It’s not uncommon for people to experience heel pain. Because of the many stresses that the feet endure (including carrying us everywhere), they are prone to acute and overuse injuries.
Also, because your heels are part of a joint, they can experience problems like arthritis and bone diseases (like bone tumors and fractures).
Possible reasons for painful heels include:
- Bruising – from stepping on something hard.
- Plantar Fasciitis – an overuse problem, the tissues along the bottom of the feet can become tight and pull on the heel, causing pain on the bottom of the heel where the tissues connect to the bone.
- Achilles Tendonitis – an overuse injury that develops when the Achilles tendon has repetitive stress on it, which can begin to cause tightness and inflammation. The irritation at the back of the heel where the tendon and heel bone connect can cause pain.
- Heel Spur – a bony growth can develop on the heel as a deformity or from long-term irritation (like from plantar fasciitis). This growth can cause discomfort and pain when pressure is applied onto it.
- Arthritis – The heel joint can be affected from this painful inflammatory problem in joints throughout the body.
- Stress Fracture – When there has been repetitive use or an injury that receives constant impact, a stress fracture can occur or become bigger. The crack or break in the bone can cause immense pain and requires a lot of rest to properly heal.
- Bursitis – an inflammation of the fluid sacs between your joints can cause pain in the heel joint.
- Bone Diseases – which include issues like bone tumors and osteomyelitis are conditions of the bone that can cause pain as well.
When you’ve got heel pain, it’s not always easy to determine why the problem is occurring. It’s best to get properly assessed so that you can find the proper treatment for your pain. Otherwise, the problem can continue, or an underlying issue can be overlooked.
If you or someone in your family has heel pain, consult with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry. Make an appointment by calling (410) 721-4505. Our team is ready to assist you and your family at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the surrounding Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas.