain and swelling on the Achilles tendon on the back of the heel bone. X-rays will not show any boney abnormality which eliminates the diagnosis of Haglund’s deformity or a retrocalcaneal spur.
Achilles bursitis- This is a condition that causes pain between the heel bone and the Achilles tendon. For some this condition is created by the Achilles tendon rubbing against the heel bone. The fluid filled sac called a bursa evolves as a reaction to this. Much like a blister on your skin when the skin is rubbed a lot. Treatment for this can be resting anti-inflammatories aor a cortisone injection.
Severs’ disease– this happens before the foot is fully grown. Children will frequently complain of pain in the back of the heel. It will usually occur with activity and go away when inactive. It’s a frequent complaint when they start sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball. Another name for this is calcaneal apophysitis. The pain that occurs is from inflammation to the growth plate in the heel bone(calcaneus). Treatments may include anti-inflammatories, resting and immobilization. However, orthotics are the most successful option for many. These custom-made inserts support the foot and Achilles tendon area so that the connective tissue structures that attach to the heel bone are no longer causing tension on the growth plate.

Diagnosis of these conditions

X-ray- this can help to determine if there is any extra bone present in the case of Haglund’s deformity or a retro calcaneal spur.
Diagnostic ultrasound. This is useful to evaluate if there is damage to the Achilles tendon.
MRI- This can give more detail than an ultrasound to evaluate the quality of the Achilles tendon.
Clinical examination- There can be pain and swelling on the back of the heel. Shoe gear will tend to rub against this area and cause pain.

Treatment for Haglund’s deformity, retrocalcaneal spur and Achilles tendonitis.

Conventional treatments have included the following-

Resting
Icing
Physical therapy
Immobilization
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory
Orthotics

Be sure you have properly fitting shoes and supportive shoes . Avoid activities that require tight fitting shoes such as ski boots or ice skates. Trying over the counter shoe inserts may also help.

All of these can have a positive impact but may not be dealing with the root cause of the problem.

The root cause. As was mentioned earlier we now believe that the cause of pain on the back of the heel for most can be from the rubbing of the Achilles tendon against the heel bone. Yes, you may see an enlargement on the back of the heel and for some there may also be evidence of an extra amount of bone or a spur however our non surgical treatment success disputes that the bone is the problem. There are three options that we feel have the greatest chance to eliminate pain on the back of your heel and eliminate the need for surgery. MRI has proven the problem is with the tendon not the bone.

MRI- MRI has demystified why we have so much success with our treatments and can almost eliminate surgery. MRI has constantly shown us that there is no inflammation to the tendon which would indicate tendonitis but rather the findings are more consistent with micro tearing of the tendon. This indicates breakdown of the tendon on a microscopic level.

Here are the big three treatments to prevent surgery for pain in the back of the heel

Orthotics- by very precising controlling the torsion(rolling) of your heel bone against the Achilles we are truly reducing the irritation to the Achilles tendon. structurally speaking the orthotics correct and reduce the structural issue that led to the pain. By reducing the rubbing of the heel against the tendon many get reversal of pain with this treatment.
Regenerative medicine- This is commonly referred to as human cellular tissue product treatment. We commonly inject into the damaged tendon, umbilical cord or placental cell tissues that help to repair the damaged tendon. This may be done in combination with orthotics. The orthotics help to eliminate what caused the problem and regenerative medicine repairs the damage. See our patient testimonials for heel pain relief after regenerative medicine on youtube.

Shockwave treatment- This technology uses powerful soundwaves to create mild trauma to the tendon and by doing so this stimulates the body’s reparative mechanisms to repair the tendon. This usually involves three separate treatments at weekly intervals.

If your pain is getting worse and you’re having it for long periods of time. You may be tired of trying different shoes to get rid of your heel pain have been told surgery may be in your future, please consider these other options. We have shown many of our patients that surgery is not necessary for the vast majority. With two clinical foot locations in Broomfield and Fort Collins, you won’t need to wait because we are accepting new patients/existing patients for same or next day appointments to see you local foot doctor. Rest assured when looking for a “foot doctor in fort collins”, our patients will agree that we are caring, experienced and knowledgeable in the latest innovations of foot care.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Plantar Nerve Entrapment: Causes, Symptoms and Effective Treatment

Posted on September 14, 2023June 27, 2025 by admin

Heel pain is one of the most common foot complaints a foot specialist treats. For many, the term plantar fasciitis comes to mind when their heels start to hurt. Yes, plantar fasciitis is very common but other problems can be the cause of your heel pain. If your heel pain persists after months or years of self-treatment or treatment by your doctor, this blog is for you. You may be misdiagnosed and going down a dead-end pathway, you should consider if it is plantar nerve entrapment among other possible factors.

