Heel Bone Pain Causes and Treatment Explained by Brookfield Foot Specialists
Our Foot Doctors in Brookfield, WI Explain Causes and Treatment for Heel Bone Pain
The heel is the largest of the 26 bones in your foot. Our foot specialists in Brookfield, WI and the Milwaukee area provide advanced heel bone pain treatment.
Heel Bone Pain Summary
The heel bone supports the body’s weight, so it endures a lot of stress on a regular basis. Heel bone injuries are common and can be quite painful. Heel bone injuries typically come on gradually. Our foot doctors in Brookfield, WI often see athletes who experience heel bone pain after running, walking or jumping.
Heel Bone Pain Symptoms
Heel bone pain is generally worse in the morning. Symptoms may improve throughout the day, but may worsen again toward day’s end. When heel bone pain becomes more serious, it’s hard to ignore. If your heel bone pain worsens or lasts for more than a few weeks, make an appointment with our foot specialists in Brookfield or the Milwaukee area.
Heel Bone Pain Causes
- Heel Spurs are the most common cause of heel bone pain. The condition is different from plantar fasciitis which is inflammation of the tissue in the arch. However, many patients with plantar fasciitis also have heel spurs.
- Heel Bumps are common in younger people when the heel bone is not yet fully mature. Too much bone can form on the heel. This can be caused by having flat feet. Young girls tend to develop heel bumps if they start wearing high heels too soon.
- Heel Stress Fractures are caused be frequent and repeated stress, usually from too much exercise or demanding manual labor. Runners often suffer from heel stress fractures.
- Osteoporosis can often affect the heel bone as well as other parts of the body.
- Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone or bone marrow. This can be a complication from injury or surgery. The infection may even get into the bloodstream. Patients with this condition experience deep pain and muscle spasms, typically accompanies by a fever.
- Severs Disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is a very common cause of heel bone pain in young athletes. Too much exercise can damage growth plates in the heel. The typical age range for Severs disease is children 7-15 years old.
- Heel Bruise doesn’t sound serious but it is. A heel bone bruise is typically a small fracture in a bone close to the surface.
- Heel Bone Cysts are fluid-filled cavities in the bone.
- Foot Arthritis is common in the heel.
- Bone Infections are always serious.
- Autoimmune and Neurological Problems can also cause heel bone pain, though it’s rare.
Heel Bone Pain DIY Treatment
There are a variety of heel bone pain DIY treatments which can provide relief, including icing, wearing proper footwear, using heel cups, adjusting training regimens and doing heel bone pain stretches.
When Should You See a Foot Specialist?
You should see a foot specialist right away if you:
- Have severe heel pain accompanied by swelling
- Have numbness or tingling in the heel
- Have a fever
- Are unable to walk normally
Cannot bend your foot downwardHeel bone pain is troublesome and can even be debilitating, although it is typically mild. Heel bone pain usually comes on gradually. It can disappear on its own with DIY heel bone pain treatment or it can return on-and-off. If heel bone pain is severe, chronic or affecting your daily life make an appointment to visit our foot specialists in Brookfield, WI or Milwaukee area.