If you have heel pain you will find that at times the pain can be extreme and this can make the whole process of walking very difficult indeed. Make sure you are looking after your feet and are wearing shoes that not only look good but will support your feet correctly.


Why you get heel pain

Heel pain is often referred to as heel spur, and this is the fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot, all the way from the heel to the toes. A common condition known as plantar fascities occurs when the plantar fascia has become swollen.

Should you have suffered from this condition for some time, there are normally deposits of calcium at the point where the heel actually meets the plantar fascia. If you had an x-ray it would show something that would resemble a thorn-like shaped object. Hence the name “spur” and the condition for some can be very painful indeed.

Obviously the level of pain can vary but is normally no more than just a dull ache and this can be followed by a very sharp pain. It can also happen first thing in the morning when you have just woken up and the prospect of wearing shoes as a whole does not appear to be very comforting.


Here are some on the main causes of this condition:

Feet experience too much force – this can be the case if a person is obese as there is now greater pressure on the back of the heel to carry the excess body weight. Also women who are expecting are also at risk, since there is a lot more pressure on the heel.

Surprising your feet – if you are not used to walking over far distances or even running or even if you just change jobs then requires you to be on your feet all day long then these could impact your heel. Your feet need time to adjust to anything and any unexpected pressure on the heel can lead to possible complications.

Existing problem – if you have a condition such as arthritis then this too can lead to problems for the heel

Generally there are numerous reasons which can lead to the condition.

Easy ways to treat heel pain

Sometimes it is a case of just having some physiotherapy applied to the heel and performing simple light exercises to help strengthen the muscle within the heel. In other cases surgery could be an option with the intent of actually removing the bone spur itself.

If the sound of surgery does not appeal to you then there is a treatment referred to as endoscopic planta fasciotomy which helps with any inflammation. Here a very tiny cut is made into the heel and a camera is placed inside allowing the surgeon to see what is going on.

The treatment is performed with a local anesthetic and it not very harsh and does not take that much time at all. In most cases, people are able to walk normally and apply pressure to the heel without any problems. And best of all, you will only need to rest for three days so being away from work will not last too long. There might be some pain, but nothing a pain killer will not help with.

Generally a lot of people tend to leave such problems alone before it becomes too severe that only then do they consult their doctor. It is always best to get any pain seen too as soon as possible to prevent any long term complications and possible damage.