Heel Pain
Whether you’re walking or running, on hard surfaces, or just wear shoes that can irritate select issues, you might be on your way to developing some serious foot pain. Our day to day lives can keep the feet pretty stressed out. And although your feet can handle a ton of pressure, eventually they get pushed to injury.
Heel pain is the most common problems that affect the feet and ankles. And with enough rest, heel pain will usually get better on its own. The issue is that heel pain is commonly ignored; many simply shrug off the early signs and leave them selves open to developing chronic conditions that require a podiatry specialist and surgery.
Symptoms and Causes
Heel pain can develop for a multitude of reasons. It is vital that you see a specialist, primary care provider or orthopedic foot and ankle specialist immediate to obtain a proper diagnosis and discuss treatment options.
They will need to know:
Exactly where the heel pain is located.
How long you’ve experienced the pain.
With an examination and some physical testing, your doctor will be able to determine the cause of your sore heel.
The two most common conditions of heel pain lie beneath the heel, and behind the heel.
Causes of Pain Beneath the Heel
If you notice pain under your heel, you probably are experiencing inflammation. Heel pain is caused by a multitude of factors, including:
Stone Bruising: The bottom of your heel contains a fat pad that can be bruised when you step firmly on a hard or sharp object, like a rock or stone. It might cause bruising, but almost always heals with rest.
Plantar Fasciitis: This is an inflammation of the fascia (the band that connects your heel bone to the base of the toes). Strenuous activities such as running or jumping can cause this condition. Look for pain that is centered under the heel that flares up when you first step out of bed. Treatment for this includes physical therapy, medication and heel pads.
Heel spur: A condition caused by having prolonged plantar fasciitis, a heel spur is a calcium deposit that forms where the fascia band connects with the bone of the heel. This will probably require X-rays, rest, physical therapy, medication and heel pads. Heels spurs do not usually cause pain and most of these injuries can be healed without surgery.
Pain Behind the Heel
If you notice any inflammation near your Achilles tendon, you probably are experiencing the secondary type of heel pain. Running too hard and too often, or simply wearing shoes that put pressure on the back of the heel can cause this. This type of heel pain can develop slowly over long periods of time. You might notice a bump on the back of the heel, or pain that flares up at the start of exercise. Even wearing regular shoes may be discomforting to those suffering from pain behind the heel.
As always, treatment requires rest and taking time off from activities like running that contributed to the pain. Physical therapy such as stretching can help ease your heels, as well as medication like anti-inflammatory cream. Shoes that put less pressure on the back of your feet might is a good idea as well.
It is important that you contact a podiatrist right away if you notice any of these symptoms. Heel pain is often easily remedied but can cause chronic illness if not diagnosed and treated properly.
In Sydney, Dr George Hardas from Spinal Care is more than happy to assist you with any and all of your heel pains concerns and feet disorders.
Dr Hardas has many years addressing the root causes of heel pain, and offers professional treatment that can help with chronic pain management and other feet related issues.
Please do not hesitate to contact them with any heel issues you may experience.