The Basics

The term plantar means bottom of the foot and the fascia is that strong connective tissue that runs from the ball of the foot to the bottom of the heel where it attaches. As your arch flattens, the fascia is pulled and pain can begin at the insertion on the bottom of your heel. However, it’s important to know that there are nerve branches in this same area that may be contributing to your pain.

The Tarsal Tunnel – The tarsal tunnel, much like the carpal tunnel in the hand, is an area where the nerve branches that have traveled down your leg go through to supply the bottom of your foot. The main nerve (See Diagram) is called the posterior tibial nerve.

As the posterior tibial nerve passes through the tarsal tunnel (which is composed of soft tissue structure) there can be excessive pressure on this nerve branch from those structures. We call this compression or a plantar nerve entrapment site. Following the posterior tibial nerve, it divides into three branches; one goes to the bottom of the heel and is called the medial calcaneal nerve. The other two are called the medial and lateral plantar nerve and supply the bottom of the foot. The medial branch supplies the bottom of the first and second, and a part of the third toe. The lateral plantar nerve supplies the fourth, fifth, and part of the third toe. Both of these nerves travel beneath a muscle called the abductor muscle. The tight fascial sheath beneath this muscle can compress (entrap) each of these two branches. If we follow the lateral plantar right after it goes beneath the abductor muscle, it sends a branch towards the bottom of the heel. This very small branch can be entrapped by the fascia of the quadratus plantae muscle. The branch is called the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve or Baxter’s nerve.

How do you know if you have entrapment of this plantar nerve which is a small branch of the lateral plantar nerve?

There will be subtle differences. This branch may cause more burning pain, tingling or numbness. The pain may be more dispersed in a larger area and not just where the plantar fascia attaches on the bottom of the heel. You may notice periodic tingling or numbness radiating towards your fourth or fifth toes. If you tap on the nerves in the tarsal tunnel area you may get a sensation like a funny bone sensation going down to your toes. This is called a tinel’s sign, and suggests the nerve in this area may be damaged from compression on the nerve.

What will your podiatrist do to test for plantar nerve entrapment?

Diagnostic Ultrasound – with every patient we see at Anderson Podiatry Center we evaluate your heel with ultrasound. This allows us to evaluate the soft tissue structures in this area including the nerve branches and the plantar fascia. If the fascia appears normal from this exam this will lead us to suspect that your heel pain may be more related to the nerves. It’s very important to know that there is no rule that says you only get one diagnosis. So, if we are treating plantar fasciitis because your ultrasound confirms it is damaged but you’re not progressing with our plantar fasciitis treatment, then this will raise our suspicions of another problem, potentially a plantar nerve.

What are the treatment options?

For The Patient – icing the area and taking autoinflammatory may help in the early stages and if the pain is mild. Make sure you’re wearing supportive shoes and you may consider trying over the counter arch supports. You may consider taking anti-inflammatory medication.

What will your foot specialist do?

Treatments may include using custom made arch supports, and orthotics. Additionally:

Laser Treatments – Our MLS laser system has been shown to be highly effective for treatment of nerve conditions.
Physical Therapy – ultrasound may have some benefit.
Cortisone Injections – A series of cortisone injections, 2 or possible 3 injections may be helpful. This is done with ultrasound guidance so the nerve can be located, and the injection delivered in the exact location.
Surgery – If the conservative options fail then surgery to release the pressure on the nerve from the soft tissue structures may be considered.

So, if you’re having heel pain, you may need to consider that it’s plantar nerve entrapment. Finally, you need to know that there are many well-meaning healthcare people whether it’s a physical therapist, family doctor, or people in the shoe industry that commonly assume if the bottom of your heel hurts then it’s plantar fasciitis. Understand that what you hear may be wrong and that is why the problem is persisting. Please consider revisiting your heel pain issue if you’re getting nowhere in your present course of treatment.

This Nerve Treatment Finally Fixed Her Heel Pain

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Plantar Fasciitis : Stabbing Pain in Heel of Foot

Posted on September 19, 2022June 30, 2025 by admin

Stabbing heel pain is one of the most common foot complaints. There can be a multitude of reasons for such pain, but the most frequent cause is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a name most are familiar with. However, in this blog, you will see me use the proper name, plantar fasciocis. This may come to a shock for some, but there is the potential you may be misdiagnosed because of a nerve problem that is frequently overlooked by health professionals. As you scroll through this blog, I will dive deeper into plantar fasciocis, pain, treatments, and supporting research.

