Common Reasons for Heel Pain: Discover Why Your Heel Hurts

07/29/2024

What is Heel Pain?

Heel pain is considered a common problem associated with the heel and ankle. While going through it, you may encounter symptoms like soreness, pain, or tenderness in your heel. The most prone areas are underneath the heel and the back of it. There are plenty of conditions that can trigger heel pain, such as Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. 

This common condition possesses the potential to affect the ability to work, walk, and participate in daily activities. If you are experiencing any sort of pain in the heel of your foot, please consult your doctor. The doctor will help you determine the exact cause along with the proper treatment. There are several nonsurgical treatments available to treat it, but it will take time for your body to recover properly.

Common Causes of Heel Pain:

Heel pain stands as a common condition that can happen to anyone, regardless of age. However, older people are more prone to it.  The following remain the top causes of heel pain around the world:

Plantar Fasciitis:

It usually happens when a high strain on your feet damages the fascia ligament, causing problems like pain and stiffness. There could be many causes, depending on individual lifestyle and daily habits. In most cases, the primary reason is a person’s foot anatomy. If the arches are either high or low, this can trigger plantar fasciitis. Using hard surfaces like a treadmill for exercise is a common irritant.

Sprain and Strains:

Strain and sprain are other common reasons for heel pain. These injuries to the body most often occur due to physical activities. Both could be mild to severe, depending on the incident.

Fracture:

Any fracture anywhere in the body is considered a medical emergency. A fracture is usually referred to as a broken bone. In this condition, you should contact the healthcare provider as soon as possible, as the condition may worsen quickly.

Achilles Tendonitis:

If you encounter stabbing pain above your heel or in the back of your ankle, especially during or after a workout, it is most probably due to Achilles tendonitis. It usually happens when the tendon (a connective tissue that hooks your calf muscle to your heel bone) becomes inflamed due to overuse injuries. People more engaged in activities like running or basketball are more prone to Achilles tendinitis.

Bursitis:

This condition usually develops when fluid-filled sacs called bursae become inflamed. They primarily cover the area where tendons, muscle tissues, and skin meet bones. This condition mostly occurs when you spend extensive time on your feet.

Sever’s Disease:

Sever’s disease, medically known as calcaneal apophysitis,  stands out as the significant cause of heel pain in children aged between 8 and 14 years. Children engaged in activities that demand a lot of running, jumping, and standing for an extended period are more likely to develop this condition. Increasing athletic activity can trouble the growth plate present in the back of your heels. Traditional treatments like rest, icing, and painkillers can relieve the symptoms.

Haglund’s Deformity:

Haglund’s syndrome, commonly known as a pump bump, usually occurs in people who wear inflexible or poorly fitted shoes. Chronic inflammation and irritation can lead to a puffy bony bump establishing itself in the back of your heel. The pain, along with redness, swelling, and warmth, can lead to limping. 

Sinus Tarsi Disorder:

Sinus tarsi, also known as the eye of the foot, is the gap on the outside of the foot. It is located between the ankle and heel bone. This space encompasses many ligaments with fatty tissues, nerves, and blood vessels.  This disorder is majorly caused by a traumatic injury, triggering constant pain in the sides and front of the ankle. Including yourself in weight-bearing activities can aggravate this heel pain. With this, you may have trouble walking on an uneven surface and a sensation of ankle looseness.

Who is more Likely to Develop Heel Pain?

Anyone can develop this condition irrespective of their age; however, certain people are more prone to it. Anything that leads to a lot of pressure on your foot can result in heel pain.  How you walk along with your foot structure can also trigger it. These people are considered highly susceptible to it: 

• Being obese or overweight

• Having flat feet, high arches, or foot & ankle arthritis

• Being in a sport requiring a lot of running and jumping

• Standing for a longer period of time, especially on concrete floors

• Using poorly fitted shoes with arch supporter

How to Treat Heel Pain?

In order to treat heel pain, you don’t require any surgical method. There are a lot of nonsurgical treatments available to treat heel pain effectively. Most problems that cause heel pain get fine generally. Treatments that are made to heal pain mainly focus on easing pain, reducing stress on your foot, and improving flexibility. The following are the prominent treatments for heel pain:

Pain Killers: In order to reduce the intensity of the pain, you might be suggested to take NSAIDs along with ice packs. Before you take any medication, please consult your doctor to know its efficacy for you. The misuse and unnecessary use of painkillers can result in serious problems. 

Stretching Exercises: There are numerous stretching exercises that can help you tackle the ongoing heel pain. Your healthcare provider will let you know how to do exercises that improve tendons and muscles.

Taping: Taping is another effective method to ease the ongoing burning or stabbing pain. Use a medical or athletic tape to support your heel or foot arch.

Physical Therapy: Opting for physical therapy or massage can help break up scar tissues. Along with this, these treatments are also effective in reducing inflammation and easing ongoing pain. You may require more physical therapy if you still feel your heel hurts.

Injections:  You should opt for injection only when directed by a doctor. Steroid injections can help manage the pain and inflammation. Doctors usually recommend steroid injections for bursitis and plantar fasciitis.

Takeaway:

Heel pain comes out as a common condition that can affect your daily routine. If you encounter any symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. Left untreated, it can trigger other problems and worsen symptoms. There could be many underlying causes for heel pain that may vary from one person to another. At present, there are multiple treatments available that are effective in treating heel pain. Your doctor will choose the treatment based on the symptoms and cause.

FAQs: 

1. How do I get rid of the pain in my heel?

There are plenty of ways by which you can tackle heel pain. The following ways are considered the best ways to treat heel pain:

• Always wear well-fitted and comfortable shoes

• Use painkillers if prescribed

• Get enough exercise

• Go for physical therapy

• Apply ice to the heel at least twice daily for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. What is the disease where your heel hurts? 

The most common condition that induces heel pain is plantar fasciitis. In this condition, the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that links the heel bone to the toes on the bottom of each foot, is inflamed. Depending on individual habits and lifestyle, there could be many underlying causes.

3. What vitamin is good for heel pain? 

In order to treat the inflammation brought on by plantar fasciitis, you should consume vitamin C along with bioflavonoids. Vitamin C can be discovered in a variety of foods, such as citrus fruits, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, green peppers, and potato skin. 

4. Does B12 deficiency cause heel pain? 

Some research indicates that vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a burning sensation in the heels, soles, or pads of the toes. Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may consist of numbness in the feet or limbs, vision disturbances, mouth ulcers, balance issues, etc.