The Most Common Types of Heel Pain

Even if you don’t spend each and every day standing up for hours on end, heel pain can be an extremely serious problem. It’s also a more common problem than many people realize.

The reason for this is partly because it can be caused by many different problems. All of which leads to the same troublesome symptoms. Below, we look at five of the most frequently incurred problems so you can go some way to diagnosing the cause of your own heel pains.

5 Most Common Types of Heel Pain

Swollen feet

The most common type of heel pain is actually caused by the swelling of tissue on the bottom of your foot. Medically known as Plantar fascitis, the muscles and tendons in the arch of your foot can easily become irritated and inflamed.

This results in a dull pain in the underside of the heel. Typically, the pain will be worst after sleeping or sitting down for an extended amount of time.

Remedies for this can be fairly straightforward. Applying an ice pack and taking inflammatory medication will reduce swelling.

Prevention is far better than a cure though and further steps should be taken to eradicate it altogether. This can include changing your choice of footwear or regularly employing stretching exercises.

Bone spurs

A similar type of pain can also be the result of bone spurs in the heel. This is caused by a calcium build-up which results in small growths of bone forming on your heel.

They are also much more common than people realize, however, not all bone spurs cause pain. As such, not everyone with a bone spur is aware they suffer this affliction.

The only way to test for a bone spur is through radiologic testing. If you are being caused pain by such a growth, again the use of anti-inflammatory medication or specialized footwear can ease the problem.

Only if the pain is acute and unable to be remedied by such steps will surgical procedures be necessary.

Stress fractures

Another common problem associated with the heel’s bones is a fracture. Unlike a break, a stress fracture generally occurs slowly over time, rather than from a specific event.

This can make them hard to immediately diagnose as the pain gradually increases as the fracture grows. Unfortunately, the only real cure for a stress fracture is rest which can lead to a frustrating recuperation period.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

This is essentially a pain caused by a nerve in the rear of your heel being squeezed. Often referred to as TTS, it can be contracted either instantaneously or over a longer period of time.

Luckily, like trapped nerves which occur elsewhere around the body, this condition is relatively rare.

Due to being a more serious problem and because it typically causes more pain than other heel ailments, medical advice must be taken.

The treatments include a combination of both rest and physiotherapy. However, other methods could be preferred depending upon the medical prognosis.

Achilles Tendonitis

A more common sporting complaint is tendonitis. As an exposed tendon which connects the back of the foot, it can be easily damaged. This often is the result of being over-stretched or jarred in an accident.

There are two main types of Achilles tendonitis which are regularly suffered. Insertional and non-insertional – which relates to the part of the tendon which is damaged.

In both cases, home remedies can play a significant part in aiding recovery. However, a trained doctor should be consulted to ensure a fast and full recovery is made.

How We Can Help

If you are suffering from any sort of heel pain, you should seek a professional medical opinion. This will help to correctly identify the problem. Only through an accurate diagnosis will you find a way to seeking appropriate forms of treatment.

If you are experiencing any type of heel pain problem, contact a foot specialist now to bring relief to your life.