Boca Raton
(561) 488-4848
Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis Care | Family Foot Center
Heel and arch pain treated with a conservative-first care path in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach: diagnosis, orthotics, shockwave therapy, and more.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
If your heel hurts most with your first steps in the morning or after you’ve been sitting, it’s probably plantar fasciitis, an irritated band of tissue along the bottom of your foot. It’s one of the most common things we treat, and one of the most mismanaged. A lot of people try store insoles and rest for months without a real diagnosis. We start by looking at how your foot moves so we can fix what’s causing the pain, not just where it hurts.
- WHO IT AFFECTS
Who Gets Heel Pain
1
On Your Feet All Day
People on their feet all day for work: retail, nursing, teaching, hospitality, and similar jobs.
2
Runners & Athletes
Runners and other athletes dealing with repetitive impact
3
Returning to Exercise
People returning to exercise after time off who notice new heel or arch soreness
Experiencing Heel Pain?
Don’t wait for it to get worse. Get a clear diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
Signs It's Time to Get Heel Pain Checked
- Pain lasting more than two to three weeks despite rest and stretching
- Pain severe enough to change your gait or limit how much you walk
- Heel pain accompanied by numbness, tingling, or swelling
- Heel pain that started with a specific injury, which needs prompt evaluation to rule out a fracture
- Heel pain that keeps returning after past treatment
Why a Conservative-First Approach
Custom orthotics play a central role in that first stage. Rather than an off-the-shelf insole, a custom orthotic is built around your own foot’s mechanics, identified during your gait assessment, to reduce strain on the plantar fascia with every step.
Our 4-Step Conservative-First Care Path
01
Diagnose
A comprehensive biomechanical and gait assessment to identify what’s actually causing your heel or arch pain, not just where it hurts.
02
Conservative Care
Stretching protocols, activity modification, night splints, and custom orthotics ($500) built around the specific mechanics behind your pain.
03
Advanced Non-Surgical
For pain that doesn’t fully resolve with conservative care: SoftWave shockwave therapy, and regenerative options such as DPMx or Liposana tissue allografts.
04
Surgical Referral
Reserved for the small number of cases that don’t respond to steps 1 through 3. Conservative treatment is emphasized before considering surgery.
Heel Pain Care in Boca Raton & Boynton Beach
Boca Raton
Boynton Beach
Dr. Pinsky personally sees heel pain patients in Boca Raton
Boca Raton: Mon, Wed & Thu, 8am–5pm; Friday, 8am–12pm
Boynton Beach: Tuesday, 8am–5pm; Friday, 1pm–5pm
Frequently asked questions
1What causes morning heel pain?
Morning heel pain is usually a sign of plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia tightens overnight, and your first steps after rest re-stretch inflamed tissue, which is why pain is often sharpest right when you get out of bed.
2How long does plantar fasciitis take to heal?
Healing time varies by patient and how early treatment starts. Many people see meaningful improvement within a few months of consistent conservative care, though some cases take longer, and Dr. Pinsky can give you a more specific timeline after your evaluation.
3
What's the difference between custom orthotics and shockwave therapy?
Custom orthotics support and correct foot mechanics day to day to reduce strain on the plantar fascia. SoftWave shockwave therapy is an in-office treatment that may help stimulate healing in tissue that hasn’t responded to conservative care alone.
4How much do custom orthotics cost?
Custom orthotics at Family Foot Center are $500.
5Is heel pain the same thing as a heel spur?
Not necessarily. A heel spur is a bony growth that can show up on an X-ray, while plantar fasciitis is inflammation of soft tissue. Some people have a heel spur without pain and some have plantar fasciitis without a spur, which is why a gait assessment matters.
6Can I keep exercising or running with plantar fasciitis?
Some activity modification is usually part of early treatment, but most patients don’t need to stop moving entirely. Dr. Pinsky can advise which activities to scale back and which are safe to continue based on your specific case.
7Do you accept insurance for heel pain treatment?
Family Foot Center accepts all major insurance plans but does not accept HMO plans. Our team can help verify your specific coverage before your visit.
8When does heel pain need urgent attention rather than a routine appointment?
Heel pain following a specific injury, or pain severe enough that you can’t put weight on your foot, warrants prompt evaluation rather than waiting. Gradual heel pain that’s been building for weeks can typically be scheduled as a routine visit.