Heel pain can often be so intense, limiting you from engaging in activities you love to do and significantly lowering your quality of life. If you're an athlete, it can massively affect your mental strength, but still, the onus is always on you to seek treatment for this condition early if you want more playing time in your team or squad.



What Causes Heel Pain?
You cannot pinpoint the exact cause of heel pain by just staring at it. This is relatable, considering that there are 33 joints and 26 bones on your ankle and foot.

An injury or overuse of the foot may cause heel pain. The pain due to overuse or an injury to the heel will range from a mild one to excruciating pain that may also leave you partially disabled.

Here is a summary of some of the most common causes of heel pain.
  • Plantar fasciitis. Heel pain is more likely to be caused by plantar fasciitis if your foot is exposed to too much pressure that ends up damaging the plantar fasciitis ligament. Some of the most notable heel pain symptoms caused by plantar fasciitis include stiffness and pain on the injured foot.
  • Fracture. The term 'fracture' is used in describing broken bones. It is also known to be a cause of heel pain but treated as a medical emergency case, thus you may require emergency medical assistance if your heel pain is due to a fracture.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis. This is a form of arthritis known to affect the spine majorly. Ankylosing spondylitis causes severe vertebrae inflammation that could lead to excruciating pain that may be accompanied by disability.
  • Reactive Arthritis. This is another form of arthritis that may be triggered by an infection in the body.
  • Bursitis. In your joints, fluid-filled sacs surround the points where skin, tendons, and muscle tissues connect with the bones, making them move smoothly and providing cushion to these points. These fluid-filled sacs are known as bursae. Bursitis, which may be responsible for your heel pain, develops when the bursae become swollen, painful, and inflamed.
  • Sprains and strains. Sprains and strains are a widespread cause of heel pain. These are injuries around your heel joints that may be due to intense physical activity. The damage due to sprains and strains may range from mild to severe, depending on the magnitude of the event that led to the injury.
  • Osteochondroses. Primarily common in children and adolescents, Osteochondroses are disorders that directly affect bones' growth and may also be responsible for heel pain.
  • Achilles tendonitis. If your heel pain is due to Achilles tendonitis, it occurs when tendons connecting your calf muscles to the affected heel gets inflamed or suffers discomfort that may be caused by overuse injuries.

How do I Get Rid of Pain in My Heel?
You can treat heel pain at home if it is a mild condition. For severe or persistent pain, you should see a qualified doctor.
The heel pain treatment program that your doctor will recommend will depend on the cause of the pain. Because of that, it is prudent that you work with a certified practitioner to develop a treatment plan that suits your condition.

What to Expect During Heel Pain Treatment
You'll need to book an appointment with your doctor first to craft your treatment program for the heel pain. During the appointment, the doctor will inquire about the symptoms and, most importantly, how and when they began.

You must be honest about how you feel for the diagnosis to be on point. Depending on the symptoms, the practitioner may also perform X-ray scans to get to the root of your heel pains.

Knowing the primary cause of your heel pain will make it easy for the physicians to find the best treatment for you. For mild pain, your doctor will most likely prescribe physical therapies to strengthen your foot muscles and tendons to stop the injury from progressing.

Though, for severe heel pain, they may prescribe powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can be taken orally or injected into your foot. They may also recommend providing maximum support for the affected foot.

If the injury or infection that caused your heel pain were too severe, though, a corrective surgery would be your best bet. Here's the catch: If you have to undergo corrective surgery, your recovery period will be a bit longer compared to other treatment options.

Can Heel Pain go away on its Own?
It is possible for heel pain to resolve but only if it was a minor injury or inflammation. For better recovery, here are a few things you may need to do;

Only wear shoes that fit your feet properly.
  • When sleeping, use the recommended safety gear such as a night splint to prevent the injury from progressing.
  • Give the injured foot as much rest as possible.
  • Use OTC pain management drugs to manage the pain.
  • Apply ice on the affected heel for around 10 to 15 minutes two times each day.

Be sure to see your doctor if;
  • The pain doesn't resolve or gets severe.
  • The pain can't allow you to walk or move around.
  • There is redness on the affected heel.
  • The affected heel is swollen.

Get Help Today
Assuming persistent or severe heel pain is probably the worst mistake you can make. If the problem isn't resolving after trying the home remedies, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Leave us an email today or call us, and we'll respond swiftly to correct that condition and improve your quality of life.