Plantar Fasciitis

This is the pain that frequently catches your attention when getting out of bed in the morning. Your heel makes an impact with the ground, and the first steps out of bed are painful. But, after a few minutes, the pain typically fades. So why the heel? Well, this is where the fascia connects to the heel bone, extending out into the ball of your foot. Most misunderstand plantar fasciitis as a tendon or a ligament, when in fact, by true definitions, it is tight connective tissue.

What Causes Plantar fasciitis?

With every step you take, the fascia is stretched and pulled from your heel creating tension. Children and teenagers seldom have plantar fasciitis, as their fascia is flexible and stretches rather than pulls from the heel.

Treatments

When it comes to pain, there are a multitude of treatments which include home remedies. Icing, anti-inflammatories, night splints, stretching exercises, supportive shoes, arch supports, and ice packs. These all may be helpful if used in the early stages of your heel pain, as they can potentially assist in reducing the tension of fascia in the heel. More often than not, these home remedies can be successful in self-management of your pain, but with only partial improvement – leaving you with unresolved symptoms.

The Real Problem That No One is Talking About

Science says your fascia is not inflamed, but rather it’s the tissue that is deteriorating. I want to briefly make a bold and averse statement: doctors aren’t looking at science. Doctor Harvey Lemont did a study taking fifty plantar fascia specimens when he performed surgery for plantar fasciitis ¹. Out of 50 specimens, only one came back showing inflammatory changes. The other 49 showed the tissue was deteriorating, thus creating the term plantar fasciocis ¹.

How Does that Change Treatments?

Home remedies may still be used, but because we now know that the tissue is inflamed, this explains why the pain is so persistent. Using ice, anti-inflammatory medication, or cortisone injections may not have high success rates. Unfortunaltey, many podiatrists continue to recommend cortisone injections offering only temporary relief.

Regenerative Medicine

At Anderson Podiatry Center, we started using regenerative medicine to repair damaged fascia tissue over 13 years ago. We were one of the early pioneers of this technique, and we now use human cellular tissue products such as placenta cells or umbilical cord fluids to repair fascia. We find this far more successful than cortisone.

Supporting the Foot

Yes, podiatrists recommend custom orthotics specifically made for your foot type to reduce the pulling of the fascia from your heel with each step you take.

Nerve Pain

This is the hidden problem that can mimic plantar fasciitis. There is a small nerve branch that comes from a region of the foot and ankle called the tarsal tunnel, just like carpal tunnel in the hand. The nerve going through this region travels to the bottom of the foot, into the arch and toes. Within the ankle region, a small branch travels beneath the heel from the ankle area called the medial calcaneal nerve. So, how is this treated? Typically, a series of two cortisone injections can reverse this type of heel pain. Additionally, a laser can also be effective.

How Do WE Know What You Have?

To begin, every patient we see with heel pain has an ultrasound examination of their heel. We know what the normal appearance of fascia should be by immense studies that have been performed. Generally, a patient with plantar fascia pain will have a thicker and darker appearing fascia in the area where it attaches to the heel bone. A diagnostic ultrasound is extremely useful to ensure that your pain is truly from fascia. If the fascia looks normal, we will then suspect the nerve problem.

Can You Have Plantar Fasciitis and Nerve Pain?

Yes, it is not uncommon from our clinical examination and diagnostic ultrasound to discover both. It is thought that the thicker the fascia becomes, the more likely the nerve may become irritated.

Summary

So, this may mean for you that if you’ve had many of the conservative treatments for plantar fasciitis, and you still have that sharp stabbing heel pain, your nerve may be the issue. If you are having stabbing pain in the heel of your foot, don’t assume it’s always going to be plantar fasciitis. You could be having nerve pain. And finally, understand that your heel pain may be from a fascia that is deteriorating (plantar fasciosis) and not inflamed. This gives you a whole new way of looking at the problem and a possible solution that could be the use of regenerative medicine!

References

¹ Lemont, H., Ammirati, K. M., & Usen, N. (2003). Plantar fasciitis: a degenerative process (fasciosis) without inflammation. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 93(3), 234–237. https://doi.org/10.7547/87507315-93-3-234

What Is the Best Treatment for Drop Foot?

