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When I, a 65-year-old man, get out of bed in the morning, I have sore feet. My right heel in particular hurts. It gradually gets better in the morning, but the right foot remains sore all day. Arch supports are not enough. The doctor once gave me a syringe in my right heel. After that it was painless for about half a year. It limits me quite a bit, because I can’t walk more than a few kilometers. Does it make sense to go to an orthopedist?
Male, age 65
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
I think you have plantar fasciitis,”heel spurs‘. This is an inflammation of the attachment of the tendon leaf at the bottom of the foot to the heel bone. This is caused by excessive tensile forces, causing small cracks to appear at the point of attachment. The inflammation can become chronic if new lesions continue to develop in the freshly constructed tissue during recovery. The injection you received contains an anti-inflammatory drug (corticosteroids). This usually helps for a while, but often the complaints return. It is thought that the tendon becomes weak over time. Heel spurs can last for a long time, but almost always go away. Regular painkillers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen) help a little. Passive stretching exercises are often recommended (pull foot back). I don’t know if they really help. Podiatrists make special insoles; I think the effectiveness of this also depends a bit on the ‘carpenter’s eye’ of the podiatrist and a bit of luck.
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