In extreme cases, surgery to remove the bone growth. Pain inside the heel: causes, consequences and recommendations for treatment Heels hurt what to do

In youth, pain in the heels is usually rarely disturbed, little attention is paid to the health of the legs. But with age, this problem becomes more acute. But if the pain, for example, in the knee joints is still understandable, then what can hurt in the heel is difficult to understand.

And the intensity of these sensations is quite high. Moreover, she literally knocks out of the usual rhythm of life, reducing the amount of time spent on her feet. So what is the cause of heel pain and how to deal with it?

You will learn

Causes

The reasons why these, to put it mildly, discomfort, may be many. But they appear about the same. Intense pain can appear anywhere on the heel, and when palpated, this place is soft.

Whatever caused the disease, it is simply impossible to make an accurate diagnosis and even more so to cure the disease on your own. To do this, you need to contact a traumatologist, rheumatologist or family doctor, who will refer you to the right specialist.

It manifests itself more acutely and more intensely in the morning after getting out of bed or after a long rest, when the foot has not been stepped on.

It is rest and special exercises that bring relief, while being on your feet for a long time exacerbates the situation. It gets worse if you walk up the stairs on tiptoe. The problem can appear both with one leg, and with two at once.

External factors

The appearance of heel pain in the morning most often contributes to:

  • Incorrect shoes, such as high stiletto heels. In this case, the foot is in an unnaturally curved position for too long, which causes shooting pain.
  • It can also appear with too tight shoes, which squeeze the leg and thin the fat layer on the foot. As a result, the fasciae are under too much pressure and become inflamed. The problem may also be hiding in a bad arch support.

Such symptoms can be felt by both people who are on their feet too much during the day, and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. In both cases, the legs experience an unusually large load, which is expressed in sensations as if a needle was stuck in the heel.

It is usually difficult for people, especially the elderly, to immediately establish the causes of pain. But almost every patient is sure that he has a growing heel spur.

Often people who like to exercise in the fresh air, such as jogging, complain about such problems. When they experience heel pain when walking, they need to pay attention to how well their shoes cushion when running.

Sometimes the problem lies in changing the soft surface for running on an asphalt track. The cause can also be a banal stretching with an increase in the distance or intensity of the races, the wrong running technique.

An additional load is experienced by the legs and with excess weight, which can cause pain.

Possible diseases

It is difficult to determine the severity of only one pain in the heel, because this alarming symptom can indicate many ailments:

  • Plantar fasciitis. E If your heels hurt, then before deciding what to do, you need to figure out what disease caused such a reaction. In the event of an overload of the leg, an unusual load, fasciitis of the sole occurs - stretching or inflammation of this connective tissue.

This ligament is attached on one side to the lower part of the calcaneal tuberosity, runs along the entire foot and connects to the bases of the phalanges of the fingers. Problems usually occur in the area of ​​​​the connection with the calcaneal tuberosity.

Ligament injury. In addition to inflammation, overloading the foot can lead to injury:

  1. break;
  2. tear;
  3. hurt.

In this case, a burning pain appears under the heel and intensifies if it is stepped on.


These symptoms may indicate other inflammatory conditions as well.

If the foot is painful when walking, the patient may suffer from gout, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis. In the case, the cause may be alcohol abuse, too much consumption of meat products and other prerequisites for metabolic disorders.

In other cases, soreness of the heels appears as a result of the transferred inflammation of the spine or joints. These diseases can be identified by a special blood test.

Diagnostics

The disease usually develops gradually, so it is extremely difficult to determine its exact cause. Especially when it comes to inflammation of the connective tissue.

During the examination, the doctor conducts:

  1. conversations with the patient;
  2. collects all possible information that preceded the onset of pain;
  3. then he palpates the foot, that is, bends and unbends the foot with his hands, feels it at different points, determines in what position and where exactly the pain is localized ;
  4. additionally, an x-ray of the foot is required. This helps to eliminate the likelihood of a compression fracture, systemic rheumatoid arthritis, and neoplasms.

Treatment Methods

So, we figured out why the heels of the legs hurt, and now let's move on to the question of how to treat this problem. Doing this on your own is not recommended. , but doctors, depending on the causes of the disease, can use such methods.

First of all, if the pain is too intense, anesthesia is performed: paracetamol or ibuprofen. The latter is preferable, since in addition to relieving pain, it also relieves inflammation.
More often, local treatment is prescribed - rubbing a gel or ointment with anti-inflammatory drugs. If there are none at hand, and the pain is intense, it is relieved by applying cold for 15–20 minutes.

Do not apply ice directly to an unprotected leg. This can cause a cold burn. Ice must be wrapped in a bag and in a towel.

Special exercises also help relieve symptoms: light stretching of the fascia and Achilles tendon. It must be understood that in a relaxed state, they tighten and heal, and when loaded, they stretch and injure again.

This is what causes painful attacks in the morning. Therefore, it is necessary to perform special preparatory exercises in the morning. Which ones are chosen by a physiotherapist or a specialist in physiotherapy exercises.

If these measures do not lead to relief, the doctor prescribes more serious treatment, such as steroid injections. They relieve symptoms, inflammation for several weeks, but are not always able to cure.

Therefore, such injections are used in case of injury to athletes who need to perform in the coming week.

Lowering the pain threshold with steroids can lead to rupture of the fascia during too much stress on the leg.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is also used for treatment. , when an intense sound wave is applied to a sore spot.

It is believed that several sessions of such therapy lead to healing of the ligament. How exactly the treatment is carried out, experts have not yet figured out, but in the case of stretching, patients do notice an improvement.

True, there may be side effects in the form of bruising, redness, increased pain. They occur in cases where the ligament was not stretched, but torn or torn. Therefore, before any treatment, a thorough diagnosis should be carried out.

Less accessible, but proven effective, are radiation therapy, as well as injections of botulinum toxin. They are usually carried out with the simultaneous use of a special splint, which is applied overnight to the Achilles tendon.

She does not allow him to shrink and shorten overnight, and therefore prevents painful stretching in the morning. In very severe cases, a plaster splint or even plaster is used, sometimes a special removable bracket is placed. This gives protection, rest and cushioning to the problem area.

In very severe cases, resort to surgical intervention. It is usually prescribed for ligament ruptures, when the pain does not stop within a year, or when the bone is really growing. But such operations often entail complications (injuries to adjacent nerves, increased pain, infection), so they are resorted to as a last resort.

Prevention

In order to avoid this unpleasant symptom, you should know:

  • If you decide to do active physical exercises (running, walking), choose the right sports shoes for yourself:
  1. slightly larger than the usual size;
  2. with reliable depreciation;
  3. trusted manufacturer.

What should be the shoes?

Shoes should always be strictly in size and not too narrow so that the foot is not pinched, and you also need to know:

  1. She should have a comfortable arch support and be sure to have a small heel - about 5 cm.
  2. Wearing shoes without a heel is just as harmful as wearing stilettos. It is desirable that the shoes were with soft backs.
  3. If you play sports, buy special running shoes from a well-known manufacturer. It is important that they have good cushioning so that they do not pinch and are breathable.
  4. There are special lasts and insoles that help support the arch of the foot and raise the heel in the shoe. Put them in both shoes, even if the discomfort is felt only in one heel.

There can be a lot of reasons for pain, but most often the problem occurs due to excessive stress on the foot due to wearing the wrong shoes, excessive physical exertion, less often - infectious processes in the body.

Why does heel pain appear and is it always a heel spur? Look for the answer in the video.

Pain inside the heel brings very severe discomfort, and the cause can be serious internal diseases that need to be urgently treated. There are different ways of its treatment and high-quality prevention.

Heel pain can appear quite unexpectedly, while disrupting the usual way of life with its strength and perseverance. Heels hurt for various reasons, but it is difficult for a person to step on them and walk even a short distance. When walking, the heel is exposed to a lot of stress every day, so pain can appear at any time. If the heel hurts inside, then this can be a signal of inflammation, tendinosis, heel spurs, and even a fracture. In any case, you need to pay attention to the appearance of pain in the legs, so as not to limit yourself in movements and your usual lifestyle.

Main reasons

Why does burning heel pain appear? The main reason why the heel suddenly starts to hurt is trauma. You can not step on a sore leg and make sudden movements so as not to worsen your situation. You should immediately seek medical help in such cases.

Heavy loads can seriously harm your health, so you should stop playing sports and walking a lot for the duration of treatment. Overloading the foot can cause shooting pains in the legs. If the ankle joint is damaged, then the leg seems to be pierced with a nail, and the pain increases with each movement.

Often the cause of a painful condition due to excessive daily stress is women's high heels. Changing them abruptly to flat-soled shoes, in turn, can cause discomfort when walking.

