1. Plantar Fasciitis
This most frequently causes heel discomfort. The plantar fascia is A powerful ligament extending from the back of the heel to the tip of the foot. Pain results from the fascia’s fibers becoming inflamed when stretched too far.
Although it can also be felt in the center of the foot, the discomfort usually arises where the ligament connects to the heel bone. The ailment most commonly affects active adults between the ages of 40 and 70. Particularly those who run or have occupations requiring them to stand for extended periods.
Pregnant women are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis since the extra weight strains the ligament. The same holds for people who are obese or overweight. Furthermore,
- wearing shoes without sufficient arch support
- having flat feet
- high arches
are more structural foot issues that can cause plantar fasciitis.
2. Heel Bursitis
This is an inflammatory disease of the bursa. This fluid-filled fibrous sac cushions the muscles, ligaments, and bone in the rear of the heel. Landing firmly on the heels repeatedly might irritate the area and produce inflammation.
It may also arise from applying excessive pressure to the heel through footwear. The heel’s back or interior hurts, and occasionally, the Achilles tendon may bulge as well. As the day wears on, the discomfort usually grows worse.
3. Haglund’s Deformity
Haglund’s deformity is a bony protrusion on the calcaneus, the heel bone, which is the attachment point of the Achilles tendon. You can see a bulge through your skin due to the growth.
Heel pain may result from Haglund’s deformity, particularly if you wear shoes that are too tight on the back of your heel.
4. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
You may develop tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) if your tibial nerve is injured or constricted. Ankle nerves include the tibial nerve. It passes through the tarsal tunnel, a ligament- and bone-lined passageway in your ankle.
TTS patients may experience tingling, discomfort, weakness, or numbness in their feet. If your foot and ankle are overused, you may get TTS. Exercise often and intensely increases your risk of developing TTS, particularly if you have very flat feet.
5. Stress Fracture
One or more little fractures in the calcaneus, the heel bone, are called calcaneal stress fractures. These fractures are frequently brought on by prolonged, repetitive stress on the bone, such as running.
6. Sever’s Disease
Due to microtrauma to the heel plate after a growth spurt, this is the most prevalent cause of heel pain in young athletes. Boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 13 are typically affected.
The muscles and tendons in the legs may become taut and overextended due to the heel bone growing more quickly than the leg ligaments. Since the sole is one of the initial body parts to reach its full size and the heel is not very flexible, it is especially prone to damage. The heel’s back gets stronger and harder as it grows to its full potential. The two main therapies are icing and physical therapy, along with a break from athletics to allow the heel bone to finish forming.
7. Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendonitis is the term used to describe an overuse injury to the Achilles tendon, which connects your heel bone to the calf muscles at the rear of your lower leg.
Achilles tendonitis most frequently affects runners who abruptly increase their run length or intensity. It’s also typical among middle-aged individuals who participate in weekend-only activities like basketball or tennis.
8. Arthritis
Reactive and psoriatic arthritis are both brought on by the immune system overreacting. They are frequently associated with pain at the back and underside of the heel, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy.
They may also be the cause of sausage toe or dactylitis. This causes pain, swelling, and difficulty moving along the whole span of one or both of your toes.
9. Obesity
According to a 2004 study, researchers found that body mass index (BMI), a measure of obesity, was the only factor substantially linked to heel pain impairment. Similarly, individuals who were not athletes experienced a high link between persistent plantar heel discomfort and being overweight.
Sadly, researchers have not conducted enough studies to definitively determine whether or not lowering weight has a favorable impact on heel discomfort.
10. Diabetes
Although diabetic heel pain can strike anyone at any age, it is more prevalent in older persons with long-standing diabetes. Diabetic heel discomfort can result from peripheral neuropathy or impaired circulation, which are conditions that an older diabetic may be more susceptible to.
Long-term blood sugar at elevated levels may also put a person at higher risk of having diabetic foot complications, such as heel pain.
11. Certain Medications
Heel discomfort is a side effect of many drugs that can occur for various reasons. The following are some possible ways that drugs could aggravate heel pain:
Osteoporosis/Osteopenia (Bone Weakening)
Certain drugs, especially long-term corticosteroid use like prednisone, can erode bones, including the bones in the feet. This weakening of the bones can result in diseases such as osteoporosis or osteopenia, which raise the possibility of stress fractures in the foot’s bones, particularly the calcaneus, which can cause heel discomfort.
Tendon Rupture
Some drugs, like ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, have been linked to a higher risk of tendon rupture, especially in the Achilles tendon. While injuries to the Achilles tendon may not directly cause heel pain, they may change the way the foot moves and put more strain on other foot structures, resulting in heel discomfort.
Peripheral Neuropathy
It is a disorder marked by damage to the nerves in the limbs that can be brought on by some drugs used to treat diseases like diabetes or HIV/AIDS. Numerous symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, or scorching pain in the foot, can be caused by neuropathy. This neuropathic pain can extend to the heel or other foot areas, depending on which nerves are damaged.
Weight Gain
Gaining weight is a possible adverse effect of several drugs, including corticosteroids, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and certain diabetes treatments. Carrying too much weight can strain the feet and cause problems like plantar fasciitis, which causes pain in the heels.
12. Nerve Problems
Burning, tingling, or numbness, along with heel pain, may indicate a neuropathic cause. These symptoms most frequently point to nerve entrapment brought on by trauma, misuse, or damage from prior surgery.
The posterior tibial nerve’s affected branches, such as the medial plantar nerve, lateral plantar nerve, or nerve to the abductor digiti minimi, are commonly responsible for plantar heel discomfort.