What is Heel Pain and heel pain causes: Your Guide to Chronic Heel Pain and Its Many Causes

A number of people ask what is Heel pain and heel pain causes. Some people think that chronic heel pain is common, and the causes for it are only trivial. They blame it on jobs that make people stand for too long, or on wrong shoe choices. While these guesses are sometimes right on the money, people need to understand that chronic heel pain may lead to more serious bone diseases. Some of these bone illnesses are degenerative, which means that they worsen as you age. Below are the most common causes of heel pain that you should watch out for.

1, Plantar Fasciitis. The ligament that connects your toes to your heel bones is called plantar fascia. This also protects the heel of your foot. You may feel heel pain called plantar fasciitis when you injure this ligament by straining your foot, rolling your feet too much inwardly when you walk, standing or running on hard surfaces over a long period of time, or wearing shoes that are worn out or do not fit well.

2, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. When you experience heel pain particularly at night, you should consult an orthopedic and see if you have a tarsal tunnel syndrome. Usually, people with previous ankle injuries experience this. This happens when the tibial nerve, or the nerve stretching from the back of your leg to your ankle, is pinched. Like the previous heel pain cause, this also happens when you underpronate, or when you roll your heel too inwardly when you walk or run. Tarsal tunnel syndrome may also happen when an area around a tendon is inflamed. You may also want to check for a broken tissue mass or a cyst.

3, Tight Achilles tendons and calf muscles. You may also experience heel pain if you have tight Achilles tendons and calf muscles. This can be caused by wearing high-heeled shoes and standing or walking for too long. Sometimes, tight footwear can also cause this discomfort. This is usually experienced by most women who wear uncomfortable shoes all day or athletes who are on their feet most of the time.

Cures for heel pain vary depending on the severity of the injury. Sometimes, your doctor may just prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine. Sometimes, you may be asked to wear orthopedics or footwear that will support the muscles connected to your heel. Other cases simply require rest. While it’s tempting to self diagnose and take anti-inflammatory medicines whenever you feel the pain, it’s always best to consult a doctor first. Pain killers tend to be very addictive, and you will want your intake to be as controlled as possible. You also don’t want to risk taking a degenerative disease for granted. If there’s even a minute possibility that your heel pain is caused by a degeneration of your leg bones, you need to look into it as soon as possible. Severe heel pains on young patients are usually diagnosed through x-rays as well as other tests. If the discomfort is not caused by an injury, you may have to take special medications for it. Wearing more comfortable shoes helps too.