Heel and foot pain: which doctor should I see?
Heel or foot pain is often worst with the first steps in the morning or after standing for a long time. It can change the way you walk and strain your knees and back. Here you will learn what may be behind it, when it is urgent and which specialist to see.
Book a specialistWhen it is urgent
- After an injury you cannot put weight on the foot, bone shows through the skin or there is a deep wound, or the ankle is deformed.
- The foot is hot, red and swollen and you have a fever.
- The foot suddenly turns cold, pale or bluish, or goes numb after an injury.
With these signs, seek emergency help — call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Call 112What it may mean
- Inflammation of the plantar fascia — a stabbing pain in the heel with the first steps in the morning.
- Overuse — long standing, running or unsuitable shoes.
- Changes in the arch of the foot (flat feet) — tiredness and pain after walking.
- An injury — a sprain, a strain or a fracture after a misstep.
- Inflammation of the joints — swelling and pain in the toes or the ankle, sometimes with no injury.
Which specialist
How to prepare for the visit
Note when the pain started, when it is worst and which shoes you usually wear. Bring any X-rays and earlier test results, and a list of the medicines you take. Bring the shoes you wear most often.
Frequently asked questions
Do insoles help?
Sometimes. Whether you need them, and which ones, is decided by the doctor after examining your foot and the way you walk.
Should I stop running?
With severe pain, rest the foot until the visit. The doctor will tell you when and how to continue. Book a visit without delay if you heard a snap or pop at the injury, cannot stand on your toes, or your calf and ankle are swollen and bruised.
Orthopaedist or rheumatologist?
For pain after strain or an injury the first specialist is an orthopaedist. With swelling in several joints or pain without a clear cause, the doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist. Book a visit without delay if the foot is hot, red or swollen, even without a fever, goes numb or tingles, or has a wound that does not heal. With diabetes, see a doctor within a day for any new wound, redness or swelling; if none is available, go to an emergency department.
This information does not replace a visit to a doctor.