For Heel Pains
Overview
Heel pain is a common foot and ankle problem. Pain may occur underneath the heel or behind it. Many conditions can cause pain in the heels, including:
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Plantar fasciitis.
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Achilles or flexor tendonitis/tendonosis.
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Bone spurs.
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Sever’s disease (mostly in children 8-14 years old).
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Bursitis.
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Stress fractures.
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Inflamed tendons.
It’s important to have a medical evaluation to help you determine the exact cause of your heel pain so that the proper treatment regimen can begin.
Heel pain can make it difficult to walk and participate in daily activities. Most painful heel conditions improve with nonsurgical treatments, but your body needs time to recover.
Symptoms
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Bony growth on the heel.
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Discoloration (bruising or redness).
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Stiffness.
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Swelling.
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Tenderness.
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Pain after standing from a resting/sitting position.
Causes
Most cases of heel pain are caused when a band of tissue in the foot, known as the plantar fascia, becomes damaged and thickens.
Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for the thickening of the plantar fascia.
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The plantar fascia
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The plantar fascia is a tough and flexible band of tissue that runs under the sole of the foot. It connects the heel bone with the bones of the foot, and acts as a kind of shock absorber to the foot.
Sudden damage, or damage that occurs over many months or years, can cause tiny tears (microtears) to develop inside the tissue of the plantar fascia. This can cause the plantar fascia to thicken, resulting in heel pain.
The surrounding tissue and the heel bone can also sometimes become inflamed.