Are you worried about your Heel Pain?
You are most likely to develop heel pain if you have an existing foot condition such as flat feet, or ankle arthritis, or if you regularly take part in sporting activity, or if you wear poorly fitted footwear. You risk of developing heel pain will also increase if you do not maintain a healthy body weight.
Common causes of heel pain include:
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Bone spurs
- Bursitis
With proper rest, heel pain will subside over time. If you give your feet time to rest and heal correctly then there is usually no further need for medical attention. If your pain is mild or moderate or accompanied by other symptoms like bleeding or discolouration, you can try the following to help relieve your discomfort:
Rest - Where possible, avoid putting weight on the injured heel. Particularly through excessive physical activity like sports.
Ice - Apply an ice pack or equivalent to the injured area. Do this for 5-10 minutes at a time, a few times a day.
Correct footwear - Wear appropriate footwear particularly if you are taking part in sporting activities that put extra stress on the feet.
Pain-relievers - Aspirin or ibuprofen can help stem the pain you are experiencing.
If your symptoms have been continuing for an extended period, are having an effect on your daily life, and have not subsided despite home remedy, consider booking an appointment with your GP for a full diagnosis.
There are instances where more urgent medical attention might be needed. Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Feel faint, dizzy, or sick
- Hear a snap, or pop, at time of injury
- Any odd change in shape to the foot
- Severe pain
- Excessive swelling
- Fever
- Numbness
- Inability to bend foot
- If you are unable to walk
Here at VIDA we have expert clinicians on hand to help diagnose and treat your condition. To find out more about these services, we recommend visiting the following pages:
- Achilles tendinitis
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Bone tumor
- Bursitis (joint inflammation)
- Haglund's deformity
- Heel spur
- Osteomyelitis (a bone infection)
- Paget's disease of bone
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Plantar fasciitis
- Reactive arthritis
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
- Sarcoidosis (collections of inflammatory cells in the body)
- Stress fractures
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome