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Causes of Heel Pain

Many people visit the podiatrist’s offices complaining of heel pain. There are various causes of heel pain including repetitive stress from exercise and tight fitting shoes such as high heels. Since your feet are the foundation you stand upon, a pain in the heel can affect your entire body. When you have heel discomfort, it can cause you to alter the way you walk, leading to other problems with the knees, hips, and back.

Some conditions that cause heel discomfort and pain include:

  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome—There is a rather large nerve that travels behind the heel and when this nerve becomes constricted due to an injury,flatfoot, arthritis, or diabetes, the compression results in a severe burning and tingling sensation or pain.
  • Plantar fasciitisWhen the band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot between your toes and heel becomes inflamed, stretched, or otherwise overstressed, the result can be a major pain in the heel. The pain is usually most noticeable first thing in the morning or after lengthy periods of resting, sitting, or standing.
  • Achilles tendonitisThe large tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone is subject to stress and injury when it is overused, resulting in swelling, pain, and discomfort.
  • Sever’s diseaseAdolescents often suffer from this condition, which results from growth plate formation abnormalities in the heel. This happens when the bone grows faster than the other tissues, and usually resolves over time as growth rates stabilize.

The exact cause of heel pain can be difficult to determine, and treatments need to be specialized for optimum results. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists uses  advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

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