Minor pain and discomfort in the heel will often be easily treated by common sense methods. By decreasing the rubbing and pressure from poorly fitting shoes you can eliminate many sources of heel pain. Heel pain will subside with rest and by avoiding the pressure and rubbing.

If you are experiencing heel pain that doesn’t decline after resting, you should see your podiatrist.

Some of the causes of heel pain include the following:

• Diabetic problems—Peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage often caused by diabetes, can create numbness, tingling, and pain in the foot and heel area.
• Plantar fasciitis—The bottom of your foot is covered by a ligament and when it becomes injured and inflamed, severe pain in the heel is often noticed.
• Injuries and foot fractures—You can fracture your heel bone while participating in sports and training exercises.
• Heel calluses—Your heel area will react to added weight and pressure by increasing the thickness of calluses that cover the heel. When these calluses get very thick they can create heel fissures which are openings into your skin. These can be very painful and allow the introduction of disease-causing microbes.

The causes of heel pain can have very similar symptoms, so see a foot specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems. Common conditions include joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Foot doctors Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality podiatric care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area. Contact our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, Downingtown, and Woodlyn PA for more information or to schedule an appointment.