Avoiding Heel Pain

Heel pain is the most common condition leading patients to both our Roanoke and Blacksburg offices. Pregnancy, improper shoes, and overly strenuous exercise are some of the factors contributing to heel pain. Any heel pain that persists for more than a week should be evaluated by one of our podiatrists. To avoid heel pain, always consult a podiatrist before beginning any exercise program, especially if you have been inactive for a long time. Start any exercise program with moderation, gradually increasing the duration and intensity of your workouts.

Always stretch before and after exercise including calves and Achilles tendon. Vary the incline on a treadmill to avoid heel strain. Maintain properly fitting shoes in good condition, wearing appropriate shoes for various activities. When your feet cause you pain, there are many steps you can take to get relief. The first, and probably most important, is a visit to the podiatrist. If heel pain or any other foot problems have got you down, let us do what we do best- diagnose and treat the problem so you’re back on your feet quickly!

Interview with Dr. Feeny

As some of you know, Dr. Feeny recently took her maternity leave from our office. Since she is a Podiatrist I thought it would be valuable to ask her some questions about her feet during her pregnancy and what advice she would give other pregnant women to help take care of their feet.

Hey Dr. Feeny, Thank you so much for letting me be nosey and ask you questions about your feet. First off, did you do anything at the beginning of your pregnancy to prepare for the changes and stress that would be put on your feet in the later months of your pregnancy?

I made sure that I wore supportive shoes throughout my pregnancy. Even if I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (and believe me that was often) I wore Birkenstock sandals.

At what month of your pregnancy did you notice your feet start hurting?

My feet really did not hurt due to these preventative measures.

That is so great to hear! How did your feet handle having to be on them for a large part of the day?

Well, my feet and ankles would become swollen during the day starting at about month 6. I started wearing compression stockings/support hose which helped.

Did your pregnancy affect your shoe size or the shoes you decided to wear?

I had a hard time tying my shoes that last month so I had to wear slip on shoes. Many women think that their shoes size changes due to weight gain but it is actually due to a hormone. This hormone causes the ligaments to stretch to aid in the childbirth. The ligaments in the feet also stretch which is why it is so important to wear supportive shoes.

Wow! That’s really amazing! I never knew that. So what did you do to ease the pain and symptoms you where experiencing?

I had my hubby rub my feet!! :)

Have you noticed any changes in your feet since you’ve given birth?

The swelling is gone and I can cut my own toenails again.

What advice would you give other pregnant women about taking care of their feet?

Make sure to wear supportive shoes, do not ignore small problems, and do not try to remove any ingrown toenails by yourself.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. It has been really informative!