Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Kolkata

Overview

Plantar fasciitis (also called plantar heel pain) is the most common cause of pain under the heel. It typically hurts most with the first steps in the morning or after sitting, and often after long periods of standing or walking. Most people get better without surgery, usually with stretching and strengthening exercises, changes to footwear and daily load, and time. Every first visit starts with an assessment by Dr. Partha Sarathi Neogi at our Kalighat clinic, so you know what is causing your heel pain and what will help.

How Dr. Neogi assesses heel pain

1. Your history: where exactly it hurts, when it is worst, your work, footwear, walking or running, any recent increase in activity, and any change in weight.
2. Examination of the heel and foot, calf flexibility, ankle movement, foot posture and how you walk.
3. Checks for other causes, such as an Achilles tendon problem, a stress fracture, nerve irritation or inflammatory arthritis, which may need a doctor or a scan.
4. A plain-language explanation and a plan, including exercises and footwear advice.

Why heel pain happens, and how many sessions you may need

The plantar fascia is a strong band of tissue under the foot that supports the arch. When it is loaded more than it can handle, for example by long hours of standing, a sudden increase in walking or running, unsupportive footwear or tight calves, the area where it joins the heel bone becomes painful. Heel spurs seen on X-ray are common and often do not cause the pain.

Recovery usually takes weeks to a few months. Stretching of the calf and plantar fascia, gradual strengthening, supportive footwear and short-term changes to activity are the core of care; hands-on treatment and, in some cases, therapeutic ultrasound or dry needling can ease pain alongside exercise. If pain does not settle, your doctor may discuss other options such as injections. How many sessions you need depends on how long you have had it and how you respond, and progress is reviewed at each visit.

Who we often see

• Heel pain with the first steps in the morning
• Heel pain after long hours of standing at work
• Heel pain in walkers and runners after increasing distance
• Heel pain with a heel spur seen on X-ray
• Pain under the arch of the foot
• Heel pain that keeps coming back

What you can do at home

• Stretch your calf and the sole of your foot before your first steps in the morning.
• Wear supportive, cushioned footwear indoors and outdoors; avoid walking barefoot on hard floors for now.
• Reduce, rather than stop, long walks or runs while it settles, then build back up.
• Rolling the sole of your foot over a cold water bottle can ease pain.
• For pain medicine, follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.

Frequently Asked Questions