The heel bone is the largest bone of the foot. When walking, the heel performs an amortization function, assuming a heavy load. Overwork can lead to such unpleasant consequences as heel pain.
The appearance of pain in the heel not only causes unpleasant sensations when walking and worsens the quality of life, but it can also indicate the development of more serious diseases in the body.
If your heel starts to hurt, and you have not hurt, contact your doctor immediately. He will conduct a survey and indicate why the heel hurts. There are many reasons for this pain, and all of them testify to the development of pathological processes in the body.
About the most common diseases that can cause pain in the heel, and how to treat them, let's talk in the article.
Content
- 1Causes of pain in the heel
- 2Walking in uncomfortable shoes
- 3Injuries: sprain or ligament rupture, bruise, fracture
- 4Rheumatoid arthritis
- 5Bursitis
- 6Heel spur
- 7Infectious diseases
Causes of pain in the heel
All possible causes can be divided into two groups:
- Injuries to the foot: prolonged stay in uncomfortable shoes, bruise, dislocation, sprain or ligament injury, fracture or bone fracture.
- Developing diseases: arthritis, heel bursitis, plantar fasciitis, gout, osteoporosis, tuberculosis of bones, etc.
Walking in uncomfortable shoes
Long walks in uncomfortable shoes often causes pain in the heel.Narrow and uncomfortable shoes with too high heels or without heels can provoke heel overload during walking and subsequent inflammation. With flat feet, the sole of the shoe can be excessively abraded. This contributes to the incorrect position of the foot, which can also lead to pain in the heel.
To eliminate this reason, it is recommended to give preference to shoes with a small heel at 4-5 cm. Avoid shoes on high heels, as well as shoes on flat soles.Shoes should be made of quality materials that do not squeeze the foot when walking, and have insteps.Prevention of foot diseases will be wearing orthopedic insoles, which fix the foot in the correct position.
Injuries: sprain or ligament rupture, bruise, fracture
Trauma to the foot often causes pain in the heel.Most often, injuries to the foot are obtained in sports (dislocation of feet during running, stretching of ligaments during unsuccessful landing after a jump) and at home (dropping a heavy object on the leg, hitting the corner of the furniture and etc.).
Symptoms with different types of injuries are very similar: first, the heel pierces acute, burning pain, then the place of damage swells, bruising or bruising can occur.The injured person is difficult to move and it is painful to step on the damaged foot. When trying to become a traumatized limb, pain can increase.
With such injuries, the patient must provide first aid, the main activity of which is the immobilization of the injured limb. To reduce swelling, apply ice to the swollen area. With severe pain, you can give the patient pain medications, for example,IbuprofenorNyz.
After first aid is given, you must immediately contact a medical institution. The doctor will prescribe the direction for the X-ray, based on the results of which he will put an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis
It is a joint disease characterized by impairments in the functioning of the immune system.In the absence of treatment, the disease can develop into a chronic form and lead to serious complications.
Common causes of arthritis are genetic predisposition, infectious diseases (measles, hepatitis, etc.), exposure to atmospheric radiation, prolonged hypothermia, strong stress.The risk group includes middle-aged and older middle-aged women.
The main symptoms of the disease are pain, swelling and stiffness of movements. At the initial stages, painful sensations trouble a person only when walking, but when the disease progresses, the affected limbs ache and in a calm state. In addition, the patient feels constant weakness, rapid fatigue, deterioration of sleep and appetite.
Therapy should be aimed at the removal of inflammation and pain syndrome. For this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such asDiclofenac, Depiophene, Nimid.Assign also glucocorticoids -Decortin, Prednisoloneetc.
Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammatory process in the joint bag, which develops due to excessive loads, injuries or infections.The causes of the disease can be divided into two types: mechanical impact (uncomfortable shoes, bruises, sprains or ligament rupture) and infections (staphylococcus, tuberculosis, etc.).
A characteristic symptom is pain in the middle and back of the heel, which is amplified by movement.The back part of the heel swells, touching it causes pain, the local temperature rises.
To diagnose this disease, the patient is referred for an X-ray photograph and the delivery of appropriate analyzes. Treatment is performed under strict medical supervision. Usually prescribed physiotherapy, massage and medicinal anti-inflammatory drugs, among whichMeloksikam, Volteren, Analgin, Movalisand others.
Heel spur
Inflammation of the connective tissue (plantar fascia) with heavy loads on the foot or wearing uncomfortable shoes can cause the heel spur.The heel spur is a small bone growth (3-12 mm), which, when walking, exerts pressure on the soft tissues of the heel and causes pain.
Painful sensations are more strongly felt in the morning, when a person only gets to his feet after sleeping. During the day, the pain may be slightly blunted, but, nevertheless, cause discomfort when walking.
Diagnosis of the disease with the help of an external examination of the patient and an X-ray photograph.
Drug treatment of the heel spur involves the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, such asIbuprofen, Flexen, Indomethacinand etc.
In addition, the doctor can prescribe shock wave therapy, X-ray therapy, massage, wearing an orthopedic insole with a groove on the heel and special plasters for the treatment of the heel spur.
Infectious diseases
The cause of pain in the heel can be infectious (including venereal) diseases, such as chlamydia, syphilis, dysentery, gonorrhea, salmonella, bone tuberculosis.These diseases lead to the development of reactive arthritis, in which the heels with internal and on the outside of the foot, and also in the middle, regardless of whether the person walks or is in the state of rest.
In addition to pain in the heels, pain occurs in other joints, genitals and unpleasant itching in the eye area. The patient feels weakness throughout the body, rapid fatigue, decreased appetite and weight. Often the body temperature rises.
If you suspect a communicable disease, the patient should be immediately hospitalized.After passing the examination and passing the appropriate tests, the doctor will establish a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment aimed at combating the infection that caused pain in the heel. Usually, antibiotics and drugs are used to improve immunity.
Pain in the heel is a very unpleasant phenomenon, which makes it uncomfortable when walking. Pain sensations in the heel can be a signal of development in the body of more serious diseases, so It is necessary to consult the doctor at the slightest symptoms so that he can appoint the appropriate individual treatment.
To not heal the pain in the heel, you can try to prevent its appearance. For this, always wear comfortable shoes with an orthopedic insole, do not allow excess weight to appear, avoid excessive loads on the feet and do daily foot gymnastics.
