Where is heel

This is a type of compression neuropathy that can occur either in the ankle or foot. Chronic inflammation of the heel pad : This is caused either by the heel pad becoming too thin, or through heavy footsteps. Stress fracture : This is linked to repetitive stress, strenuous exercise, sports, or heavy manual work. Runners are particularly prone to stress fracture in the metatarsal bones of the foot.

It can also be caused by osteoporosis. Severs disease : This is the most common cause of heel pain in child and teenage athletes, caused by overuse and repetitive microtrauma of the growth plates of the heel bone. It most commonly affects children aged 7 to 15 years. Achilles tendinosis : This is also known as degenerative tendinopathy, tendonitis , tendinosis, and tendinopathy. It is a chronic condition associated with the progressive degeneration of the Achilles tendon.

Sometimes the Achilles tendon does not function properly because of multiple, minor microscopic tears of the tendon, which cannot heal and repair themselves correctly. As the Achilles tendon receives more tension than it can cope with, microscopic tears develop. Eventually, the tendon thickens, weakens, and becomes painful.

Osteomyelitis may result from an injury or surgery, or the infection may get into bone tissue from the bloodstream. Symptoms include deep pain and muscle spasms in the inflammation area, as well as fever. Peripheral neuropathy involves nerve damage, and it can lead to pain and numbness in the hands and feet. It can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic disorders, and exposure to toxins.

Diabetes is a common cause. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive and disabling auto-immune condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints, the tissue around the joints, and other organs in the human body.

Lateral foot pain affects the outside of the heel or foot, and medial foot pain affects the inside edge. These may result from :. Most causes of foot pain are mechanical, related to strain, injury, or bone structure problems. Different brands are available to buy on Amazon. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy aims sound waves at the affected area to encourage and stimulate healing. This is only recommended for long-term cases that have not responded to conservative therapy. If nothing else works, a surgeon may detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone.

There is a risk that this may weaken the arch of the foot. A night splint may be fitted to the calf and foot and kept on during sleep. This holds the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon in a lengthened position overnight and stretches them.

These are available to buy online , but it is best to consult a medical professional before using them. If it is possible to distinguish heel bursitis as a separate condition from plantar fasciitis, an effective treatment may be to use a cushioning insole or heel cup to limit the movements that are causing the problem.

For most people, treatment will get rid of heel pain within 6 weeks. However, in severe cases, and if pain persists, surgery may be necessary. Here are some examples :. Rest : Avoid running or standing for long periods, walking on hard surfaces, and any activities that may stress the heels. But the heel has another job, along with the arch, to help your foot distribute evenly the forces applied to it.

Because of the everyday stress placed on the heel and its complex workings with muscles and tendons, pain on the bottom or back of the heel has many possible causes.

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the plantar fascia, a fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot beginning at the heel. The pain of plantar fasciitis often is worse when getting out of bed in the morning. Another frequent cause of heel pain is Achilles tendonitis. This inflammation of the Achilles tendon results from overuse, stress or injury.

Stavros O. With modern diagnosing and treatment options, there is no need to live with heel pain. We will thoroughly examine both feet and order x-rays right here in our office. In rare cases, the Achilles tendon ruptures. This typically occurs as a result of engaging in a vigorous type of physical activity where the foot pivots suddenly as in basketball or tennis.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a nerve condition in which a large nerve in the back of the foot becomes pinched. Tarsal tunnel pain, described as aching or burning, may be felt in the heel but is more common in the bottom of the foot and near the toes. Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand, numbness and tingling may be present, and the pain is often worse at night.

Stress Fractures. Stress fractures of the foot and heel commonly occur in athletes or long distance runners who increase their running mileage over a short period of time. Repeated stress on the heel bone eventually leads to a break. A stress fracture causes significant pain that intensifies with activity and improves with rest.

In addition to pain, swelling may be present, along with tenderness felt in the area of the bone break. Heel Pad Bruise. A heel pad bruise causes a sharp pain over the bottom of the heel. It may occur after trauma e. Fat Pad Atrophy. In older adults, the cushioning fat of your heel pad may atrophy or break down.

Unlike plantar fasciitis, the pain of fat pad atrophy is absent in the morning but worsens with activity during the day. Heel pad syndrome is due to thinning of this fat pad that results from trauma, such as the consistent pounding of the foot in marathon runners or pressure put on the foot due to obesity.