Posted on March 16, 2021June 30, 2025 by admin

Drop foot can be a very frustrating problem, and there are many potential causes for it. Before we get into things, it is important to understand what drop foot is. It is the lack of strength to pull your foot or toes upwards, or the ability to move your foot sideways away from your opposite foot. There are approximately five different muscles involved with the weakness that can create drop foot. We won’t be going over these muscle groups in this blog, but it’s important to understand that drop foot can affect both sideways and upwards motion to varying degrees.

When you walk with a drop foot, it may be difficult for your foot to clear the ground. The foot may also want to slap against the ground when your heel hits the floor, or be in such a downward position that you must flex your knee upwards for your foot to clear the ground. This is referred to as a steppage gait and can make walking exceedingly difficult to the point where it has a significant effect on mobility.

What Are the Causes?

Spinal-cord drop foot can be associated with your back, which is referred to as radiculopathy, caused from compression or irritation to the spinal nerves in the lumbar area.
Strokes can be associated with drop foot.
Sciatic nerve trauma, usually caused from hip or knee surgery.
Trauma to the nerves in the leg that stimulate the muscles to contract
Compression of the common peroneal nerve. Compression of this nerve tunnel may be associated with both diabetic and non-diabetic neuropathy. It is often assumed that the drop foot is from a sciatic nerve that was stretched and damaged from hip replacement surgery or knee surgery, because the common peroneal nerve tunnel becomes compressed. Anderson Podiatry Center has successfully reversed drop foot for many patients who were told it was from their back or from damage to the sciatic nerve.

What Is the Common Peroneal Nerve?

The common peroneal nerve is the most overlooked cause of drop foot. It is a branch of the sciatic nerve, and as the sciatic nerve courses down the back of your hamstring area, it divides. One branch goes towards the bottom of the foot, down the back of the calf, and the other branch goes around the outside of your leg, just below the knee.

It’s in this area that the common peroneal nerve tunnel is located. Just beyond the nerve tunnel is the branches that send signals to the leg muscles to contract. When the tunnel is tight, the branches don’t send strong enough signals, and the muscles become weak. This is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand. This can be the case in diabetes, where there’s compression involved, or non-diabetic neuropathy, because the tunnel can become tight.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, we deal a lot with peripheral nerve disorders and evaluate peripheral nerve issues. Many doctors are not fully trained in the evaluation and treatment of peripheral nerve problems. So, for many of you reading this blog, the potential is that you may have been told there is nothing you can do. You may have had a hip or knee replacement surgery and your sciatic nerve was damaged, which has resulted in drop foot due to the common peroneal nerve.

Treatment

To quickly answer the question as to what the best drop foot treatment is, it’s surgery (especially if the drop foot is significant). If there is high potential that the nerve is compressed, surgery would be the best option because it can give you the most profound improvement.

If there is a delay in surgery, especially after trauma or a surgery that could have caused this, it could lessen the effectiveness of the drop foot surgery. Many say that if you have had a surgery, such as hip replacement, and drop foot occurs, you should wait around six months to a year to see if it improves. However, we strongly disagree with this approach and suggest that if it’s been 2-3 months since surgery, and there is no progression towards improvement, surgery on this nerve tunnel should be performed. Waiting may limit how much improvement the patient gets.

ESTIM: This is a non-surgical treatment that involves multiple visits and electrical stimulation. This is performed with local anesthetic injections, that in combination repair nerve damage and improve circulation to the nerves during treatments.
Tendon transfer surgeries and joint fusions: These surgeries have always been available in conventional surgical training to help stabilize the foot and ankle.
Ankle bracing: there are many types of ankle braces that also may help. In most cases, these are prescribed by the doctor.

In summary, the two most important aspects about drop foot treatment are:

If you’ve had surgery or an injury, and after the first two to three months you’ve not experienced improvement, do not put yourself in a position where you may lessen the effectiveness of the surgery by waiting. With that being said, we’ve also seen patients, years after a surgery caused by drop foot, that still still see improvement on their mobility from drop foot surgery. When surgery is performed, most patients see significant improvement of their lifestyle, even if they have less than 100 percent improvement of their muscle strength.
If you have neuropathy or back problems, don’t assume that you don’t have compression of the common peroneal nerve. It is commonly associated with diabetic and nondiabetic neuropathies.
To conclude, it is not always the case that surgery is the best treatment, but for those whose mobility is significantly impacted, proper assessment of the common peroneal nerve is important. The recovery time and risks are minimal, compared to other surgical options, and if surgery fails, the other options will always be there. When the drop foot is minimal other options such as ESTIM may be considered. So if you or someone you know suffers from drop foot, please consider the common peroneal nerve tunnel as a potential cause.

