Our heels bear at least 45 kilograms of pressure every time we walk or run. Naturally, heel pain is a common complaint among those who are active - those in sedentary jobs or those who spend hours sitting down (or lying down) daily are unlikely to experience this as they put little weight on their feet. Women who wear high heels on a regular basis are also more prone to heel pain.
Heel pain is not a disease but a symptom. It is caused due to various reasons but the most common ones are:
- Bruises
- Osteomyelitis (infection in the bone)
- Arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
- Plantar fasciitis (damage to the elastic band called fascia band, which connects the heel bone to the toes)
- Calcaneal spur (calcium deposition in the fascia band)
- Bursitis (inflammation of the bursa, a sac which lines the tendons and muscles for easy movement)
- Pump bump (abnormal bony growth at the back of the heel)
- Achilles tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon that attaches the calf muscle to the back of the heel)
- Nerve entrapment (compression of nerves at the heel area)
- Bone tumours
You must seek medical advice if your heel pain is continuous and you are not being able to walk. Some of the treatment protocols involve:
- Raise your heel and rest it on an elevated surface.
- Avoid wearing high heeled shoes.
- Wear shoes with a soft sole. You can also insert insoles or heel pads in your shoes.
- You can wrap a bandage around your heels and ankles to support them.
- Over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen may also be used for pain relief.
You can also manage heel pain at home with the help of some simple home remedies given below: