Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with heel pain at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Bring the shoes or sandals you wear most at work, and tell him how many hours a day you stand or walk. Long shifts on hard floors are a common cause of heel pain.
What is plantar fasciitis (heel pain)?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the commonest causes of pain under the heel. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue in the sole that runs from the heel bone to the toes and supports the arch. When it is strained, it becomes sore where it joins the heel. The pain is typically worst with the first steps after sleep or rest, eases as you move, then returns after long standing or walking. It is more likely if you are on your feet all day, carry extra weight, have tight calves, or wear flat, thin-soled shoes. A bony heel spur may show on an X-ray, but the spur itself is not usually the cause of the pain.
Common signs
- Pain under the heel or arch that is worst with the first steps in the morning.
- Heel pain that comes back after standing or walking for a long time.
- Pain when you lift your toes or climb stairs.
- Heel pain that has not improved after two weeks of rest and better shoes.
- Heel pain that keeps coming back or stops you working or exercising.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon, and plantar fasciitis is among the foot and ankle problems he treats. He confirms the cause by examining the heel, the arch and the calf, and rules out other causes of heel pain such as a stress fracture or an Achilles problem. He looks at your footwear and how many hours you stand. Then he sets out a plan of stretching, supportive shoes or insoles and pain relief, and reviews how it is working.
What to expect
Consultation
He asks when the pain is worst, how long you stand or walk each day, and what shoes you wear.
Examination
He presses on the heel and arch, checks how tight the calf is, and watches how you stand and walk.
Scans if needed
Most people need no scan. An X-ray or ultrasound is used when another cause, such as a stress fracture, needs ruling out.
Treatment plan
Daily calf and sole stretches, cushioned shoes with arch support or insoles, ice, pain relief and less time on your feet. A physiotherapist can guide the exercises.
Review
He checks your progress. If the pain has not settled after several months, he explains the further options and their limits.
Getting better
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Most people get better without surgery, though it can take several months.
- Stretching the calf and the sole every day, especially before the first steps in the morning, is one of the most useful things you can do.
- Avoid going barefoot on hard floors, flip-flops and backless slippers while it settles.
- Low-impact exercise such as swimming keeps you fit without loading the heel.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if heel pain has not improved after two weeks of self-care, is getting worse, or keeps coming back. Book sooner if you have tingling or loss of feeling in the foot, or you have diabetes and heel pain. Go to emergency care straight away if the heel pain started suddenly with an injury, you heard a snap or pop, or you cannot walk on it, because the heel bone may be broken or the Achilles tendon torn.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Questions patients ask
I stand all day at work in Dubai. What can I do about heel pain?
Wear cushioned shoes with good arch support rather than flat sandals, add a soft insole or heel pad, and stretch your calves and soles before and after a shift. Sit when you can during breaks.
Is a heel spur the cause of my pain?
Usually not. Many people have a heel spur on an X-ray and no pain at all. The pain in plantar fasciitis comes from the strained band of tissue in the sole, and treating that is what helps.
How long does plantar fasciitis last?
It often takes several months to settle, and sometimes longer. Most people improve with stretching, better shoes and time. Keeping up the stretches is what makes the difference.
Will I need surgery?
Rarely. Surgery is only considered when the pain has not improved after a year of thorough treatment without an operation.
Book an appointment
His nurse answers the phone and WhatsApp.