Heel pain can prevent you from being active and on your feet. Oftentimes, heel pain develops suddenly. Finding relief from your heel pain will require you to get to the root cause. This can be a little complicated because there are many causes of heel pain. Fortunately, an experienced podiatrist can help pinpoint the cause of your heel pain and recommend effective treatments to give you relief.
Here are some of the most common causes of heel pain that you should be aware of:
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that helps support your foot’s arch and travels from your heel to your toes. It can become irritated, inflamed, or torn due to overuse or wear and tear injuries. Symptoms include stabbing pain and tenderness in the heel. It is also common to feel stiffness in the foot and a burning sensation in the heel. Symptoms are most common in the morning.
Plantar fasciitis pain usually goes away temporarily and returns after long periods of standing or walking. People who are overweight, those who train and play sports, and diabetics are at higher risk of developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing the wrong shoes with inadequate support can also trigger the condition. A doctor can usually diagnose plantar fasciitis by examining your feet and assessing your symptoms.
Heel Spurs
A heel spur is an abnormal bone growth in the area where the plantar fascia meets the heel bone. It is usually caused by long-term plantar fasciitis that did not receive proper treatment. Half of the people who suffer from plantar fasciitis develop heel spurs. The condition doesn’t always cause heel pain, but some people do experience foot pain that necessitates the removal of the bone spur.
Bursitis
The joints in your feet are surrounded by bursae or fluid-filled sacs that allow for smooth movement of the joints. They get become irritated, inflamed, or even infected, which causes pain. This condition is called bursitis, and it can cause heel or toe pain. Abnormalities in the feet and inadequate support usually cause bursitis.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is classified as an overuse injury, usually triggered by strenuous movements during sports, poor conditioning, sudden acceleration of intensity in exercise, or ill-fitting shoes. The condition is named after the Achilles tendon, which is located behind the heel. You may feel aching, tenderness, or stiffness in the back of the leg or just above the heel if you have the condition.
Heel Pain Diagnosis and Treatment
A podiatrist can determine the cause of your heel pain and recommend the necessary treatment to avoid further damage to the inner structures of your feet. If you are experiencing heel pain, have the skilled podiatrists at The Podiatry Group of South Texas examine you.
Heel pain is one of our many specialties, and you can rest assured that you will receive the highest quality and personalized treatment in our South Texas podiatry clinic. Our foot and ankle doctors cannot wait to serve you.
Call The Podiatry Group of South Texas clinic nearest you or send us an appointment request now.
