Heel Pain

What causes heel pain?

Leading causes of heel pain include:

Plantar fasciitis

This condition is the most common cause of heel pain. It happens when the plantar fascia (tissue connecting your heel bone to the ball of your foot) overstretches. The result is pain and inflammation that’s most severe first thing in the morning.

The leading causes of plantar fasciitis include undue stress from physical activity, excess body weight, and improper footwear. Without treatment, plantar fasciitis can become a long-term problem.

Heel spurs

Plantar fasciitis can cause heel spurs to grow on the heel bone. These calcium deposits form because of repeated stress on the heel bone. They can be but aren’t necessarily painful.

Bursitis

This painful inflammation affects the bursa sac that lubricates and cushions the area where the Achilles tendon and heel bone meet.

Haglund’s deformity

This bony enlargement at the back of your heel is usually caused by wearing high-heeled shoes.

Injuries

Heel bone injuries like fractures and bone bruises cause swelling, sharp pain, and an inability to bear weight on the heel.

What other foot pain conditions might affect my heels?

Other problems that affect the foot include:

Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis. It develops when hardened uric acid crystals in your bloodstream build up in the joints. While most common in the big toe, gout can sometimes affect the heel bone. Symptoms include swelling, pain, tenderness, and redness that occasionally gets worse at night.

Gait abnormalities

How you walk (your gait) can cause foot pain and increase your risk of heel pain. A typical example is excessive pronation, where your ankle rolls too far inward. This abnormal angle stretches the ligaments and tendons, putting undue pressure on your heel bone.

Achilles tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis develops when the Achilles tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone strains or stretches abnormally. This causes pain and inflammation where the Achilles tendon attaches to your heel bone.

Causes of forefoot pain include bunions, Morton’s neuroma, and hammertoe.

What treatment does heel pain require?

In most cases, Dr. Levi uses conservative heel pain treatments, including:

• Taping
• Strapping
• Custom-fitted orthotics (shoe inserts)
• Physical therapy
• Footwear changes
• Steroid injections
• Multiwave locked system (MLS) laser therapy
• Extracorporeal shockwave therapy

You’re unlikely to need surgery for heel pain, but if you do, Dr. Levi is a skilled podiatric surgeon.

Call Grand Central Podiatry: Ernest Levi, DPM, today at (212) 685-5100 or book an appointment online for effective heel pain treatment.