Over a million people seek medical help for heel pain each year in the United States. At Lone Peak Foot & Ankle Clinic, with offices in Draper and Orem, Utah, our experienced podiatrist excels in diagnosing and treating all forms of heel pain.
In this blog, we examine the potential causes of heel pain and what we can do to relieve it.
The heel extends from the rear part of the sole of your foot up to the lower part of your ankle. It’s where a large bone, the calcaneus, sits, supporting your body weight. The Achilles tendon runs down the back, connecting the large calf muscle to the bone.
The plantar fascia, another tough connective tissue, attaches to the bottom of the calcaneus and supports the foot’s arch.
Heel problems often involve damage at the points where these connective tissues attach to the bone. Achilles tendon problems cause pain up the back of your heel; plantar fascia conditions cause pain in the bottom of your foot. Pain could also spread into both parts of the heel.
The likeliest cause of heel pain on the sole is plantar fasciitis, when the plantar fascia stretches or tears, causing inflammation.
People with plantar fasciitis often find that their pain is worse when they get out of bed in the morning and that it eases off as they walk. However, the pain can return after continued exercise with an intensity that makes putting weight on the area excruciating.
Other frequent causes of heel pain on the sole include:
If heel pain extends up the ankle, the likeliest cause is Achilles tendinitis, an injury that results in significant inflammation, swelling, and stiffness. Other causes of pain in this area include:
Sever’s disease causes heel pain in the growth plates of physically active children aged 8-14.
You may have noticed a common thread linking the problems responsible for most heel pain — inflammation. So where does inflammation come from, what does it do, and what sets it off?
Inflammation is a natural reaction to tissue damage or stress that results in heat, swelling, redness, and pain. It’s part of your immune system’s response, preventing infection and encouraging healing.
But sometimes, inflammation is excessive or persistent. Chronic inflammation can be harmful and have long-term adverse effects.
Heels are especially prone to inflammation caused by irritation, bruising, overstretching, and/or tearing of the tissues. That’s because the foot must bear your body weight, which could be considerable for those carrying excess pounds.
If you frequently jump, run, walk on hard surfaces, or stand for long periods, the pressure on your heels can be immense. Many people compound the problem by wearing footwear that doesn’t adequately support their feet.
Shoes that are poorly fitting, worn out, or unsuitable for the activity can put strain on your heels. Having flat feet, overpronation, high arches, or other issues affecting your feet can add to the strain.
It’s not surprising then that heel pain is a common problem, but what can you do about it?
Most people recover from heel pain with rest, icing, support bandages, and anti-inflammatories. Identifying the underlying problem is vital so you can address it, for example, by buying new footwear or losing weight.
If self-care doesn’t work, we can help. Patients at Lone Peak Foot & Ankle Clinic benefit from customized orthotics — individually designed shoe inserts that adjust weight distribution and support the arches. Other treatments include:
These nonsurgical treatments can be highly effective if you visit us soon enough. However, chronic heel pain can be more challenging to treat and may need surgery. An example is plantar fascia release, where we cut the plantar fascia to reduce strain on the inflamed tissues.
Most people won’t need surgery, but those who do can be assured that Dr. Greg Brockbank, our board-certified podiatrist, is a highly respected foot and ankle surgeon with expertise in heel pain procedures.
Call Lone Peak Foot & Ankle Clinic today to arrange a heel pain evaluation, or schedule a consultation using the online form.
