Common Causes of Heel Pain

Your heels play a major role in your ability to stand strong on your feet, move normally, and easily support your body. So when pain infiltrates the area, many aspects of your life can suffer — from your physical comfort and mobility to your moods. Thankfully, heel pain doesn’t have to keep you down for long. 

At Mayfair Foot Care in Commack, New York, Drs. Edward Buro, Christine Peterson, and Rosario Saccomanno provide nonsurgical treatments for a range of painful heel conditions to help you experience the well-being and relief you desire.

Here’s a closer look at heel pain, including common causes and ways we can help.

Heel pain symptoms

Heel pain can take numerous shapes, forms, and intensities. The common thread is discomfort or burning, aching, or stabbing sensations below your heel bone at the back of your foot. 

Most anyone can experience heel pain symptoms, especially given how much “wear-and-tear” your heels undergo as you go about your daily life. 

Common causes of heel pain

Some of the most common heel pain causes we see in our office include:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Arthritis
• Foot trauma
• Fractures
• Heel spurs
• Plantar fasciitis 
• Osteochondrosis, which affects bone growth in children
• Sports injuries
• Sprains and strains

Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis are the most common causes of heel pain. And both conditions can cause chronic heel pain that worsens over time or flares up repeatedly.

Achilles tendinitis pain happens when you injure your Achilles tendon, the tissue band that connects the calf muscles in your lower legs to your heel bones. It often stems from overuse or suddenly increasing the duration or intensity of exercise, such as running.

When you have plantar fasciitis, the thick band of tissue on the bottoms of your feet that connects your heel bones to your toes becomes inflamed. While it’s not terribly understood, plantar fasciitis is especially common in athletes and people who carry excess weight.

Heel pain treatment

Occasionally, heel pain gradually improves with appropriate rest, elevation, icing of the heel, and over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen. However, if your pain intensifies or lingers on no matter what you do, it’s time to seek treatment.

Other steps, treatments, and measures we may recommend after an assessment include:

• Activity modifications
• Custom orthotics
• Physical therapy
• Switching to more supportive footwear
• Wearing a night splint

Surgery is usually a last resort, reserved for severe heel pain issues that don’t respond to more conservative treatments. 

To learn more about heel pain or get the care you need, call Mayfair Foot Care or book an appointment through our website today.