Uncomfortable shoes always negatively affect the health of the feet, and if worn constantly, the condition will only worsen. If a person has a job where he has to stand all day, then this greatly affects the heels. Also, a sharp weight gain has a negative effect on them, as well as on the whole body as a whole.

You should not underestimate this condition of your legs, since it may indicate more serious disorders inside the human body. Further, the process progresses and over time it becomes more and more difficult to cure.

What causes heel pain

Comfortable shoes and the absence of injuries are not yet a guarantee of health, because internal diseases affect the heels. Why does the heel hurt inside, but there are no visible reasons for this? Sometimes only a doctor's consultation will reveal all the secrets of the appearance and high-quality treatment of these unpleasant pains.

Chronic inflammatory processes


Metabolic disorders in gout, inflammation in the joints with arthritis sometimes also lead to problems with the legs. The heel tendons become inflamed, which is a factor in pain. Timely examination, testing and determination of one of these diseases will help to quickly remove heel pain.

The entire connective tissue of the sole is completely compacted and can become inflamed for various reasons. If a person wears tight shoes, then this process will only accelerate. If you ignore such pain, then over time, calcium salts are deposited in the tissues and a spur is formed on the heel.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon also leads to intense pain when walking. Pain syndrome occurs on the inside of the soles above or below the inflamed heel.

In the event of a spur on the heel, a person feels pain from the side of its occurrence in a sitting and lying position. The situation improves when walking, but without special treatment of the spurs can not do. It is a compacted growth that affects part of the sole. It can be diagnosed with an ultrasound or x-ray.

It is very painful for patients to walk with cracks that appear on the sole. The heel becomes coarse, and deep cracks form in the thick layer of the skin. When walking, they cause sharp pains and even sometimes bleed.

infectious diseases

If there is a chronic infection in the body, then the heels will hurt not only when walking, but also during rest. The cause is chlamydia, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases. Intestinal infections, for example, dysentery, also lead to heel pain, but very rarely.

One of the complex diseases is calcaneal tuberculosis. Its danger lies in the fact that it spreads quite quickly and progresses in the absence of treatment. For these reasons, a sore heel always needs a thorough examination.

Osteomyelitis of the heel bone causes muscle pain and fever. Acute infections respond well to treatment in almost all cases, but treatment is usually prolonged.

Systemic diseases

The tissue that connects a patient's toes to the heel bone along the foot can become inflamed during arthritis. The pain is growing in nature. In the morning, it manifests itself especially strongly, and in order to reduce it, you need to do a foot massage. After it, relief appears until the person climbs the stairs or stands on tiptoe.

In the case of reactive arthritis, when the body is attacked by various infections, for example, due to venereal diseases, it is painful for the patient to walk and even sleep with such a problem.


Chronic inflammation of certain joints and spine, called ankylosing spondylitis, affects the legs. Gout often extends not only to the big toe, but also to the entire surface of the foot. In addition to pain, there is swelling and redness of the heel and the entire foot.

It is difficult to remove annoying pain on your own, it is better to seek help from a doctor. It is necessary to do an ultrasound and other diagnostics, which will help to quickly find out the cause and decide on the treatment.

Effective Treatments

If the heel hurts a lot or there is constant discomfort in it, then you should not postpone a visit to the doctor. Timely diagnosis can save a person from more serious problems and further complications. General recommendations are to reduce weight, change tight and uncomfortable shoes, reduce the load on the legs. When choosing and wearing shoes, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

  • heel height should be no more than 5 centimeters;
  • do not wear shoes with flat soles or too high heels during treatment;
  • you can’t walk on stilettos, the heel should be wide and stable;
  • the presence of a small heel will help relieve the load from the heel and it will not hurt so much;
  • daily foot exercises will bring relief and benefit to the legs.

It is better to give up running or during the treatment of the legs. These loads are easily replaced by swimming and cycling. Excess weight for the legs is a big burden, so you should stick to a diet, as well as get rid of extra pounds.

People with flat feet need to pay special attention to the type of shoes and the presence of an orthopedic insole. At the same time, the load from the heels will be transferred to the muscles and ligaments, which will improve their condition, and it will not hurt the patient to walk.

The inflammatory process in the heel greatly interferes with the legs and causes discomfort when walking. In this case, you need to do tests and start treatment as soon as possible.


Emergency methods of dealing with acute heel pain:

  1. Apply an ice cube to the sore spot and keep it for 15-20 minutes.
  2. Dip your feet in a container of water at room temperature.
  3. Take an anesthetic tablet based on ibuprofen.
  4. Apply an ointment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, for example, Fastum-gel or Ketonal.

