Here is a question we received from a runner named Bill who is dealing with heel pain. I had an unpleasant bout of heel pain last summer when I ran the Juneau Marathon. When I got back home I was able to find a treatment that helped me to complete fix my heel pain (knock on wood) and I was able to run the Loch Ness Marathon without any issue. I’m happy to pass along what worked for me.

A Question About Heel Pain

Angie, My foot and heel pain has gotten too much to continue to “run through” as I have been running through it for probably 2 months or more.  I heard you mention you went through heel pain in your last podcast. Any trials and tribulations you would like to share, or good resources? I would like to know more about what treatment you got for it.  For now, it has gotten so bad I am planning to take off 2 weeks from running and work on stretching, massage, etc. Thanks! Bill

Hi Bill,

I’m sorry to hear that your foot and heel pain has continued to worsen.  You’re wise to take some time off to allow the inflammation to go down.  As runners it’s easy to let the pain continue for too long before seeking treatment. 

I certainly wish I would have addressed mine earlier too. Turns out I’ve been dealing with more of a heel tendonitis.  Curiously the issue stems from tightness in my inner calf which I found out while getting massage therapy on the area.  I’ve been getting 2-3 massages per month focusing primarily on my heel and calf area, icing on my own, doing daily stretching, and taking a supplement called Tissue Rejuvinater from Hammer Nutrition. 

I also started getting laser therapy on the area and after several sessions had significant relief.  I’ve gone from limping around to hardly noticing it at all. For those not familiar with laser therapy (I wasn’t before trying it):

Laser Therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling. Laser Therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by healthcare professionals as far back as the 1970’s.

Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, Laser Therapy is being used extensively in the United States. Laser Therapy is proven to bio-stimulate tissue repair and growth. The Laser accelerates wound healing and decreases inflammation, pain, and scar tissue formation. It can be used effectively for issues like sports injuries, back pain, tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis. I’ve been getting it done at my chiropractor’s office and if you google laser therapy in your area you can usually find a practitioner.

Best of luck!