QUESTION: I have a chronic pain in my heel.
I can't tell you what makes it worse, but nothing makes it better.
What causes it? What can I do about it?
ANSWER: If you haven't already done so, you should see a your doctor.
About half of people with heel pain have a spur that is, a tiny projection from the bottom of the heel bone.
The spur can be seen in an x-ray, and although it may be less than a quarter of an inch long, it can cause you a great deal of discomfort. The other main possibility is an inflammation of one of the tissues that attaches to the bottom of the heel bone.
If your problem is caused by inflammation, your doctor can prescribe pills to reduce the swelling or give you steroid injections.
In order to recover from the problem, you must relieve the stress on the muscles and other tissue that attach to the heel bone.
You can do this by wearing shock absorbing shoes or heel cushions and arch supports.
In rare cases, surgery may be required for people with heel spur pain.
The best way to treat the pain, however, is prevention.
You should always wear footwear with shock absorbing qualities, and replace them with new ones before those shock absorbers are worn out.
Also, if you participate in athletic activities such as running or aerobic dancing, it will be necessary to ease into them gradually to prevent the problem from flaring up.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
