Heel pain can basically be defined as intermittent or continuous pain felt in any part of the heel bone. These heel pains, which can be caused by many reasons, may be exacerbated by putting weight on the heel, walking or touching, and in some cases, heel pain may occur even at rest. Because of the severity of the pain, heel pain sufferers often require surgery to correct the problem.
Conditions that cause heel pain
The heel pain you see can be caused by a number of conditions. While the type of heel pain you experience will vary, you can’t always pinpoint the cause of the pain. Although some people have a severe heel condition, it can take many different factors to cause the pain.
If you have suffered from heel pain or other deformity of the heel bone, you should see your doctor immediately. This type of deformity can require orthopedic treatment as well as other medical procedures. Some treatments that will help improve your overall quality of life include:
Treating the underlying causes of heel pain
Your doctor will look at the underlying causes of the pain you are feeling and make a diagnosis.
Hormonal changes
It is true that the shape of a person’s foot can also change the pressure on their heel bone. Your doctor will need to examine your feet to see what changes occurred.
If heel pain persists, your doctor may recommend surgery as it can correct the underlying causes and improve the symptoms. However, if your doctor feels you have little chance of survival without surgery, he or she will recommend that you seek rehabilitation instead. Rehabilitation can include physical therapy, home exercise, massage and medication to help improve your overall health.
Most common causes of heel pain
Lack of warm body temperature (hypothermia)
Lack of exercise (exercise may aggravate this condition)
Hip or ankle fractures
Upper-body trauma (sports injury, collision, or other severe impact or severe strain)
Falling (this is the most common cause of upper-body injury in women but this will be discussed below)
Lower leg pain (fibromyalgia)
Osteoarthritis or tendonitis
Muscle strain (stiff-leg syndrome)
Stress (dental caries, high-calorie diet, or high blood pressure)
Toe pain (fibrous bone disorder)
It is important to distinguish between hypothermia and hypometabolism. Hypothermia is a condition in which the body is too cold (below the ideal body temperature) while hypometabolism is a condition in which the body is too warm (at or above the ideal body temperature). The difference between these two conditions is the difference between extreme cold (below the ideal temperature) and extreme heat (at or above the ideal temperature).
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s internal temperature is below the ideal body temperature. In other words, the body is too hot. This condition is a result of having a very high body temperature.
Hypometabolism
Hypometabolism is a condition in which the internal temperature is warmer than the ideal body temperature. In other words, the body is too cold.
The difference between hypothermia and hypometabolism is the difference between extreme cold (below the ideal temperature) and extreme heat (at or above the ideal temperature). If the person has a warm body temperature, even at a high level of activity, they would experience moderate or even mild pain. It is only when the person is at a lower level of activity, such as sitting at a desk, that they can experience intense discomfort.
Facts about heel pain
While most people deal with this type of pain without realizing it, others can have debilitating pain for hours or days at a time. The fact that it may only last a few days or hours at a time is why it may take some time for you to understand and begin to cope with the pain.
Some doctors believe the discomfort of experiencing heel pain is the result of swelling in the foot. These doctors feel it is only due to this fact that the pain occurs only briefly. They also believe that it is due to this swelling that the pain persists for long periods of time.
There is a difference between the type of pain experienced by someone with regular and severe heel pain.
A person who has severe heel pain may feel it for days at a time. In this case, they may actually report that their legs are so swollen that they feel as if they are crawling on a piece of gum. They may also feel as if they are trapped in a ball and feel as if they can’t move their legs at all. These people are called ‘perimenopausal’ heel pain sufferers.
Other people may have a regular amount of heel pain without swelling. In this case, they can usually deal with the discomfort by lying on their back and lying on their side and rest or dozing on their back until they feel less pressure on their heel bone.
Other people may suffer from low-level pain in the heel bone. For some, this pain may only be present for a few hours at a time. Some people may even have a chronic foot pain lasting several weeks at a time.
How do you know if you are experiencing heel pain?
If you suspect that you may have heel pain, your doctor can determine whether or not you have the condition. The most simple test for confirming if you have heel pain is to take a look at your feet. If your feet hurt, you might want to go see your doctor as he or she will be able to offer you more accurate information about whether your pain is related to any underlying medical condition.
