Heel Pain and Its Treatment

Heel pain is the most common ailment contracted due to hectic
activities. Athletes are most prone to developing heel pain
conditions. At times the inception of heel pain can be a sudden
discomfort, but many times it might be a progressive aching that gets
worse over time. There are numerous common factors which give rise to
this pain. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause
of the symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed. Some of
the major causes of heel pain include:� Plantar FasciitisPlantar
fasciitis is known to be the most common cause of heel pain and heel
spurs. Usually, the fascia is strong and flexible. Due to certain
factors such as abnormal stress, too much weight, age and poor
functioning of foot, painful stretching and micro-tearing of the
plantar fascia tissue crop up, leading to inflammation and irritation
at the attachment of the plantar fascia into the calcaneus (heel
bone).� Heel SpurThe problem of heel spurs is generally seen in
patients who have a long standing foot pain caused by plantar
fasciitis.� Tarsal Tunnel SyndromeTarsal tunnel syndrome can be the
outcome of fractures, ganglions, bone spurs and other, muscle
impingement, benign tumors or foot deformities. It is mostly caused by
anything that build compression on the posterior tibial nerve.�
Posterior Heel PainPosterior pain causes symptoms at the back of the
foot, rather than underneath. Use of ill-fitting shoes and its overuse
(which often occurs among runners) is other common causes of posterior
pain.If pain is ignored and treatment is avoided, conditions that
affect the heel usually worsen and can significantly impact a person's
daily routines and lifestyle. The risk of this pain grows deeper with:
age deep squats (knee pain) alteration of walking routine change of
footwear Most cases of this pain can be relieved and even healed
through relatively conservative treatment. Since, the treatment of
this pain is dependent completely on the cause of the problem, it is
very important to figure out the cause of the symptoms before getting
on a treatment program. Listed below are some common treatments for
heel pain: Rest Resting helps get rid of the most severe pain, and
will allow the inflammation to start cool down. Apply Ice Packs Icing
will help to reduce some of the symptoms and control the heel pain.
Exercises and Stretches Exercises and stretches are designed to unwind
the tissues surrounding the heel bone. Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications help to control heel pain and lessen
inflammation as well. Shoe Inserts Shoe inserts are the key to
successful treatment of heel pain. It permits patient to carry on with
their routine activities without having pain. Although there are
various treatments available for pain, a simple orthotic is often the
premium way to easeheel pain, since they are cost effective and
provide the best results.