Heal Your Heels

Heel pain is one of the most common problems that affect the ankle and foot. This comes as no surprise when you consider that every mile you walk puts 60 tons of stress on each foot. Your feet can handle quite a bit of stress, but going over the limit can cause extreme discomfort. Heel pain generally falls into two categories, pain behind the heel and pain beneath the heel.

Pain behind the heel is usually related to the Achilles tendon. It may be a problem with activities like running or from having a shoe that rubs on your heel. The Achilles tendon can become inflamed at the attachment to the heel bone. This pain can build slowly over time and you may notice swelling and redness.

The most common cause of pain beneath the heel is plantar fasciitis. This involves inflammation of the band that connects the heel to the base of the toes. It can occur following athletic activities or with routine daily activities. People with plantar faciitis often have pain when they first get out of bed in the morning.

Other causes of pain beneath the heel include thinning of the pad beneath the heel bone, bruising of the heel bone or pad, pinched nerves, or fractures.

Common treatments for heel pain include; resting from activities that caused the pain, implementing proper stretching techniques, using anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and wearing proper footwear. Surgery is typically indicated when other treatments are not working. To create a treatment plan specific for your heel pain, contact a foot and ankle specialist at Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic & Spine Center at (877) 666-6080.