Heel Pain: Tips On Handling Pain and Swelling

Heel pain is a common complaint of a lot of people, especially those who are engaged in strenuous physical activities and sports and those who are overweight.  Runner, climbers, people who walk long distances, wear high heels or anyone who extensively use their feet are prone to this condition.

Accurate diagnosis of what’s causing the pain is critical in determining what treatment modality should be used. Below are some very important information about heel pain, its causes, symptoms and treatments.

Generally there are two common types of heel pain:

Plantar fasciitis – this condition is due to an inflamed plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a very strong fibrous tissue and is responsible in maintaining the arch of the foot. This structure is constantly under tremendous stress when walking, running, lifting weights or anything that involves the foot and this is the reason why the plantar fascia gets injured, causing mild to severe lower foot pain.

Achilles Tendinitis – this condition involves the injury of the Achilles tendon that cause mild to severe pain behind the heel. The Achilles tendon is also a strong fibrous tissue located behind the foot. Cause of injury is just the same as Achilles tendinitis, but is very common among women using high heels.

Common symptoms are pain and swelling of the foot. The typical symptom of plantar fasciitis is striking pain underneath the foot when rising up from the bed, or taking your first step after a long drive. In Achilles tendinitis, the pain gradually increases when using the foot.

Treating both conditions is the key to preventing chronic heel pain. Usually, doing the RICE method can relieve pain and swelling.

Rest – resting the foot allows the micro injuries of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia to heal. This is the best way to treat both conditions.

Ice – exposing the affected foot with cold stimuli can reduce pain and swelling.

Compress – wrapping the affected foot with an elastic bandage help immobilize the foot, which help a lot in the healing process.

Elevation – when standing, body fluids tend to pool on our foot, especially when it is inflamed. Raising the affected foot above the heart can significantly reduce swelling.