Heel pain : Symptoms, causes & types

Heel pain and its types

Heel pain is an uncomfortable condition which occurs while walking or doing everyday activities. Heel pain is mainly seen in adults. However, there are various reasons that cause heel pain. Heel pain may be due to overuse or injury, exact detection of heel pain can help to reduce or eliminate the pain. A podiatrist or an orthopaedic surgeon is best for proper detection of heel pain. These medical professionals are expert enough for proper diagnosis and treatment of heel.

What is heel pain?

Heel pain is one of the most common types of disease suffered by huge number of people in the world. Heel pain is mostly seen in adults, especially amongst the age group of 40. Daily activities and vigorous exercise are two main reasons that cause pain in your heel. Heel bone is the largest human bone in our feet, also the first bone that comes in contact with the land while running, walking or moving thus making your heel prone towards pain and stress.

Symptoms of heel pain

Generally, symptoms of heel pain vary on the severity of an underlying condition. Heels are the most neglected part of a human body; most people tend to neglect their pain.  Symptoms of heel pain include excessive pain, inflammation, swellings, redness and heat. However, the primary heel pain symptoms include, discomfort and soreness in the heel region. The onset of pain is caused due to injury or irritation to the heel. On getting hurt, heel pain do not occur immediately, it progress gradually causing discomfort.

What causes heel pain?

There are various reasons that cause heel pain. If you are overweight, need to do lot of regular activities, wear tight fitted shoes or standing for long hours, your chances for getting affected by heel pain get increased. One of the most important causes of heel pain is inflammation i.e. swelling of the fibrous connective tissue. These connective tissues are present on your feet’s sole; the condition is described as plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is followed by severe pain which enhances while  sleeping or taking rest. Some other common causes includes, achilles tendonitis, bone spurs, bone bruises, tarsal tunnel syndrome, overpronation, stress fractures, Haglund’s deformity and Sever’s disease.

Types of heel pain

• Bruise:

 this condition occurs if your heel comes in contact with any hard objects or stone. As said by The University of Connecticut Health Centre, the pain caused generally disappears on its own without any medication.

• Bursitis:

inflammation of the heel is caused due to wearing over tight shoes or accidental rubbing of your heel. In this case, on wearing better fitted shoes can solve your problem.

• Heel Spurs:

This is another type of heel pain caused due to deposition of calcium on your heel bone. Heel spurs is also referred as bone spurs. The treatment of plantar fasciitis also helps to cure heel spurs.

• Plantar Fasciitis:

This is the condition in which the connective tissues of your foot get inflamed. As said by the University of Maryland Medical Centre, tissues tend to stiffens while you sleep, thus heel pain gets increased in the morning. Reason behind Plantar Fasciitis is running on rough surface, ill fitted shoes, walking hard on your heels.

• Tendinitis:

tendons connect your both heel and ankle, inflammation in this region causes Achilles tendinitis. Wearing ill fitted shoes can rupture the back of your heel causing tendinitis.

Heel pain treatment

Heel pain reduces the amount of your activity level. As you are on your feet for much longer period of time, the more is the chances of getting heel pain and inflammation. It is advisable to cut down your activity level. You also need to avoid steps and carrying heavy items. Ice messages or cold compresses are often favoured by the sports practitioners to get rid of heel injuries. Icing to an extent can help to reduce swelling and inflammation.  Although, this method of treatment may reduce some pain for a time being, you won’t get long-term relief.

Wearing proper shoes

Doctors often recommend in changing your ill fitted footwear into properly fitted footwear. Try out wearing open-back shoes or perform plantar fasciitis exercises for heel pain relief. Your podiatrist may recommend for wearing cushioned heel cup, heel pads, arch supports. For severe pain, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy help in reducing pain.

Heel pain exercises

These are must accompaniment along with good fitting shoes and medications as proper blood circulation helps in rapid internal healing. So, always try to take care of your heels before they start causing too much of discomfort and pain.