Common Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is a very common condition. About 70% of Americans are not able to do much activities or exercise simply because of heel pain.  There are two kinds of pain associated with the heel. Posterior heel pain or pain behind the heel, which involves the attachment of Achilles tendon to the heel bone. Inferior heel pain or pain underneath the foot is caused by an inflammation or irritation of the plantar fascia.

There are several causes of heel pain:

Achilles tendinitis

Bone bruise

Bone cyst

Bone fracture

Bone spurs

Bursitis

Gait problems

Gouty arthritis

Heel pad wear and tear

Neuroma

Osteomyelitis

Peripheral neuropathy

Pinched nerve

Plantar fasciitis

Rupture of the Achilles tendon

Rheumatoid arthritis

Stress fractures

Tarsal tunnel syndrome

Tendinitis

Of all the causes of heel pain, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are the most common.

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation or irritation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a strong fibrous tissue that inserts at the heel bone and to the toes of the foot. It plays an important role in the biomechanics of the foot because it is responsible for maintaining the arch of the foot.

The plantar fascia can get irritated because of overuse. Usually, patients involved in sports or those who are overweight are affected because of the increased amount of stress on the plantar fascia. It is also prone to degenerative process of aging. The older we get, the weaker the fascia.

The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous tissue that also attaches to the heel bone. Unfortunately, this too is prone to irritation and inflammation because of overuse. This condition is called Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is more of a sports injury seen in runners, basketball players, and volleyball players and people involved in any sports that would cause strain on the tendon and calf muscles.

Resting the foot and allowing it to heal is the best treatment for both conditions. But if foot pain is ignored, which most patients commonly do, it can lead to chronic heel pain, where more complicated treatment modalities are needed.

If you have any question about heel pain or any other foot and leg condition please visit the Family Foot and Leg Center in Naples, FL or contact Dr. Kevin Lam at (239) 430-3668 for more details.