The Most Common Foot Problem: Plantar Fasciitis

Posted on March 4, 2021 by admin

We are frequently asked, what is the most common foot complaint? Without a doubt, plantar fasciitis is at the top of the list. Oftentimes, it is referred to as heel pain, or heel spur pain. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis often occur first thing in the morning, as the pain exists on the bottom of the heel and is irritated with those initial morning steps. You may hobble to the bathroom, or to go make some coffee, and after a few minutes the pain wears off. However, as it becomes more severe, you may notice the pain throughout the day, and it can come on gradually or all at once.

Plantar fasciitis is seldom caused by trauma. Although it could be caused by you falling on your foot and striking your heel, in most cases, it’s something that just happens and is unpredictable. Foot biomechanics can also play a role.

While plantar fasciitis is a common foot problem, it rarely occurs in your teenage years or early twenties Why is this? One of the ideas is that the fascia loses its elasticity over time. The fascia runs from the ball of the foot to the heel, where it attaches. With every step you take, as the arch flattens, the fascia pulls from its attachment point (aka the heel). When your foot is not bearing weight, the arch is relatively high, but as soon as your bear weight the arch flattens and pulls on the fascia.

This pain from the common foot problem can become very disabling as it can go on for months, or even years in some cases. It is important to note that an x-ray can sometimes show a heel spur, where the fascia attaches to the heel. The old school idea is that this was the source of the pain, however this is seldom the case. If surgery is ever performed to eliminate your plantar fasciitis (using small incisions to partially release the fascia), nothing is done to the spur. Patients have a remarkably high success rate with this form of surgery, proving that it is not the spur. In fact, the spur could have been created by the fascia pulling from your heel.

What Can You Do For Plantar Fasciitis?

Since plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot problems, it is also the one that has the most treatment options. It can get confusing because everyone, including your shoe salesman, will claim to have the solution.

But the actual treatment solutions for plantar fasciitis are limited. There are many options that can help a bit, as these are referred to as “band-aid approaches”. These band-aid approaches include anti-inflammatories, icing, and stretching. They are fine to try, and in some cases can help a lot, but it’s important to do these at the earliest stages of your heel pain.

You can also try using supports, and if the shoes you wear for walking, hiking or running are worn down, consider replacing them. If these attempts fail, or if you find yourself having to go back to these approaches time and time again, it may be time to seek professional help.

Orthotics

Orthotics are one of the foundational things that a podiatrist will use. Orthotics help hold and support the foot better so that the fascia does not want to pull away from the heel. It is important that the orthotics being made utilizes either a casting technique, or a digital system by taking a non-weight bearing, impression of your foot. This captures the foot in its ideal functional position in order to get more precise control of your foot. Orthotics minimize how much that fascia is pulling from your heel by supporting your bony structure better.

Stem Cell Treatment

Podiatrists traditionally used cortisone injections to treat plantar fasciitis, but at Anderson Podiatry Center, we still do this on occasion, but recommended the consideration of stem cell treatment. It’s been known from recent studies that the fascia is not truly inflamed, but rather it’s tissue is breaking down and in need of repair. So what better way to do this than with stem cells (we typically use placenta cells).

Shockwave Treatment and Laser

Shockwave sends powerful sound waves into the heel area. This traumatizes the heel, but puts your body into a repairative mode that helps repair the fascia. We also use a treatment called MLS laser which helps by improving the functionality of the mitochondria in your cells to repair the fascia.

Surgery

Surgery is done on occasion, but only after conservative measures have failed. It’s typically done with a scope, and we make a small incision on both sides of the heel. Patients can ambulate immediately, but usually have to wear a movable cast for approximately two-four weeks. Success rate for this is quite high.

If your attempts to remedy your heel pain are not working, it may be time to move on to a more aggressive treatment plan. The longer you wait to see a podiatrist, the more time and treatment options you may need to eliminate the pain.

Heel and Arch Pain: Revealing the Seven Steps to Take

Posted on January 5, 2021July 1, 2025 by admin

Heel and arch pain can be persistent and painful. The runs and walks you once enjoyed can become a thing of the past; you may start to gain weight, and it can even impede your sleep. The start of the day can be met with extreme pain as you first step down on that heel. It generally affects people physically and mentally.

