Heel Pain

Heel pain is any type of pain that occurs to the back (rearfoot) of the foot. According to the Mayo Clinic, the possible causes are:

1. Achilles tendinitis
2. Achilles tendon rupture
3. Bone tumor
4. Bursitis (joint inflammation)
5. Haglund's deformity
6. Heel spur
7. Osteomyelitis (a bone infection)
8. Paget's disease of bone
9. Peripheral neuropathy
10. Plantar fasciitis
11. Reactive arthritis
12. Retrocalcaneal bursitis
13. Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
14. Sarcoidosis (collections of inflammatory cells in the body)
15. Stress fractures
16. Tarsal tunnel syndrome

With such an extensie possibility of causes of heel pain, a proper diagnoses of your foot pain is crucial! While some conditions have similar treatment options, there are some that are vastly different.

Obtaining a foot x-ray is very important. Our Podiatrists (foot doctors) are well versed in both conservative and surgical treatment of foot and ankle conditions.

Podiatrist, Podiatric Surgeons, & Foot & Ankle Specialists located in Marietta now servicing patients from Kennesaw, Acworth, and Hiram, Georgia.

What is a Heel Spur?

According to Wolff's Law, our bones adapt to stresses by remodeling and changing. Heel spurs can form from too much pulling on the heel bone (calcaneus) from ligaments or tendons. If the Achilles tendon is pulling too tightly to the back (posterior) of the heel bone, a bone spur will form. If the plantar fascia is pulling too tightly on the heel bone, a bone spur will form. 

What are Cause of Heel Pain?

• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Neuritis (swelling or misfiring of a nerve in the foot)
• Bursitis (swelling of the fluid fill sacs of the foot)
• Fat pad atrophy (loss of cushioning to the bottom of the foot)
• Foot fractures
• Foot sprains
• Foot ligament or tendon tears

How Are Heel Spurs Treated?

For a majority of heel spurs, treating the root cause of the problem is the go-to treatment option. Whether the spur is caused by plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis, those would be the problems addressed. 

When conservative treatment options do not eliminate the pain, an MRI or foot surgery might be necessary. 

Please reach out to our foot doctors (Podiatrists) to evaluate, diagnose, and treat your foot pain and heel spur!