How is heel pain diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and perform a physical exam. You may also get X-rays to check for arthritis, bone fractures, bone misalignment and joint damage.
Rarely will you initially need an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or ultrasound. These can show soft tissue problems that X-rays don’t reveal.
How do I get rid of the pain in my heel?
Most problems that cause heel pain get better over time with nonsurgical treatments. Heel pain treatment focuses on easing pain and inflammation, improving foot flexibility and minimizing stress and strain on your heel. These treatments include:
- Pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) combined with ice packs can ease pain and swelling.
- Stretching exercises: Your healthcare provider can show you how to do heel stretching exercises for tight tendons and muscles.
- Taping: You can use athletic or medical tape to support your foot arch or heel.
- Physical therapy: Massage, physical therapy and ultrasound therapy can break up scar tissue (adhesions). These treatments may reduce inflammation and provide heel pain relief.
- Orthotic devices: Over-the-counter (OTC) or custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics) can take pressure off your heel. Some people find relief by wearing a splint at night, especially if they get morning pain. A walking boot may be necessary for more severe symptoms. You may also need to switch to more supportive shoes for everyday wear and exercise.
- Injections: Steroid injections can ease pain and swelling. Your provider will rarely recommend steroid injections for a tendon problem but they may help for plantar fasciitis and bursitis.
- Immobilization: Should the pain be chronic, not responding to treatment, you’ll need casting or a walking boot.
It’s rare to need surgery to treat most causes of heel pain.
What are the complications of heel pain?
Heel pain can interfere with your ability to get around, work, exercise and complete daily tasks. When it hurts to move, you can become inactive (sedentary), which can lead to weight gain. You may also develop depression because you can’t do the things you love.
Untreated Achilles tendonitis can cause the tendon to break down (tendinosis). In time, your Achilles tendon can tear or rupture. This problem may require surgery.
Can heel pain be prevented?
To prevent heel pain or keep pain from returning, it’s important to keep your foot and heel tendons flexible. You should stretch regularly and wear properly fitted, supportive shoes. Runners are especially prone to heel pain. You can prevent running injuries by covering fewer miles and running on softer surfaces.
FAQs
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. It is usually caused by a biomechanical imbalance resulting in tension along the plantar fascia. The diagnosis is typically based on the history and the finding of localized tenderness.
What is the best medicine for heel pain? ›
If you can, try resting as much as possible for at least a week. Apply ice to the painful area twice a day or so, for 10 to 15 minutes. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation. If you need to, you can buy a heel cup, felts pads, or shoe inserts to comfort your heel.
Which disease symptom is heel pain? ›
Plantar fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It occurs when the fascia — connective tissue that runs along the bottom (plantar surface) of your foot — tears or stretches and becomes inflamed. People who run and jump a lot are more likely to develop this painful condition.
Which vitamin deficiency causes heel pain? ›
Research suggests that low levels of vitamin B12 can cause a burning sensation in the soles, heels, or pads of your toes. Other indications of a vitamin B12 deficiency include numbness in the limbs or feet, balance issues, mouth ulcers, and vision disturbances.
What is commonly mistaken for plantar fasciitis? ›
While it is a prevalent foot condition, it's crucial to recognise that several other conditions can mimic its symptoms. These include heel spurs, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, stress fractures, and bursitis.
What are red flags in heel pain? ›
Symptoms involving heel pain that should raise some red flags are: Inability to put weight on your heel, affecting your ability to walk and run. Heel pain that does not go away after several days of rest. Pain at rest.
How do you get rid of heel pain permanently? ›
Lifestyle and home remedies
- Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight can put extra stress on your plantar fascia.
- Choose supportive shoes. Buy shoes with a low to moderate heel, thick soles, good arch support and extra cushioning. ...
- Don't wear worn-out athletic shoes. ...
- Change your sport. ...
- Apply ice. ...
- Stretch your arches.
What not to do with heel pain? ›
Heel pain often goes away on its own with home care. For heel pain that isn't severe, try the following: Rest. If possible, don't do anything that puts stress on your heels, such as running, standing for long periods or walking on hard surfaces.
Is walking good for heel pain? ›
For other people, walking is a productive part of their recovery process. As long as walking isn't directly causing heel pain, it's okay to take a brisk walk for exercise or to walk for transportation. If your feet are sore after walking, make sure to stretch and ice them as soon as you get home.
Is heel pain related to kidneys? ›
Kidney disease can also cause nerve damage, which can lead to a condition called peripheral neuropathy. This occurs when the nerves that carry signals to and from the feet and legs become damaged, leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and burning pain.
To treat plantar fasciitis yourself, do stretching exercises for the plantar fascia several times a day, ice your foot, take NSAIDs, rest your foot, wear orthotics to support your heel and arch, and decrease the amount or length of activities that cause you pain such as walking or running.
What autoimmune disease causes heel pain? ›
Ankylosing spondylitis: This condition can cause heel pain due to enthesitis, which is inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bones. Enthesitis may affect the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): This is another autoimmune disorder that can cause heel pain.
What foods should I avoid with plantar fasciitis? ›
Stay away from inflammatory foods
These include processed foods, red meats, sugary treats, and refined grains. These foods can cause an increase in inflammation and slow down the healing process. Instead, aim for an anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole grains.
Does magnesium help heel pain? ›
By adding Epsom salt to a small tub of warm water, it is possible to soak feet and relieve some of the inflammation from the heel spurs. It is only necessary to add 1 cup to a foot soak. Since Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, it can naturally reduce inflammation just like taking magnesium capsules can.
How to fix plantar fasciitis quickly? ›
For the majority of people, plantar fasciitis can be treated at home with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Others may need physical therapy or steroid injections to treat their foot.
How can I stop the pain in my heel? ›
Treat Your Heel Pain With These 6 Methods
- Rest, rest, rest. The best thing you can do for your heel pain is to rest as much as you can. ...
- Stretch Your Feet. Stretching your muscles and tendons promotes blood flow to the areas being stretched. ...
- Ice to Reduce Inflammation. ...
- Use Pain Relievers. ...
- Shoe Inserts. ...
- Avoid Painful Shoes.