If you wake up with stabbing heel pain or struggle through your day with discomfort in the bottom of your foot, you’re not alone. Two of the most common causes of heel pain often present with similar symptoms, but they require different approaches to care.
At Proactive Podiatry, with locations in Monaca and Wexford, PA, Dr. Latika Hinduja, DPM, specializes in diagnosing and treating complex heel conditions with compassion and expertise. Whether your pain is sharp, persistent, or flaring up during certain activities, we’re here to offer advanced, non-invasive solutions personalized to your foot structure, lifestyle, and goals. Call 724-775-6168 or request an appointment online to find lasting relief with the right diagnosis and treatment plan.
Read on to learn how to tell the difference between plantar fasciitis and heel spurs—and what steps to take next.
Key Differences Between Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are closely related, but they are not the same thing.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia—the thick band of tissue that stretches from your heel bone to the ball of your foot. It usually causes sharp, stabbing pain on the bottom of the heel, especially when you take your first steps in the morning.
Heel spurs are bony growths that can form where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone. They often develop after long-term stress or inflammation in the area. While some heel spurs cause pain, many people don’t feel any symptoms at all.
Think of it this way: plantar fasciitis often comes first, and if it goes untreated, a heel spur may form later as a result of repeated strain. Identifying which condition you have is the first step toward finding the right treatment.
Common Risk Factors and Causes of Heel Pain
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs often share the same causes. These conditions can develop when the heel is exposed to repeated stress or strain over time. Common risk factors include:
- Foot structure: Flat feet, high arches, or poor foot mechanics can put extra stress on the heel and arch.
- Standing or walking for long periods: Jobs that require you to be on your feet all day, like factory work or healthcare, can lead to overuse injuries.
- Weight gain: Extra body weight adds pressure to the heel and plantar fascia.
- Unsupportive footwear: Shoes without proper arch support, cushioning, or heel stability can worsen strain on your feet.
- Tight calf muscles or Achilles tendon: These limit ankle flexibility and pull on the plantar fascia.
- Overuse from activity: A sudden increase in physical activity or intense exercise, especially running or walking on hard surfaces, can trigger heel pain.
Understanding these risk factors is an important part of preventing long-term heel problems. With early care and the right treatment plan, you can reduce your risk of complications like chronic pain or heel bone spurs.
Diagnosis and Imaging for Heel Conditions
At Proactive Podiatry, Dr. Latika Hinduja begins each evaluation with a thorough review of your symptoms, medical history, and gait patterns to understand the root cause of your heel pain. To confirm a diagnosis and guide your treatment plan, we offer advanced onsite imaging and diagnostic services at both our Monaca and Wexford offices.
We may use:
- Digital X-rays: Quickly reveal heel bone spurs, fractures, and joint abnormalities.
- Ultrasound Imaging: Allows us to assess soft tissue conditions such as inflammation or thickening of the plantar fascia in real time.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): In more complex cases, MRI may be recommended to evaluate deeper soft tissue damage or rule out other conditions such as Achilles tendonitis or Sever’s disease.
With accurate imaging and expert analysis, Dr. Hinduja ensures your treatment plan is customized to address the true source of your discomfort—whether it’s plantar fasciitis, a heel spur, or another foot condition.
Effective Treatment Plans for Each Condition
At Proactive Podiatry, we tailor treatment plans based on the root cause of your heel pain—whether it’s inflammation from plantar fasciitis or mechanical irritation from a heel spur. Our goal is to relieve pain, restore function, and help you return to daily activities without discomfort.
For Plantar Fasciitis
Dr. Hinduja offers a comprehensive range of non-surgical treatments designed to reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and prevent recurrence. These therapies target the plantar fascia directly while also addressing contributing biomechanical factors:
- Remy Class IV Laser Therapy: Delivers light energy deep into tissues to reduce inflammation and stimulate cellular repair.
- Shockwave Therapy: Uses acoustic waves to trigger blood flow and natural healing of the damaged fascia.
- Custom Orthotics: Provides biomechanical correction and relieves stress on the plantar fascia by improving foot alignment.
- Regenerative Medicine: Includes PRP and amniotic fluid injections to promote natural healing of chronic soft tissue injury.
- Topical CBD Creams: Offers localized relief by reducing inflammation and calming irritated tissue.
- Night Splints & Stretching: Helps lengthen the fascia and Achilles tendon overnight, reducing pain with the first morning steps.
- Plantar Fasciitis Care Packages: Bundled treatments designed to combine modalities for faster, more holistic results tailored to your condition and lifestyle.
For Heel Spurs
Treatment for heel spurs often mirrors that of plantar fasciitis, especially when inflammation and soft tissue strain are the primary sources of pain. However, when a bony growth is contributing to mechanical discomfort, additional measures may be needed:
- Supportive Shoes: Shoes with built-in arch support and heel cushioning help reduce impact on the heel bone.
- Ice Therapy and Anti-inflammatory Measures: Reduces swelling and pain around the heel spur area.
- Cortisone Injections: Targeted injections may be used for short-term relief when other methods don’t provide enough comfort.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery: In rare cases, surgical removal of the spur may be necessary if it continues to cause pain despite conservative care.
Many cases of heel spur pain can be managed without surgery by focusing on reducing inflammation and correcting the underlying foot mechanics.
When to Visit a Podiatrist in Monaca or Wexford, PA
If your heel pain is starting to interfere with your routine or not improving with basic home care, it may be time to seek professional help. Early intervention not only provides faster relief but also helps prevent the condition from becoming chronic or affecting other parts of your body.
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Hinduja if:
- You feel sharp heel pain, especially during your first few steps in the morning
- Rest, stretching, or over-the-counter remedies haven’t improved your symptoms after a few weeks
- Pain starts to radiate into your arch or up into your calf muscle
- You notice swelling, stiffness, or limited movement in your foot or ankle
- You're changing the way you walk or placing more pressure on your other leg to avoid pain
Dr. Hinduja can help identify the exact cause of your discomfort and create a treatment plan that gets you back to walking comfortably and confidently.
Get Lasting Heel Pain Relief at Proactive Podiatry
Knowing whether your pain stems from plantar fasciitis or a heel spur can shape your treatment and your results. At Proactive Podiatry, Dr. Hinduja delivers expert, minimally invasive care to help you move better, feel better, and walk pain-free again.
Schedule your appointment at our Monaca or Wexford office and let our team guide you through a personalized heel pain treatment plan because your feet deserve proactive care.
