Causes and treatment of heel pain - a heel spur is not always behind it
Created: 01/10/2022, 05:17 PM
From: Juliane Gutmann
Heel pain can have various causes.
© Jochen Tack / Imago
If the occurrence of walking and running causes pain, a heel spur may be behind it.
But there are far more causes that result in heel pain.
Suddenly there is a sharp pain in the heel, every step hurts.
Most now think of a heel spur.
In this case, it is an irritation of the tendon plate on the sole of the foot.
A permanent overload of this so-called plantar fascia leads to small tears and inflammations in the tissue, which can lead to calcium deposits.
This can lead to severe pain when stepping on, which those affected describe as "like a kick in a nail".
But it is not always a heel spur * that causes pain in the heel.
The following causes can also be behind it
, as the pharmacy Umschau informs:
Damage to the Achilles tendon (tendinosis)
An inflamed Achilles tendon attachment on the heel bone connected with a bursitis and a heel spur
Achilles tendon tear
Haglund heel (special case of heel spur)
Irritation and inflammation of the bursae (bursitis)
Damage to the tendon of the sole of the foot (plantar fasciitis)
Shrinkage of the heel fat pad
Malpositions of the feet (such as flat feet)
Fatigue fracture of the calcaneus
Bone cysts
Plantar warts
Metabolic diseases such as diabetes *
Circulatory disorders
Buildup of fluid in the bones (bone edema)
Narrowing of the Baxter's nerve (Baxter neuropathy)
Also read:
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These home remedies and therapies bring quick relief
Therapy for heel pain
The first point of contact for heel pain is the family doctor. They will carry out the first examinations and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist. Depending on the clinical picture behind the heel pain, the causes are treated first.
In an emergency, only an operation can remedy the situation
, for example in the case of a bone cyst. This can be filled with bone material, which in the case of a patient at the Schulthess Clinic in Zurich led to "complete freedom from pain".
In many cases, a heel spur with inflammation of the tendon plate on the sole of the foot (plantar fasciitis) is actually responsible for heel pain. According to the Orthopedic Joint Clinic in Gundelfingen, this clinical picture is accompanied by
sharp pain when stepping, standing and running, starting pain, stress-dependent pain, freedom from pain at rest and pain on the sole of the foot in front of the heel fat pad.
It is not only overweight that promotes heel spurs, runners and athletes also often suffer from stabbing heel pain on the sole of the foot, according to the clinic.
After the start of training, the pain often subsides.
In the case of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, however, it is important to relieve and protect the foot.
Plantar tendon stretching exercises, shoe insoles and shock wave therapy can accelerate healing, according to the joint clinic.
(jg)
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