Heel Pain
What is Heel Pain
What is heel pain? Heel pain can stop you in your tracks! It can cause pain so severe that you become house bound or reluctant to go anywhere that requires you to walk or be on your feet. It can cause you to put on weight due the resulting inactivity, and the additional weight gain exacerbates your heel pain due to the added pressure on your feet! It’s a vicious cycle that’s extremely common and very frustrating.
Heel Pain Symptoms
Most people with heel pain will feel heel pain in the morning when their foot hits the floor and after periods of being seated. Heel pain can also cause a throbbing sensation when driving, or a shooting pain when you are sat down.
Heel pain can appear at the base of the heel causing plantar heel pain / pain under the heel, or at the back of the heel, which is referred to as posterior heel pain. The most common type of heel pain comes from a condition known as Plantar Fasciitis, and this causes pain under the heel.
Heel Pain Causes
- Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition meaning that the plantar fascia in actually thickened due to inflammation. Plantar Fasciitis is often the cause of pain when the diagnosis “Heel Spurs” is used. The Heel spurs don’t usually cause the pain but the inflamed fascia does. Due to the inflammation, patients will usually feel pain in the mornings or after being seated. Plantar Fasciitis can also cause throbbing or stabbing pains whilst driving.
- Heel Spurs are not usually the cause of pain under the heel but can cause pain at the back of the heel if they are big enough. However, in most cases the cause of this posterior heel pain is not the spur but rather the Achilles tendon or an inflamed Bursa, known as bursitis.
- Achilles Tendonopathy is a common cause of posterior heel pain. This condition can also cause a stiffness / pain upon rising from bed and after being seated. Achilles Tendonopathy affects people with very tight calf muscles and is more common in slightly more senior people. The poor circulation to the affected area can delay healing and professional intervention is required.
- Sever’s disease is another cause of Heel Pain but this particular condition affects children. It is a growth plate problem in youngsters and is common in those who are active and / or growing quickly. This form of heel pain means that the child will struggle with sports and will often shy away from physical activity. Due to Sever’s being a growth plate problem in the heel, the child will grow out of the condition naturally and the heel pain will eventually subside. However, there are treatments to reduce the pain in the heel while this is happening and these treatments help with pain and allow the child to stay active.
- Bursitis , medically known as Retro calcaneal bursitis, is another cause of pain in the back of the heel or posterior heel pain. The small fluid filled sac behind the Achilles tendon becomes irritated and inflamed and this creates the pain. The area of pain will be very close to the area that is involved with Achilles Tendonopathy, and on occasions an ultra sound is required to help diagnose the condition. Again, there is often heel pain in the morning or after periods of rest.
- Other less common causes of heel pain are a stress fracture, fat pad bruising, bone bruising or a plantar fascial tear.
If you are suffering with heel pain, there are many treatment options available if you seek proper assistance from the right healthcare practitioner. Consult a podiatrist. Feel free to contact Sydney Heel Pain Clinic for more info about heel pain treatment. Inquire now!
- Call 93883322 to speak with our experienced practice manager.
- Text “help” to this number 0415977624 if you would like a pre consultation chat before committing to an appointment.
Written by Karl Lockett