This causes a deep, aching pain felt in the middle of the heel that worsens with weight-bearing activity. As the soft tissue surrounding the bony bump at the back of the heel gets irritated, bursitis may develop. There are two types of heel bursitis:.

Retrocalcaneal bursitis causes pain deep in the back of the heel, while calcaneal bursitis pain is felt on top of and to the side of your Achilles tendon.

Sinus Tarsi Syndrome. This space, while small, contains several ligaments, as well as fatty tissue, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. Rolling out your ankle often triggers this syndrome , which may lead to pain with weight-bearing activities, a sensation of ankle looseness, and difficulty walking on uneven surfaces, like grass or gravel.

The following heel diagnoses are rare, but worth keeping in the back of your mind. Piezogenic Papules. Piezogenic papules are painful, yellow or flesh-colored heel bumps that represent fat from deep within the skin pushing through the heel capsule called fat herniation. The cause is unknown, although experts suspect the papules may result from a hard heel strike during walking.

Interestingly, they are a characteristic skin finding in people with the connective tissue disease Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Heel Bone Infection. Rarely, an infection of the heel bone called osteomyelitis may cause pain—although, unlike most other sources of heel pain, the pain from an infection of the heel bone is usually constant. A fever may also be present. Heel Bone Tumor. A tumor in the heel bone may cause pain, usually reported as deep, boring, and worse at night.

If you are unsure of the cause of your symptoms, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, seek medical attention. Here are some definite signs that you should be evaluated by a healthcare provider:. Most heel conditions can be diagnosed with a medical history and physical examination alone. A detailed medical history is often the crux for diagnosing heel pain. During your physical exam, your healthcare provider will inspect and press on palpate various areas of your foot, including your heel, as well as your ankle, calf, and lower leg.

By doing this, they can check for areas of focal tenderness, swelling, bruising, rash, or deformity. Your healthcare provider will also likely evaluate your gait, as well as move your foot and ankle around to see if that elicits pain. While blood tests are not commonly ordered for the diagnosis of heel pain, your healthcare provider may order one or more laboratory studies if they suspect or want to rule out a particular condition.

A C-reactive protein CRP test is the most commonly ordered type of blood test to rule out an infection. Less commonly, other imaging tests are used.

For instance, magnetic resonance imaging MRI may be used to diagnose a soft-tissue injury or an infection. While it is reasonable to think that heel pain must stem from your heel, this is not always the case. Sometimes pain is referred to the heel, as in certain neurological conditions. Nerve Pain. Irritation of a nerve in the lower back called radiculopathy may cause pain of the calf muscle that moves down the leg into the heel. In addition, peripheral neuropathies associated with diabetes, alcohol abuse, or a vitamin deficiency can cause diffuse foot and heel pain.

Besides a neurological exam, an MRI or nerve conduction studies may be ordered to diagnose nerve problems. Skin Problems. Skin problems, like an infection of the hindfoot or ankle cellulitis , a plantar wart , diabetic ulcers , or a fungal foot infection e.

A medical history and physical exam are usually sufficient to diagnose a skin problem of the heel, although blood tests or a biopsy of the affected area may be needed.

Systemic Diseases. Whole-body inflammatory diseases like sarcoidosis , rheumatoid arthritis , or reactive arthritis may cause heel pain. Oftentimes, other symptoms are present with these systemic diseases, such as fever, rash, and joint pain and inflammation.

Laboratory and imaging studies are also used to diagnose systemic diseases. Treatment depends entirely on the root cause of your heel pain. If you are unsure of your diagnosis, or how severe your condition is, be sure to seek medical advice before beginning any treatment plan. Some common treatments are listed below—but keep in mind, not all of these are appropriate for every condition. For more acute causes of heel pain, such as a heel bruise, avoiding the precipitating activity may be all you need to feel better.

In other instances, resting can help to eliminate the most severe pain until you are able to see your healthcare provider or a podiatrist.

For most sources of heel pain, applying an ice pack over the heel for minute intervals up to four times daily can help diminish swelling and soothe your pain. Be sure to place a thin towel between the ice pack and the skin of your heel.

Taping the foot with sports tape or hypoallergenic tape is useful for certain heel diagnoses like plantar fasciitis, heel pad bruise, and heel pad syndrome. For plantar fasciitis, your healthcare provider may recommend a taping technique involving four strips of tape that get applied around the foot and heel.