Considering the function that our feet have, it’s amazing how well they work since they are required to:

Balance the entire body
Adapt to irregularities in terrain
Maintain our balance as we stand
Take on more pressure when we gain weight
Help our body change directions
Function as a shock absorber

Due to these responsibilities, there are a multitude of problems that can cause heel and arch pain.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, commonly referred to as heel spur pain, tends to be worse early in the morning when you first stand up. You may find yourself hobbling to the bathroom, but after you’re going about for a few minutes, the pain may to dissipate and get better as the day progresses. This is caused by the fascia, which runs from the ball of your foot to your heel – it often tends to get overstressed therefore causing the tight band of tissue to pull or tear away from the heel. The pain affects directly under the heel where you are bearing weight. Although it is commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis, more recent studies support that it’s not inflamed but rather broken down. So, a term you may hear more of in the future is plantar fasciosis which more accurately describes the condition. It is also now understood that the heel spur you may see on X-ray does not cause the pain, but it is rather the fascia pulling from the same area on the heel bone.

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

The posterior tibial tendon is a tendon that attaches into the arch of the foot. It’s a very important tendon for stabilizing the foot. If the foot tends to overpronate, which we call flattening, then this tendon can be overworked and this can also frequently cause pain. Particularly, as you get older, the tendon starts to wear down.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome can also occur. This may cause burning and tingling and numbness in the arch. It’s less common, but can also be causing pain in the arch.

Arch Pain

If the pain is through the arch it may be from muscle or ligamentous fatigue. This may be caused by a foot that flattens (pronates) over a very high arch which is called a cavus foot.

What causes these problems?

Obesity
Overuse of the arch
Improper and run down shoes

What you can do?

Use ice and rest the area.
Purchase over the counter anti-inflammatories.
Choose over the counter inserts for more support.
Modify your activity by temporarily switching to biking rather than running.
Reduce going barefoot as much as you can. Wearing shoes can offer more support and can reduce pain.
Stretch your calf muscle. If your calf muscle is tight, your ankle can’t flex. It puts more pull and strain on the plantar fascia and other tissues in the arch.
Evaluate your shoes. If they don’t support you enough, you might be due for a new pair.

When should you seek professional help?

If you’ve tried the suggested home remedies and the pain is persisting and/or getting worse, seek medical attention from a foot specialist. It should also be stressed that if you think you injured your foot (either you fell, landed wrong, heard something pop or have significant swelling) seek medical attention immediately.

What is required of you?

A good medical history – Oftentimes your story will tell the doctor the diagnosis.
A physical exam- a lot can be learned from the examination. This can tell the doctor whether the pain is localized or from an overstrained plantar fascia or a tight calf muscle.
Other tests that may be done
- X-rays
- Diagnostic Ultrasound
- MRI

What are the treatments the doctor may discuss with you?

Use of custom-made orthotics to give more precise support to the foot
Cortisone injections
Physical therapy
Immobilization with a cam boot
Stretching and possible use of night splints
Stem cell – regenerative medicine treatment
Laser treatments

If the conservative measures fail and significant heel and arch pain remains, the option of surgery may also be discussed. In the case of plantar fasciitis, conservative measures are usually successful, so rarely does a situation occur where surgery is necessary, but if it is, it is highly successful when performed.

How to Avoid a Visit to the Doctor’s Office When Experiencing Heel Pain

Posted on October 1, 2020July 1, 2025 by admin

One of the most common foot complaints is heel pain, which is commonly referred to as Plantar Fasciitis. Here we’ll discuss how to prevent a visit to the doctors office when experiencing heel pain and what you can do at home to help alleviate your symptoms.

The symptoms of heel pain often start at the bottom of your heel and are very prevalent when first getting up in the morning. This is a very common complaint, and even though the pain can gradually get better throughout the day, it’s important this is treated right away. When plantar fasciitis pain is mild, you have a better chance of reversing the pain with some simple recommendations.

Shoes and Orthotics

First and foremost, the most important thing to do is to make sure your shoes are not run down. Shoes eventually wear down and do not give the foot as much support as they used to, which can cause pain. If you’re an active runner or a walker, good shoe support is key. If you are flatfooted, this becomes even more significant.

With every step you take the foot flattens, causing the fascia to pull from your heel, which can cause symptoms of heel pain. So, utilizing more support in the shoe can be very beneficial. If you don’t believe your shoes are worn down, another option would be to buy over-the-counter shoe inserts, which are also known as orthotics.

There are many options when purchasing orthotics, and you can typically find them in an athletics store. However, be careful when going to an orthotics outlet because oftentimes these devices can cost several hundreds of dollars- and you’re better off seeing a podiatrist to have custom orthotics made to work for your foot type. Ideally, you should not be spending more than $10-$15 for store-bought inserts.

