Find Relief From Your Heel Pain

Here are some simple strategies to help you manage your heel pain.


Whether you are on your feet all day for work or you’ve suddenly started running again, there are many reasons why you may find yourself dealing with an aching, throbbing foot. If heel pain is affecting you, know that our Fort Walton Beach and Crestview FL, podiatrists Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel can help; however, if your heel pain is minor you may be able to treat it on your own with these simple measures:


  • Rest: It’s important to get off your feet until your heel has completely healed. Most cases of heel pain are due to an inflammatory condition known as plantar fasciitis. For the fascia to completely heal you need to avoid physical activity and to stay off your feet as much as possible for at least a couple of weeks.
  • Ice: Wrapping an ice pack in a towel or washcloth and then applying it to the heel is one easy way to alleviate swelling and pain. It’s best to leave the ice on your heel for no more than 15 minutes at a time. You can ice your foot 2-3 times a day.
  • Painkillers: If ice just isn’t cutting it when it comes to numbing your pain, then you may choose to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you’re going to take pain medication it’s best to take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, which can reduce both inflammation and pain.
  • Elevation: When you are kicking your feet up and relaxing it’s a good idea to elevate your feet above your heart, which will help to reduce swelling.
  • Special Exercises: We don’t mean exercise in the traditional sense of running or going to the gym. There are certain foot stretches and flexing exercises that you can do every day to help alleviate your discomfort (especially for those dealing with Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis).


If you don’t notice any changes in your symptoms after a week, or if symptoms get worse, then it’s time to see a podiatrist for care. The goal of treatment is to lessen your discomfort and to allow the plantar fascia or Achilles tendon time to heal. It can take months for these overuse injuries to heal completely, so it’s important that you not only catch these issues early but also start treating them as soon as possible.


Dealing with severe or recurring heel pain? If so, then it’s time to see a medical professional and find out what’s going on. Turn to the Fort Walton Beach and Crestview FL podiatric team Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry. Schedule an evaluation by calling (850) 862-4119.

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Fort Walton Beach Office

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Tuesday:

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Wednesday:

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Thursday:

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Friday:

8:30 am-4:00 pm

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