Medical Centric

HEEL PAIN

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

HEEL PAIN

Heel pain is a common foot problem that usually occurs at the underside or back of the heel.

  • The heel is the largest bone in the foot. It serves to protect the structures of the foot, including the calcaneus, tendons, and ligaments.
  • Heel pain is not usually caused by a single injury, such as a fall, but from a repetitive stress (such as playing sports, or wearing shoes that irritates sensitive tissues) and pounding of feet on hard surfaces.
  • At first, the pain is mild, but it can become very severe and disabling and can interfere with normal activities, particularly exercise.
  • However, many people try to ignore early signs of heel pain and continue with the activity that caused it. This will get it worse and could become chronic leading to more serious problems
  • Between 4% and 7% of the general population has heel pain at any given time.
  • It becomes more common with age.

CAUSES

There are several common causes of heel pain and they include:

  • Plantar fasciitis, the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligaments caused by too much pressure on the feet
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Stress fractures
  • Heel bursitis (joint inflammation)
  • Bone tumor
  • Heel spur
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Haglund’s deformity
  • Osteochondroses
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Osteomyelitis

SYMPTOMS

  • Pain under or at the back of the heel.

You should seek immediate medical care if:

  • Your pain is severe and there is swelling near the heel
  • The pain starts suddenly
  • There is redness in your heels
  • You are unable to work because of the pain
  • Heel pain is accompanied with fever, numbness or tingling in your heel

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

The doctor will obtain your medical history and examine your foot during diagnosis. The doctor during this process will try to rule out all possible causes of the heel pain.

An imaging test such as x-ray may be used to distinguish the different types of heel pain and see the cause of your pain

 

TREATMENT

Most people recover with conservative treatments within months. Treatment may include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain
  • If NSAIDs are not effective, corticosteroid injections may work. These should be used with caution as long-term use may have adverse effects
  • Physical therapy may be prescribed by your doctor. This can help to strengthen the tendons and muscles in your foot.
  • Special foot support devices may be recommended by your doctor.

Home remedies may help to ease discomfort. These may include:

  • Rest as much as possible
  • Ice should be applied to the heel for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day
  • Wear shoes that fit properly and provide plenty of support
  • Use heel lifts or shoe inserts to reduce pain
  • Massage your foot
  • Losing any excess weight to reduce the stress on your feet

Heel pain can be prevented by reducing stress on the feet. Stretching and warming up before exercise can help. Correctly fitted, supportive footwear that suits your activity should always be worn. It is also important to rest when you feel tired or when your muscle hurts and maintain a healthy weight.