Heel Pain: Identifying the Causes and Finding Relief

The human foot has 33 joints, over 100 tendons, ligaments, muscles, and 26 bones. The heel bone is the largest and quite susceptible to stress, injury, and external factors over time. For those residing in Bronxville, NY, or lower Westchester County, Dr. Sanford Clay Proner, a Bronxville podiatrist, provides a range of treatment options for alleviating heel pain that may disrupt daily activities.

Heel Pain: Identifying the Causes

 Heel pain has numerous causes, although it often results from excessive stress—from overuse, injuries, strains, ill-fitting footwear, or excess body weight—bearing down on the heel bone or the soft tissue that surrounds it. Examples of common causes of heel pain include -

• Achilles Tendinitis
  When the Achilles tendon – situated just above your heel, becomes aggravated or inflamed, it is known as tendinitis. This happens from overuse or subjecting the tendon to repetitive strain, leading to swelling and heel pain. 
• Plantar Fasciitis
  Plantar fasciitis ranks among the most common causes of heel pain. When inflamed or irritated, the plantar fascia (soft tissue running the bottom of your foot) creates pain. 
• Heel Spurs
  Bony growths that develop underneath the heel bone are known as spurs. Heel spurs often show up along with plantar fasciitis, as this condition tends to strip away your heel bone's protective lining. 
• Over-Pronation
  Pronation is a reference to your foot’s ability to flex and absorb motion while walking.  Excessive pronation can create undue stress and stretch ligaments and tendons.
• Nerve Entrapment
  If the nerves in your foot/ankle become irritated or compressed, this may generate heel pain.
• Stress Fracture
  A stress fracture, which tends to create heel pain that worsens when bearing weight, is a tiny bone crack caused by repetitive stress or overuse. For participants in high-impact sports or activities, the heel bone may be at risk for a stress fracture. 

Other medical conditions that may cause heel pain include the following –

• Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Sever’s Disease.
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
• Bursitis.

Heel Pain: Finding Relief

 After diagnosing the cause of your heel pain (and depending on how early you have caught the potential issue), a podiatrist can -

• Prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines – oral or injectables.
• Prescribe therapeutic exercise.
• Recommend shoe/functional or custom-made orthotics. 
• Tape your foot to provide additional support, and more.

 It's important to note that surgical intervention is typically reserved for advanced cases of heel pain and is not necessary for most individuals.

Suffering from heel pain?

 Contact Dr. Proner or a member of our staff at 914-237-7300 so heel pain doesn’t disrupt your daily Bronxville, NY, routine.