Common Causes of Heel Pain

Common Causes of Heel Pain

Did you know that your heel is the biggest bone in the foot and that the ankle and foot are made up of over 100 tendons, 33 joints, and 26 bones? Because of the various parts, injuring or overusing your heel could eventually lead to heel pain that could be mild or severe, even disabling. However, it’s not always easy to figure out the exact cause of heel pain. Here at the Foot Health Center in West Orange, NJ, one of our podiatrists can help you find out what’s causing your heel pain and recommend the best ways to treat it.

What May Be Causing Your Heel Pain

Many things could cause heel pain, with some of the most common causes being the following:

  • Strains and Sprains: These are common injuries that are usually caused by physical activity. Depending on what caused them, they can be mild to severe and may or may not require medical treatment.
  • Plantar fasciitis: This condition occurs when excess pressure on the feet leads to damage to the ligament called the plantar fascia. Its main symptoms include stiffness and pain.
  • Fractures: A fracture occurs when you break a bone. Take note that this is an emergency that will require urgent medical attention.
  • Bursitis: Bursitis happens when the bursae in your foot become inflamed due to irritation from footwear or repetitive motion. The bursae are sacs filled with fluid and they’re responsible for protecting your joints from friction.
  • Achilles Tendonitis: This occurs when the tendon connecting your heel to your calf muscles become inflamed because of overuse injuries.
  • Reactive Arthritis: This is caused by an infection and leads to pain in the entire body.

When to Call Your Podiatrist

If you experience heel pain, you can try at-home treatments like resting the affected foot to alleviate your symptoms. However, if home treatments fail to work and your symptoms still persist after two or three weeks, it’s best that you visit your podiatrist in West Orange, NJ, as soon as you can.

On the other hand, you should go to your podiatrist immediately if you have the following symptoms:

  • Your pain came on suddenly
  • You have severe heel pain
  • Your heel is swelling and red
  • You can’t move your feet or walk because of the pain

Worried about your heel pain?

Arrange a consultation with one of our podiatrists here at the Foot Health Center in West Orange, NJ. Call (973) 731-1266 for more information.

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