Prevention of heel pain

Special strengthening exercises are an excellent method of preventing foot diseases and reducing the intensity of heel pain.

  1. A tennis ball is rolled alternately with the feet of each foot. It is better to do this twice a day for two or three minutes.
  2. Massage of the feet and each finger, if the patient does not hurt while doing so. You need to do such a massage before going to bed without interruptions, then the result will not keep you waiting.
  3. Take a horizontal position and stretch your legs. Pull the foot towards you until discomfort appears, and then stretch the toe as much as possible.
  4. Alternately walk on the feet and heels around the room.
  5. Spread a towel on the floor, make folds with your fingers and smooth them out.
  6. If the heel hurts when doing exercises, then you should stop them.
  7. For preventive purposes, they always monitor the daily diet and do a pedicure so that the stratum corneum does not coarsen and crack.

Some folk methods suggest the use of compresses at night in the heel area. If it does not hurt much, then the recipes will bring some relief. For compresses, vegetable oil and ammonia are suitable. A cotton pad is moistened in a mixture of components and applied to the inside of the heel or on its front surface. If it is very painful for a person to step on his heels, you can apply propolis to the affected area all night, covering it with any cloth.

When, after the procedures, the heels still hurt, it is recommended to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and further individual therapy. The therapist, traumatologist or other doctor will tell you why the health of the legs has deteriorated and what to do in the future. When it hurts even to get up on your feet, then no home treatment will save you. You need to monitor the health of your legs, because the activity and mobility of a person depends on it.

Pain in the heel region while walking, standing or after sleep is familiar to many. Pathology can be very diverse, the nature, intensity, localization of pain depends on it.

In some diseases, the pain syndrome occurs with an increase in the static load on the feet, but sometimes discomfort bothers a person at rest, while resting. Sometimes such pain is combined with other local and general symptoms.

When symptoms appear, natural questions arise: what to do if your heels hurt, what is the reason: home treatment helps relieve pain or should you see a doctor? To give an answer, you need to find out what causes pain in the heel area.

What can hurt in the heel, causes?

The heel performs the function of a support under load, it consists of the calcaneus, muscle fibers, ligaments and tendons, blood vessels, nerves, and fat. So any of its anatomical structures can become inflamed.

Pain in the heel is observed due to infection of tissues by pathogenic microorganisms. This occurs with bone tuberculosis, with purulent inflammation of the calcaneus. Increased activity of the immune system is observed in reactive arthritis, therefore, the state of immunity also has an effect.

Causes not related to heel disease

  1. Overweight- especially if a person has gained extra pounds dramatically in a short time, this increases the load on the heel zone;
  2. gestation- weight gain during pregnancy by 10-20 kg increases the load, worsens the circulation of the feet, which causes pain;
  3. Being on your feet for several hours in a row- at the end of the working day, there is pain in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sole and heel;
  4. F physical loads beyond measure, lifting and carrying weights ;
  5. Tight, narrow shoes, uncomfortable shoes, especially in high heels ;
  6. Atrophy of the subcutaneous fat layer in the heel- this happens with a sharp weight loss or with excessive stress.

Many causes cause pain and discomfort in the heel area. Sometimes the solution to the problem lies on the surface, a person will make several foot baths, therapeutic compresses and the pain recedes. In other cases, a more detailed solution of the issue is required if it concerns the underlying disease.

How to cure heel pain?

In order to treat pain in the heel area at home, you need to visit a specialist to rule out a serious pathological cause. As the traumatologist, orthopedist, neurologist or rheumatologist will tell you: the treatment will be prescribed depending on the origin of the pain.

Therapeutic measures in most situations are directed to the removal of the inflammatory process, swelling, pain syndrome. But you should know that each individual pathology has its own specific treatment.

  • Properly choose your shoes - women should give up high heels: from 2 to 4 cm is the most ideal option;
  • Strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot with the help of physiotherapy exercises, massage the feet;
  • Reduce the load on the heels with the help of heels, arch supports, they can be purchased at an orthopedic store or pharmacy;
  • Insert orthopedic insoles into shoes;
  • Use contrast foot baths, alternate hot with cold for 3-5 minutes.

Video

Video - Treatment of heel pain at home

What ointments can be used?

You can treat heel pain at home with the help of various ointments. However, for some diseases of the heel region, local preparations may not be entirely effective. If a person is diagnosed with tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, gout, etc., it is necessary to take medicines inside.

