What’s Causing Your Heel Pain?

A small amount of pain in the heel is normal after a hard day’s work or from playing sports vigorously. But if the pain in your heel doesn’t subside after a day of resting, you may have an injury that requires the expert help of our foot doctor. Conditions like Achilles tendonitis can be made considerably worse without proper rest and treatment.

Common causes of heel pain include the following:

• Achilles tendonitis: This is the large, rope-like tendon that connects from the back of your heel to your calf muscle. It is the primary component that allows you to point your foot and push off when you walk or exercise. Stressing, bruising, tearing, or possibly even breaking this tendon can cause pain, discomfort and an inability to walk.

• Fracture: Although the heel bone is quite robust, severe trauma can occur during exercise and sports. Coming down hard on your heel after a high jump in basketball or tennis, for example, can cause the heel bone to actually crack. Heel bone fractures are very painful and take a long time to get better.

• Plantar fasciitis: The plantar fascia is the tissue that forms the arch of your foot. When it becomes excessively stressed, small tears can develop and the pain often radiates to the heel area.

• Heel calluses: While a certain amount of tough skin on the heel is necessary for protection and cushioning, if calluses become too large they can crack and bleed causing severe pain and possible infection