Icing the area of heel pain from plantar fasciitis

Icing is often used to treat sports medicine injuries and can also be employed for the reduction of pain and inflammation caused by heel pain. If you do choose to ice the area, it’s important to do it for 10 minutes twice a day. You can also roll your heel on a frozen plastic bottle as this can be beneficial.

Stretching

Stretching before you get up in the morning can also help as it can reduce the pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia. In order to stretch this area correctly you should keep your knee straight and put your foot up towards you. By keeping your knee straight you are stretching your calf and achilles tendon; this will allow your ankle to flex up more and thereby lessen the need for excessive pulling of the fascia. The band of tissue you can feel beneath your skin in the arch is the fascia. It is often suggested to be careful with this because there have been cases where this can actually worsen the symptoms.

Another way to help stretch the achilles, calf and plantar fascia is by using a night splint. Although they have shown to be useful for many, they can also be an annoyance and reduce sleep quality.

Anti-Inflammatories for heel pain from plantar fasciitis

Anti-inflammatories can also be taken. These medications help with the pain and inflammation for those experiencing mild plantar fasciitis. Anti-inflammatories can be taken for approximately one or two weeks to see if they help.

Cut Down on Activities

Lastly, it’s important to back off your activity level. While moving around may be a part of what you do, it’s not helping your heel heal! You can back off entirely, or even cut it down by 50%. One of the most common causes of heel pain is doing too much too soon. When people take up a new form of exercise, such as walking or running, it is important to factor in days of rest- especially since your body requires long periods of rest when injured. Resting is as important as the stress you put on your body to become more fit. Therefore, if you’re walking or running five days a week, maybe cut back to just two or three to see if there is improvement.

If you’ve attempted these treatments for heel pain from plantar fasciitis approximately three to four weeks and have seen no results, it’s probably time to consider professional attention as you may need more aggressive treatment options. Even so, it is important to note that early and aggressive intervention can spare you a trip to the podiatrist’s office.

The End Of Heel Pain! Our 1-2…..-3 Punch Treatment!

Posted on March 16, 2020 by admin

(Be sure to watch until the end of the video for an Ultrasound visual of before and after Ray’s fascia!)

Ray’s bump in the trail.

The plantar fascia has a BIG job. It stabilizes the arch of the foot and allows flexion of the first metatarsal, enabling the first metatarsal to carry the majority of the body weight. In other words, when the plantar fascia gets tired and aggravated, you’ll know very quickly! Your heel will hurt like crazy, especially if you’re an active person like our patient, Ray. “Before I came to see Dr. Anderson for treatment, I had heel pain for about a year. I would get this pain when I would run, or hike or snowshoe… so a lot of things that I enjoy doing!”

Running out of options…

“After about 9 months of this, I couldn’t run… I couldn’t do any of these things that I enjoyed.” Ray attempted physical therapy for relief, but with no avail. While we were impressed with Ray’s perseverance, we were very eager to ease him of his heel pain. After meeting with Ray, we found that he actually had Plantar Fasciosis, which means that his fascia was deteriorating rather than getting inflamed! Knowing this offered Ray the ability to get treatment specifically tailored to the ACTUAL cause.

Our 3 Step Approach!

“So I went to Dr. Anderson, who gave me custom orthotics, laser therapy, and regenerative medicine.” We ended up taking Ray through our 3 step approach for heel pain from start to finish! At Anderson Podiatry Center, our ultimate goal is to ensure we can get our patients back to the activities they enjoy as fast as possible. Ray was in a hurry to get back into action, and as exercise enthusiasts ourselves, we understood his urgency! We took him through these 3 steps so that he could get back out on the trail as quickly as possible.

It’s a RUNderful life!

“3 months after having the injection, orthotics and the laser therapy, I feel 100% better! I can run, I can hike, I can do anything that I want. Now I’m back to running 10-15 miles a week!”

Our doctors deeply care about our patients and their recovery, even well after we treat them. We always follow up with our patients, and after a recent follow up with Ray we were ecstatic to hear that he recently ran 9 miles without any heel pain! He was excited to announce that he is currently training for a half marathon.

If you or a loved one have been putting the activities that make you happy on the backburner! We would love to get to know you, hear about what’s been holding you back, and work with you to plan an approach to rid you of heel pain!

Help Us With Our 31st Annual Shoes For The Holidays Campaign!

Posted on December 13, 2019 by admin

Sharing shoes saves souls.

