What are the Heel Pain Causes?
Heel pain is not uncommon to many, especially to adults.
Heel pain causes are not limited to injuries or stress and pressure, although those may be the most common heel pain causes.
There are many types of heel pain causes and there are several factors that can contribute to the heel pain.
Before anyone can know about what might be causing the heel pain he feels, it’s also important that he’s informed on the characteristics of the pain experience.
If one feels some of the following symptoms, it may be time already to act on it and do some treatment measures.
• Walking is uncomfortable and by doing so, the pain becomes worse.
• The pain persists for more than a day.
• The pain persists even the person is at rest or sleeping at night.
• Swelling of the foot, redness and warm feeling upon touching.
• Pain is felt at the first step of the affected foot when the person gets up from the bed.
• The pain felt on the heel is stabbing and sharp.
As what’s mentioned above, one of the common factors on heel pain causes is the stress and pressure on the heel. Plantar Fasciitis is the specific name of the most common condition of heel pain causes. In this condition, the pain is felt when the heel receives too much pressure. This too much pressure and strain will then lead to tissue damage.
Heel Pain Causes
Heel Pain Causes – What Causes Heel Pain?
Heel Pain Causes No 1: Plantar Fasciitis
The most common of the heel pain causes is the plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a tissue band connecting the bone of the heel with the toes of the foot. The plantar fascia is flexible and it stretches every time a person uses his or her heel to walk, run and do other movements with the foot.
Due to certain factors such as standing for long periods, walking with flip-flops, sandals or any flat shoes, or heavy weight, the plantar fascia will tend to receive damage through over stretching. There will be tearing on the tissues and the plantar fascia will tend to shorten and tighten, causing the pain during movements of the heel and foot.
Adults forty years of age and above are more at risk for heel pain causes such as the plantar fasciitis, as well as those who are working on jobs that require prolonged standing. The person affected will have difficulty in walking and the pain will be felt more upon getting out of bed during mornings.
Management: The person suffering from plantar fasciitis might need to consult with a doctor for special foot exercises in relieving the pain. The doctors may also prescribe medications for the pain. Using heel pad in shoes will also help in alleviating heel pain causes.
Plantar fasciitis that is reported to be the case of about 80% of heel pain causes complainers. Other heel pain causes include stone bruise or heel bruise, fat pad atrophy, Sever’s disease, and tarsal tunnel syndrome. These heel pain causes are not very common especially. The following are more elaborate descriptions of each of these less common heel pain causes and ways on managing them.
Heel Pain Causes No 2: Heel/Stone Bruise
After the heel is damaged by accidental stepping on stones or other hard objects, pain is immediately felt at the affected area that might last for at least a week. Because of the trauma, there may be purple discoloration on the heel area forming a bruise. Swelling might also occur. There are cases though in stone bruise that swelling and discoloration are not present but there’s only pain.
Management: Applying cold packs over the affected heel will help alleviate the swelling as well as the pain felt just like in other cases of injury. Elevating the heel will also help in decreasing the swelling. Applying ice pack should be done for only 15 to 20 minutes. Ice pack applied for longer periods may cause frostbite.
Heel Pain Causes No 3: Fat Pad Atrophy
Fat pad atrophy is the thinning of fat pads under the heels. This can happen if the heels receive too much strain such as in cases of prolonged wearing of high-heeled shoes in women. Cases such as this are also common heel pain causes. Walking barefooted or walking on hard surfaces will make the pain feel worse.
Management: Rest and use of heel cup and heel cushions or pads will help in the management of pain. Appropriate rest is important to give the affected heel time to heal.
Heel Pain Causes No 4: Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Another of the heel pain causes is the tarsal tunnel syndrome. Unlike other heel pain causes, the nerves of the foot or heel are affected in cases of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Pain is felt when the nerve is compressed that may be caused by cyst formation or poor or incorrect foot movements.
Management: Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed for the pain. Other than that, doctors will advise rest and manipulation of the affected foot through appropriate massage therapies or orthotics.
Heel Pain Causes No 5: Sever’s Disease
One of the heel pain causes not common among adults is the Sever’s disease. This is because Sever’s disease is a condition that commonly affects children. This condition happens when the tendon on the back of the heels (Achilles tendon) is pulled, causing pain.
This happens during a child’s growth spurt when the hamstrings and other muscles tightens and stretches as the child grows. Activities like gymnastics may make the pain feel worse.
Management: Heel pads are recommended to support the heel and manage the pain. The pain won’t be very painful so medications may not be necessary except for severe cases.
When heel pain causes significant change in one’s lifestyle, simple household management of the pain may not be enough. When this happens, other radical measures may be needed in treatment of these heel pain causes.
In case of a severe plantar fasciitis, a plantar fascia surgery may be needed. ESWT or extra-corporeal shockwave therapy may also be done to treat the heel pain causes.
