Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center
If I have heel pain should I see a doctor?
Heel pain is a very common problem, and being a common problem, it has many common causes. In fact, it has so many causes, diagnosis can sometime be challenging. In this case, the old adage, “when you hear hooves think horses” holds true. Most heel pain is not heel pain at all, in fact, it’s pain in your plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a tight band, like the string of a bow, that connects your heel to your toes along the bottom of your foot. If it gets stiff, unlike a string, it doesn’t stretch, it tears. Fortunately, 90% of people do better with simple treatments.
Another frequent cause of heel pain can occur on the top of the heel. That’s where the Achilles tendon inserts. It can hurt at the bone tendon junction or just above it in the mid-substance. These problems can be very bothersome – its hard to wear backless shoes everywhere, especially in wintertime. Again, fortunately, most of these cases improve or resolve with specific non-operative intervention.
Lastly, some people have pain and tingling associated with heel pain, and they just can’t seem to get better. The foot and hand are very similar, but we don’t walk on our hands, at least not anymore; many people have heard of carpal tunnel, but not as many have heard of tarsal tunnel. Those that have heard of it, have probably had it. Tarsal tunnel is a compression syndrome of the tibial nerve on the medial (or inside) part of the ankle. That’s a more subtle diagnosis and requires special tests.
If you have any symptoms of heel pain that just seem to linger or get in the way, it’s probably a good idea to see a foot and ankle specialist. Even if it turns out to be a simple problem, there’s probably a simple solution that will make life a whole lot more enjoyable.
