Healing Back of Heel Pain
Back of heel pain is one of the common foot problems. It is also called as Achilles tendonitis. If there is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, you might suffer from Achilles tendonitis. The condition is most commonly found in athletes. There will be sharp and nagging pain in the back of the heel. It is possible to treat the condition with proper rest and medication. Enough care should be taken so that the issue can be overcome easily. There are 26 bones in the human foot and the foot takes great responsibility of supporting the entire body weight. The foot will go through more stress when we walk or run. It is likely to be damaged when there is an excess burden on the heel.
Causes of Back of Heel Pain
If the heel is subjected to excessive pressures repeatedly, it will lead to back of heel pain. The injury, twist and fall which will happen repeatedly will have the potential to cause back of heel pain. If there is inflammation in the plantar fascia, it will lead to back of heel pain. The ligament which runs in between calcaneum and the tip of the bone is called plantar fascia. The inflammation of fibers due to excessive stretching will lead to pain. The issue might begin from the middle of the foot also. The pain may appear after taking rest for a long period of time.
Other causes that will lead to back of heel pain are Heel bursitis, Heel bumps, Tarsal tunnel syndrome, chronic inflammation of the heel pad, Stress fracture, Severs disease and Achilles tendonitis. If you are affected with Achilles tendonitis there will be degeneration of the Achilles tendon on a long term basis.
When should you consult the doctor?
If there is severe pain along with swelling in the affected area, you should consult the physician immediately. Numbness, tingling in the heel area, pain in the heel along with fever, unable to walk in a normal way, unable to bend the foot in a normal way and difficulty in standing on the backs of the feet (in raised condition) are common symptoms. If the pain is present for more than one week, you should consult the doctor. If you observe back of heel pain even though you are not in standing or walking position, you should consult the doctor.
Diagnosis and treatment
The podiatrist is the qualified doctor who specializes in foot related issues. The doctor will check the patient physically and the exact location and cause of the pain is assessed after shooting a number of questions. In some cases, blood tests and scanning will be conducted to figure out the exact nature of the issue. Most of the cases will be treated by using simple medication. No surgery is required in most of the cases.
By using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it is possible to treat various conditions that are related to back of heel pain. Corticosteroids are special solutions that are applied on the affected area. You should go through the medication as advised by the doctor. In certain cases, physiotherapy is suggested. In extreme cases, surgery will be performed. If surgery is performed, plantar fascia will be removed from the heel bone. However, this kind of operation will be performed as a last measure. The operation poses a risk as it might weaken the foot in the future. If night splints are used to treat the back of heel pain, splints will be arranged to the calf and foot region. The plantar fascia and Achilles tendon are kept in lengthened position during nights. Sufficient rest and right kind of footwear will resolve the issue.
Be the first to comment on "Back of Heel Pain – Achilles Tendonitis"