Chronic Heel Pain Treatment

Overview

Chronic heel pain can is usually related to Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone, and the plantar fascia is a tendon that connects the heel to the toes. Both are responsible for helping the foot flex, which allows you to rise up on your toes, run, jump and walk up and down stairs. When these tendons get overused or strained from repetitive motions such as running or jumping, they can become inflamed and cause pain in the heel. They can also lead to heel spurs. If caught early though, treatment for this pain can be relatively simple.

About

Achilles pain and plantar fasciitis are forms of tendinitis, which are inflamed tendons resulting from repetitive stress. The inflammation is caused by tiny tears in the tendon that are not allowed to heal properly. Symptoms of tendinitis include stiffness or pain upon getting out of bed in the morning or when first starting to walk or run. This pain can decrease during activity once the tendons are loosened up, but it usually comes back afterward.

Results

If tendinitis goes untreated or is severe enough, it can weaken the tendon and cause the Achilles or plantar fascia to eventually tear. A perfectly healthy tendon can also tear when it encounters a sudden, unexpected force, such as an abrupt jump, twist or sprint.

When a tendon tears, a major pop is felt near the back of the heel. This results in pain, swelling and an inability to move normally. Since the Achilles and plantar fascia are responsible for flexing your toes up, you will not be able to walk, run or jump freely.

Home Treatment

If the pain in your heel is caught early, you may be able to heal it on your own. Running or playing through the pain will only make it worse. Icing the area two to three times a day and taking an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, can reduce the pain and inflammation, although they will not heal the tears in the tendon. Rest is the best way to let the tendon heal completely.

Medical Treatments

If the above treatments don't work, a doctor can examine your heel to determine the level of damage and recommend a more aggressive treatment if necessary.

Physical therapy is often used to treat the source of the problem. Stretching, massage and ultra-sound therapy can relieve the inflammation, increase blood flow and stimulate healing of the tears in the tendon.

Because heel pain can be caused by shoes that don't fit well or inadequate support, shoe inserts can help. A physical therapist can measure your foot for custom orthotics. These are designed to support the arch and help correct muscular imbalances and rolling inward or outward on your foot.

Sports massage therapists can be very helpful in relieving heel pain. They can identify what tendons are tight and loosen them to relieve the pressure. They can also break up adhesions and scar tissue which can cause tightness.

Other medical treatments can include cortisone shots, shock wave therapy or surgery. All of these options are reserved for more serious cases of heel pain where none of the above treatments work first. Each come with certain risks, so it's important to discuss all options with your doctor beforehand.

Considerations

Returning to normal activities too quickly after the tendons are healed can result in re-injury. The muscles and tendons around the heel need time to regain their strength, balance and flexibility. Stretching the area daily is also important to avoid recurrence of the injury.