Protecting and Maintaining Graceful Beautiful Summertime Feet

Why Are You Suffering From Heel Pain?

1 December 2017

Wallace Howell

Although heel pain can be debilitating, you should note that this a term that generalises a broad assortment of conditions that you could have developed. Therefore, before your heel pain can be addressed, you would need to diagnose what is causing it in the first place. Over-the-counter medications may help with managing the pain, but without fixing the root of the problem, you would end up with chronic heel pain. So why could you be suffering from heel pain? 

Achilles heel

Clinically referred to as Achilles tendonitis, this type of pain originates from strain to the Achilles tendon. The tendon is what connects your lower leg to your heel, so if you expose this to undue stress, it would be at risk of inflammation. Achilles tendonitis can be particularly frustrating since this tendon is tasked with the lifting of your leg when you walk. Thus, if it is severely inflamed, getting from one point to another can be excruciating. To treat tendonitis, your podiatrist will prescribe anti-inflammatory medication as well as painkillers. In addition to this, you may need to undergo physiotherapy coupled with massage therapy in an attempt to mitigate any other symptoms that you could be suffering from.

Stress fractures in your calcaneus

The calcaneus bone refers to one of the bones in your feet that is located along the heel. When you place weight on your foot as you walk, the calcaneus bone absorbs this pressure. If you end up overusing your feet from strenuous exercising, walking long distances, jumping and more, you can easily cause stress fractures in this bone. As a result, any pressure exerted onto your heel would cause you searing pain in your foot. This type of heel pain would require a podiatrist to immobilise your foot so that your calcaneus bone gets adequate time to heal itself.

Atrophy of your fat pad

To help in shock absorption, a thin layer of fat surrounds your calcaneus bone. This fat pad acts as a buffer against the direct impact that the bone would be exposed to, which minims the risk of damaging your calcaneus bone. However, this wearing down would leave the calcaneus bone exposed, and make you prone to heel pain. Atrophy of the fat pad is more common in people who are of an advanced age, but you could also develop it if you have received regular steroidal injections in your heel. Other than treating the inflammation in the calcaneus bone, it would be recommended to wear orthotic inserts so that your calcaneus bone gets the proper cushioning as you walk.

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