If you’re suffering from chronic heel pain, you already know the condition can be very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, having pain in the foot area can prevent you from playing sports like basketball and racquetball or stop you from enjoying a nice jog around the block. In more severe cases, pain can be felt while walking or standing. Chronic heel pain may severely reduce the quality of your life if undiagnosed and untreated. It’s important to understand the most common causes and symptoms of heel pain, so that you may seek medical treatment if necessary.
Do you have plantar fasciitis?
The most common cause for heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis. The condition is known to be very painful and typically happens as a result of straining or overusing the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is connective tissue that runs from your heel bone to your toes.
Causes of plantar fasciitis
Typically plantar fasciitis is caused from overuse from activities like running or standing for extended periods of time. But having flat feet or high arches may also contribute to the condition. Additionally, wearing improper footwear over extended periods of time may also cause inflammation to the plantar fascia.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis
The most common and obvious symptom is pain in the bottom of the foot at your heel. The pain may be a dull ache or a sharp sensation but often will feel like a stab in the heel of your foot. Because plantar fascia is commonly associated with overuse, the pain may build gradually.
A popular complaint among people with plantar fasciitis is heel pain in the morning upon waking up and taking their first steps. After “warming up” the pain may lessen throughout the day, unless aggravated with strenuous activity.
Get Diagnosed – Don’t live with heel pain
Chronic heel pain is a very painful and uncomfortable condition that may reduce the quality of your life if untreated. A physician will be able to accurately diagnose the condition and put you on a treatment plan, but that starts with you recognizing the symptoms and seeking out help. The most common cause of chronic heel pain is plantar fasciitis which is typically caused by overuse from activities like jogging or running for long periods of time.
If you are suffering from chronic heel pain and have not yet seen a physician, please contact a podiatrist at IBJI for expert treatment. You don’t have to live with heel pain because IBJI can help you enjoy every step.
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