With bruises, sprains, bursitis, heel spurs, ointments, gels or sprays help quite well, while there is no toxic effect on the entire body. In the presence of superficial inflammation or injury, they should be preferred.

Painkillers, anti-inflammatory and locally irritating external agents should be applied to a painful place to relieve swelling, redness, pain.

It is also good to use ointments during the massage. For this, Valentin Dikul's balm, Sophia cream, Comfrey, Artrocin gel are suitable.

What to do if heel pain is not related to injury? Then methods of conservative therapy are applied. In such a situation, emphasis is placed on the treatment of the underlying disease. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is treated with corticosteroid drugs and non-steroidal drugs, bone tuberculosis is treated with antibiotics and synthetic anti-tuberculosis drugs, etc.

Rules for the use of local funds

Liquid ointments and gels for heel pain are easy to use, they can be purchased at a pharmacy, a prescription is not required, but their use requires knowledge of some rules:

  1. Before using, you need to read the description of the drug and do not forget that ointments are used only externally - if the ointment has got inside or on the mucous membranes, consult a doctor;
  2. External agents sometimes cause allergies, it is necessary to do a test before use. To do this, you need to apply a small amount of ointment to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe forearm. If after 15 minutes there is no swelling, itching, redness, the ointment can be used;
  3. With available visible damage– abrasions, wounds, scratches, cracks should not be applied.

The ointment or gel is applied to the skin in a thin layer, then rubbed well, should be applied 1-2 times a day until the pain and signs of inflammation disappear.

People's Pharmacy

Folk methods are rarely used to treat the heel region due to low efficiency. Some diseases, such as diabetic angiopathy, calcaneal fissure, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis should not be cured at all with folk remedies. With these pathologies, qualified specialist help is needed.

Treatment of heel pain at home can be used for bruises, sprains of the Achilles tendon or ankle, and bursitis. Sometimes they help with heel spurs, but do not forget that a preliminary consultation with a doctor is still necessary.

It is recommended to take a tincture of marsh cinquefoil with plantar fasciitis, 2 tbsp. l. 3 times a day

  • Prepare a tincture from the marsh cinquefoil - for this, the roots of the cinquefoil must be mixed with vodka in a ratio of 1/3, let it brew for a day. Doctors recommend this remedy inside with plantar fasciitis, 2 tbsp. 3 times a day;
  • With a heel spur, you can prepare a tincture of white acacia flowers - to do this, take 1 part of the flowers and mix them with 3 parts of vodka, leave for several hours, then lubricate the heels and soles several times a day;
  • With a bruise, sprain, you can make a compress from plantain leaves - 1 tbsp. dry leaves are mixed with finely chopped onions, honey is added, put in a water bath. The resulting mixture should be applied to gauze, applied to the sore spot and fixed with a bandage.

Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases need to remember that preventive measures help to increase the remission period. Such people should avoid heavy physical exertion, long walking, and also control their weight.

For prevention, physiotherapy exercises are equally important, as well as the prevention of injury with the help of comfortable shoes.

Sometimes after a long walk in the heels, pain can appear. Many of us believe that this phenomenon is temporary, one has only to change into comfortable slippers and the discomfort will pass. That's just after walking the next time the heel starts to ache more and longer.

If you do not pay attention to this alarming symptom, the discomfort will become constant and debilitating. What to do and how to treat foot pain, leading doctors share their recommendations.

External causes of heel pain

Most complaints of heel pain occur after injuries to the ankle, foot, or ankle. The next reason is wearing tight shoes with a narrow toe or high heels. Women often do this. Trying to look beautiful, they buy a pair of shoes they like, despite the fact that wearing them is uncomfortable, and after the first walk, pain in the sole appears.

Soreness can be different:

  • aching;
  • acute;
  • piercing;
  • sudden;
  • monotonous;
  • constant.

It increases if a person moves or stands for a long time. The queue at the supermarket can be a real test for such a patient. Worse, if the extra weight of the patient is added to the discomfort, it further exacerbates the pathology.

Injuries are defined by severe, burning or baking pain. An ankle injury is characterized by a feeling as if a needle or nail has been driven into the foot. The same applies to banal corns and calluses.

Another common reason for the appearance acute pain- wounds that are formed due to cracking on the sole of dry and keratinized skin. Some try to cut off the rough skin with scissors. But in fact, they hurt the dermis deeper and can infect the infection. To correct the condition of the soles and make the heels soft, regular pedicure and scrubbing will allow.

