Heel Pain
Heel pain can have many causes. If your heel hurts, see our foot & ankle specialists right away to determine why and get treatment. We will examine your heel, looking and feeling for signs of tenderness and swelling. You may be asked to walk, stand on one foot, or do other physical tests that help pinpoint the cause of your sore heel.
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Heel Pain
Treatments
PAIN BENEATH THE HEEL
If it hurts under your heel, you may have one or more conditions that inflame the tissues on the bottom of your foot.
Stone Bruise
When you step on a hard object such as a rock or stone, you can bruise the fat pad on the underside of your heel. It may or may not look discolored. The pain goes away gradually with rest.
Plantar Fasciitis (Subcalcaneal Pain)
Doing too much running or jumping can inflame the tissue band (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the toes. The pain is centered under your heel and may be mild at first but flares up when you take your first steps after resting overnight. You may need to do special exercises, take medication to reduce swelling, and wear a heel pad in your shoe.
Heel Spur
When plantar fasciitis continues for a long time, a heel spur (calcium deposit) may form where the fascia tissue band connects to your heel bone. Your doctor may take an X-ray to see the bony protrusion, which can vary in size. Treatment is usually the same as for plantar fasciitis: rest until the pain subsides, do special stretching exercises and wear heel pad shoe inserts.
PAIN BEHIND THE HEEL
If you have pain behind your heel, you may have inflamed the area where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone (retrocalcaneal bursitis). People often get this by running too much or wearing shoes that rub or cut into the back of the heel. Pain behind the heel may build slowly over time, causing the skin to thicken, get red, and swell. You might develop a bump on the back of your heel that feels tender and warm to the touch. The pain flares up when you first start an activity after resting. It often hurts too much to wear normal shoes. You may need an X-ray to see if you also have a bone spur.
Resting
Resting from the activities that caused the problem and placing ice on the back of the heel to reduce inflammation.
Pain Medication
Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and swelling.
Shoes & Stretches
Your doctor may want you to use a 3/8″ or 1/2″ heel insert and wear open-back shoes. Stretch your Achilles tendon by leaning forward against a wall with your foot flat on the floor and heel elevated with the insert.
Lowcountry Orthopaedics’ Foot & Ankle Team
Contact Us
Office Phone
(843) 797-5050
Office Headquarters
2880 Tricom Street
North Charleston, SC 29406