Why hurt the heel and what to do

In most cases, the discomfort in the heel do not require immediate medical care. But there are exceptions.

When it is necessary as soon as possible go to the doctor

ImmediatelyHeel Pain go to the emergency room, or even call an ambulance if:

• strong, sharp pain in the heel arose immediately after the injury;
• you are experiencing severe pain and notice that in the heel area appeared obvious edema;
• you can not pull the foot and leg to stand on or walk normally;
• pain (not sharp) in the heel is accompanied by fever, numbness and tingling in the foot palpable.

If immediate symptoms of a condition you do not, we shall understand, that could lead to unpleasant sensations.

Why hurt the heel

The most commonHeel Pain reason - excessive physical load on the foot. It is most common in people who:

• is overweight;
• He spends much time standing (eg, working behind the counter);
• It has flatfoot;
• It carries gravity;
• engaged in running or other physical activities in uncomfortable shoes with poor cushioning;
• He is wearing very tight shoes and shoes with an inappropriate shoe, lifting or too high heels.

Any of these situations can lead to the fact that in the stack are compressed soft tissue or nerve endings are pressed. This halloo to one another pain that occurs immediately after exercise or walking in uncomfortable shoes.

Such pain is not dangerous. In most cases, it runs by itself and only calls to be more attentive to the feet, not to torture the feet excessive loads or uncomfortable shoes.

However, sometimes it causes pain can be severe injury. Or developed on the background of constant load or other disease factors.

1. fracture

Calcaneus - the largest in the foot. She is very strong and can withstand heavy loads. But if you decide to jump from a height and landing on a straight leg, punch might be too strong a bone crack. Fracture is accompanied by a slight crunch and makes itself felt a sharp pain, swelling, inability to step on the foot. This injury requires immediate medical attention help.

2. plantar fasciitis

Since inflammation is called flat ligament (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the fingers. Usually fasciitis arises from the regular strains and stresses on the foot that cause permanent microfractures ligament.

Fasciitis can recognize several characteristic features:

• the pain is localized in the gap between the arch of the foot and the heel itself;
• If you stand, you find it difficult and painful to lift the fingers above the floor;
• the pain subsides when you are lying down or sitting, and amplified as just starting to walk.

3. Achilles tendinitis

Grasp the heel with two fingers and then drag them up to the calf. Just above the heel, at the thinnest part of the leg you grope him - Achilles tendon.

It is considered the most robust and hardy tendon in the human body. However, his life nebeskonechen. With age, the tendon loses elasticity and becomes less durable. Because of this, when it loads in microfractures occur, which lead to the development of inflammation - tendonitis.

Achilles tendinitis often occurs in people who suddenly decided to do at a run over the age of 40 years. Also, inflammation can trigger flat wont play sports without pre-workout or long-term, long-term wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Tendonitis can be assumed by symptoms:

• you hurt not only the heel, but the ankle;
• when you try to stand on his toes and pain covers the calf muscles.

4. heel bursitis

Bursitis (from the Latin. bursa - bag) called inflammation of periarticular bags (bursae) - capsules with fluids that surround the joints. In the heel area of ​​the three bags. One is where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone. The second - between the heel bone and the skin of the foot sole. Third - between the Achilles tendon and skin. Inflammation of any of these bursae is called bursitis heel.

Provoke him different factors. So, heel bursitis is considered an occupational disease of athletes - the same players or athletes are excessively loaded and legs often injured. Inflammation develops in women over the years who walk in uncomfortable shoes on a thin and long heels. However, sometimes it leads to bursitis and ranked in the periarticular bag infection.

Bursitis can recognize on a dull aching pain in the heel area and just above the bottom of the Achilles tendon.

5. other diseases

In rare cases, heel pain can causeHeel Pain:

• rheumatoid and reactive arthritis;
• gout;
• osteomyelitis (bone infection);
• bone tumor;
• sarcoidosis.

What if the aching heel

What is important is the nature of pain. If it occurs only occasionally, after strenuous exercise or long walks in uncomfortable shoes, most likely, it is possible to handle household methods. Mayo Clinic medical authoritative resource experts recommend act.

• Give feet a rest. Avoid activities that increase the burden on the heel: try not to run, not to lift heavy, do not stand too long in one place.
• To reduce the pain attach to the heels of something cold. For example napkin wrapped in a thin bag of ice or frozen vegetables. Repeat the procedure three times a day for 15-20 minutes, until the discomfort disappears.
• Pick the most comfortable shoes. It should not push, but it is required to provide good shock absorption while walking. And it would be good to have a heel height of no more than 2.5 cm.
• If the pain does not allow to forget about yourself, take non-prescription pain reliever. For example, on the basis of ibuprofen.

If the heel is constantly sore for two weeks or more, and the discomfort does not subside, even when you are lying down, contact your therapist or orthopedic traumatologist. Consultation with a specialist is needed to prevent possible foot diseases. The doctor will find out what exactly the cause of protracted pain, and prescribe the necessary treatment.

It may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. However, the last item is used only in the most extreme cases. Most likely, you will be able to get rid of the pain less sophisticated methods. Just do not delay a visit to the doctor.