About Pain | Heel Pain
Chronic heel pain can be caused by several different conditions, or a combination of conditions. Understanding the source of this pain can make it easier to begin to treat the symptoms and correct the underlying condition. A common mistake that is made is dismissing the pain as trivial and ignoring its symptoms. Some may feel that their work or shoes are the source, and choose to do nothing about it until they are forced to because of pain. By ignoring these symptoms, many make their condition worse, which can often lead to chronic heel pain that is difficult to treat. Other conditions may arise from leaving the pain untreated for months or years.
Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It can be caused by wearing shoes that do not fit properly, poor posture or bad habits when walking or standing. This causes the ligament to become damaged, shortened or irritated. This can lead to pain when walking or stretching the feet, and will worsen if left untreated.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is often experienced at night by those who have sudden heel pain. If this condition is suspected, or if the heel pain worsens, an orthopedic should be consulted. This is often caused by previous ankle injuries, especially if several have been experienced. Inflammation is often one of the symptoms and can worsen the condition.
Tight tendons are another common cause and may come from under or over pronation of the heel or foot. There may be other causes, such as a previous injury, or poor posture. Tight footwear, or shoes that do not fit properly are often one of the biggest sources of this condition. When no other cause is found, often changing the shoes will help to relieve the heel pain.
The treatments for heel pain often depend upon the originating cause. Many are recommended to stay off of the foot until it begins to heal. An anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed in order to reduce any swelling. These may also help to relieve some of the pain associated with heel pain and tight tendons. For those whose heel pain has been caused by ill fitting shoes, inserts or new shoes may be recommended. This can often help with the foot and heel recovering. Those who suspect their heel pain may be caused by a degenerative disease are urged to seek treatment as quickly as possible.