How to Diagnose Heel Pain

Painful areas around the heel are very common and can cause considerable discomfort. Aside from arthritis, infections or trauma-caused bone injuries, other painful points are caused by inflammation or irritation of tendon sheaths and bursae (sacs of inflamed heel tissues or plantar fascia) involving the os calcis (heel bone), most notably calcaneal spurs. These heel spurs which are usually sharp-pointed and in direct contact with the plantar fascia ligaments are not the main source of pain in most cases. The painful symptoms are actually due to bursitis caused over a period of time by the bony outgrowth. With correct diagnosis and proper treatment, the condition will subside in time, with surgery only considered as a last resort.

Things You'll Need

• X-ray

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Instructions

Diagnosis of Heel Pain

• 1

  Check recent medical history of ailments and diseases. Systemic infections, such as the flu, often precipitate into conditions affecting the feet.

• 2

  Check for sources of local heel and foot irritation such as improperly fitted shoes or repeated traumas to the foot.

• 3

  Check for weight gain. Sudden increases in body weight cause excess stress on the weight supporting structures of the foot.

• 4

  Palpate the foot. Palpitation can reveal the hard, pointed or hook-like heel spur which would cause pain with pressure applied.