A Mom who needed a pair of shoes to apply for a job, A boy whose ‘new’ shoes kept him from getting bullied at school, a homeless man whose shoes helped keep him warm in winter.

These are the stories we hear every year at donation sites from those who are truly in need and for whom a simple pair of shoes improves their self esteem or means the difference between getting a job and not, or protects from the elements while living on the streets.

“One in five people in Larimer County currently lives in poverty,” said Adriann Anderson, COO of Anderson Podiatry Center. “You need more than one pair of shoes and you can go through shoes pretty fast…the need just keeps recurring year after year.”

To help provide shoes to those in need, Anderson Medical Center is sponsoring the 31st Annual Shoes for the Holidays. They are hoping to bring in over 4,000 pairs of shoes and socks! Help them reach that goal by donating lightly used footwear, or by volunteering for the drive.

People can drop off their items at any of the following locations (call for specific times):

Anderson Podiatry Center – 1355 Riverside Ave. Suite C – (970)-484-4620

Runner’s Roost – 3500 S. College Ave. Suite 178 – (970)-224-9144

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School – 4650 Sunview Drive – (970)-667-4506

J. Day’s Appliance – 132 E. 7th St. – (970)-669-1357

Anderson Podiatry Center – 1440 N. Boise Ave. – (303)-469-2940

Anderson Podiatry Center – 1950 Bluegrass Circle, Suite 150 – (307)-634-7062

“Normally, people many times would think about just discarding them [shoes] when there’s still useful life left…” said Dr. Jim Anderson of Anderson Podiatry Center. “It’s helpful to have people continue to [donate]. We thank you all.”

To directly arrange a drop-off, contact Erin Bergstrom, co-facilitator, at (970) 691-0320 or Adriann Anderson at (970) 484 4621.

Those who want to volunteer with the drive can help with sorting the shoes and socks from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 4 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Loveland. Call Erin (above) to sign up.

Thanks for your help with this very important and urgent need!

Elsie’s Story: Heel Pain & Knee Pain

Posted on April 17, 2018July 1, 2025 by admin

Walking On My Toes

Elsie didn’t have time for heel pain. She loved being active and going for runs, and suddenly heel pain had stopped her in her tracks.

“I was walking on my toes,” Elsie said. “The pain was so bad, I couldn’t put any pressure on my heels. So I had to stop running and I was looking for a solution.”

Heel Pain, Gone

Elsie came to see Dr. James Anderson, DPM, and tried conservative treatment first.

Dr. Anderson said, “Elsie had plantar fasciitis (heel pain). We tried orthotics first, but nothing was really helping her. Instead of doing surgery, we recommended stem cell treatment. Often, patients can avoid surgery, and experience pain relief with only one stem cell treatment.”

“I had the stem cell treatment,” Elsie said. “After only one week, the pain was totally gone!”

Two years later, she came to see Dr. Anderson for a follow up appointment, and she was back to running and her heel pain had not returned.

Then, Knee Pain

Elsie had started to have knee pain, and mentioned it to Dr. Anderson. “I wore my cartilage down on the top and bottom of my knee, and it was hurting when I ran.” she said.

Dr. Anderson had good news. “We have recently integrated our practice, and are now offering stem cell treatment for knee pain as well as shoulder and hip pain.”

Elsie was thrilled, “I’m a firm believer in stem cell,” she says. “Because I have not had any trouble with my foot since my injection.”

Dr. Anderson treated her with the newest regenerative product that contains umbilical cord stem cells. “Umbilical cord stem cell treatment has the highest concentration of stem cells, growth factors, and proteins, so it’s a highly-effective product and can help patients avoid surgery,” Dr. Anderson says.

The Power of Stem Cell Treatment

“Stem cell treatment is a really powerful tool,” Dr. Anderson explains. “Because it works by stimulating your body’s natural ability to heal.”

“As we age, our bodies begin to degenerate, and we start to have pain. But, stem cells have the ability to become any kind of cell. They can become bone, tissue, tendon, or cartilage. So, it’s an amazing treatment option for a variety of conditions.”

“We’ve treated plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and arthritis in the joints with stem cell therapies for years, and now we can treat knee pain, shoulder pain and hip bursitis as well.”

Back On Track

Elsie had the stem cell injection in her knee two weeks ago. “This week I was hurrying to do something, and I didn’t even mean to, but I started to run, and it didn’t hurt at all!”

“My knee just keeps feeling better and better every day,” Elsie says. “In another week or so, I’ll be back out there, running again.”

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