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What is Heel pain?

Heel pain being a very common complaint there can be more than one causes. This can actually range from conditions affecting the actual heel bone such as a bruise or stress fracture, to conditions affecting the structures near it such as the plantar fasciitis. This is also known as Achilles tendonitis. The heel pain can be very annoying since the throbbing pain is stabbing as well as debilitating.

You may not know the fact that your foot as well as your ankle are a result of 26 bones, 33 joints, and tendons ranging from more than 100; your heel being the largest bone in your foot.

In case you tend to overuse your heel or injure your heel, then you may experience heel pain. This disabling heel pain if unbearable, you need to immediately seek medical opinion for diagnosing the cause in case simple home remedies don’t ease your heel pain.

Causes of Heel pain

’The main cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis which is at the bottom of the heel and Achilles tendinitis which is at the back of the heel. Some other causes of heel pain are mentioned below:

  • Bone tumor
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Achilles tendon rupture
  • Haglund's deformity
  • Heel spur
  • Osteomyelitis which is type of bone infection)
  • Paget's disease of bone
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Reactive arthritis
  • Retrocalcaneal bursitis
  • Sarcoidosis which is a result of collection of various inflammatory cells in your body
  • Bursitis i.e. joint inflammation
  • Stress fractures
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Rheumatoid arthritis i.e. inflammatory joint disease.

Types of Heel pain

There are mainly three types of heel pain. These are mentioned below:

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  • Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that occurs due to excessive jumping, running, walking as well as standing for longer durations. For that matter even using lower quality of shoes may put pressure on the tissue band connecting the heel bone to the toe base.

  • Heel spur.

Heel spur is a type of heel pain that occurs when plantar fasciitis keeps recurring. Heel spur is also known as calcium deposit. This condition may or may not trigger pain. Heel spur can be treated and there is no need of a surgery or an operation unless the condition is chronic.

  • Achilles Tendinitis.

Achilles tendinitis is a condition that occurs due to over use of the band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone from the back of your lower leg. Usually, Achilles tendinitis occurs to people who are either aged or are involved in sports.

Treatment

What should you do in case your Heel pain worsens?

In case your heel pain worsens, you should visit a foot or an ankle surgeon who will obtain your medical history to understand the diagnosis. Accordingly a treatment and a course of medication too would be suggested.

What are the available Heel pain treatment options?

Heel pain or ankle pain or foot pain can be treated using home remedies or home treatments. These home treatments may certainly help in decreasing the heel pain from plantar fasciitis, however you may not always get the desired effect.

In case the home treatment is not successful, your treating doctor might recommend some additional medical treatments, like:

  • Steroid injections: Steroid injections are the best option when your heel pain persists. An anti-inflammatory steroid medication would be injected into the heel. However, remember that there are chances that frequent steroid injections may weaken your fascia, therefore steroid injections may not be given too frequently.
  • Surgery: Surgery or an operation too can be a possible last resort for heel pain treatment. Heel pain can be reduced with the help of various surgical procedures. .

Are there any natural or homemade remedies for Heel pain?

Mentioned below are some of the home remedies for heel pain:

  • Ice: Applying ice at least thrice a day for around 15 minutes at a time may help reduce your heel pain. If you directly apply ice on your skin, you may feel the discomfort. Therefore, it is advisable to wrap an ice pack in a towel that is damp and then place it on the heel.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also home-made heel pain treatment that can help in decreasing the discomfort as well as inflammation.
  • Orthotics: There are custom foot supports available known as Foot orthotics. All you need to do is place your foot in those shoes. These Orthotics help in supporting your arch, that help in distributing evenly the weight placed on the heel when you walk. You may also buy arch support online or over the counter. Nevertheless, your physician may also prescribe custom-fitted orthotics.
  • Splint: Experts suggest wearing a splint at night is also one of the best heel pain treatment that can be tried at home. This is because the splint helps in stretching the arch as well as calf, and this may help in decreasing the discomfort.
  • Switching activities: Switching activities may also be useful for people to switch from high-impact activities like running, to exercising that is easier on the heel. Low-impact options may also include swimming as well as walking. .

When to see a doctor?

In case you develop heel pain, all you can do is try some home heel treatment such as resting to ease out your symptoms. However, in case your heel pain worsens and you don’t see any results or healing within two to three weeks, it is recommended that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.

In case you find the below symptoms you should call your doctor immediately:

  • You have severe pain.
  • You get pain that starts suddenly.
  • You face redness in your heel.
  • You face inflammation or swelling in your heel.
  • Your pain is unbearable that you find walking too difficult.

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