A person cutting off the stratum corneum must understand the features of tissue regeneration. As soon as the surface layer of the skin is cut off mechanically, the cells are immediately restored, and the dermis becomes even more dense and rigid.

Pay attention to the condition of the sole when wearing different shoes. If you bought high-quality shoes with small heels that fit you, you have reduced physical activity, but the pain is still growing. Probably, discomfort indicates a pathological process that you cannot determine on your own. This can be done by an orthopedist, neurologist, traumatologist or therapist.

Doctors identify the main ailments that provoke sore feet:

  1. Arthritis - inflammation creeps into the articular tissues. Moreover, the pain occurs more often in the morning. It is worth giving a little load on the legs, and the pain subsides. To improve well-being as a first aid, a light massage and ice applied to the inflamed area helps.
  2. Inflammation of the fascia - can turn into a heel spur, which will have to be treated from six months to 1 year.
  3. A heel spur is a chronic form of fasciitis. On the heel one can see a noticeable outgrowth. But the pain is not caused by compaction, but by the fascia, which loses its elasticity. After a long walk, the foot aches, shoots and cuts.
  4. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
  5. A reactive form of arthritis that affects the joints.
  6. Gout is a metabolic disorder. As a result, tissues and joints do not receive proper nutrition, become inflamed and destroyed. Gout is difficult to treat, rather it is corrected and introduced into the stage of remission (attenuation of the disease).

What can you do yourself to relieve heel pain

If the examination did not show severe dysfunctions and diseases of the foot, follow the simple rules:

  1. Weight loss will help relieve pain, moderate and feasible physical exercise. If you have no time to play sports, make it a rule to walk for an hour or two before going to bed. Install the Pedometer app on your smartphone and take at least 10,000 steps daily. Eat healthy food, give up dishes that are useless for the body and your weight will return to normal. You will feel energized and full of energy.
  2. To avoid sore heels, switch to quality shoes with orthopedic inserts. If there is no financial opportunity, pick up comfortable orthopedic insoles. Remember, a heel higher than 5 cm causes great damage to the foot.
  3. Moisturize dry skin of the heels with masks and salt baths. Cleanse the stratum corneum with peels and pumice. Pamper your feet with nourishing cream.
  4. Find a professional massage therapist with a medical background. Get a massage every six months.
  5. Sign up for a pool, do morning exercises. Learn exercises to help keep your feet in better condition.

How to cure heel disease

Treatment for heel pain depends on the diagnosis made by the doctor. With arthritis, it is important to follow a special diet. It should not be temporary, it is your way of life. During an exacerbation, anti-inflammatory medications will help. Analgesics relieve pain. Set yourself up for a long recovery period and regular exercise.

A heel spur can be treated indefinitely, but surgery is considered the most effective way. With gout, the skin is lubricated with anti-inflammatory gels and ointments, injections of Diclofenac are pricked. Do not be lazy to go to physiotherapy.

First, give your heels a rest. Just lie down on the sofa in the evening, placing a cushion or a small pillow under your feet. Lie down for 10-15 minutes. This will restore normal blood flow. If you like to sit in a chair, place a stool under your feet.

Second, stop walking and running if those are your favorite sports. Replace them (at least for a while) with swimming, cycling.

Thirdly, get rid of extra pounds, if you have them. The load on the legs and, in particular, on the heels will be significantly reduced.

Further. Buy silicone heel pads. They are sold in pharmacies. Using these elastic devices, you will unload the area, eliminate pain, normalize the position of the heel, and increase overall comfort for the legs. There are several types of heel pads, a doctor will help you choose the right one for your heels. He may advise you to alternate wearing heel pads with orthopedic insoles.

Do self-massage, vigorously kneading your heels, after applying oil or massage cream to them. The fact is that pain, as well as in the arch of the foot, is often the result of insufficient elasticity of the heel tendons. By kneading these with your fingers or a massager, you can get rid of pain.

If your heel pain comes on suddenly, do the following right away: Massage your heels with ice cubes for a few minutes until you feel numb (usually 5-6 minutes). Perform this massage three times a day for the first two days after the onset of pain. And on the third day, complicate the procedure: 5-6 minutes - ice, 10-15 minutes - rest, the next 15 minutes - a hot heating pad to the heels. Do this once a day.

Check your gastrointestinal tract. The nerve endings located on the heels correspond to the organs abdominal cavity, V more- intestines. If during the medical examination it turns out that the activity of the gastrointestinal tract is really impaired, take up treatment. The work of the intestines is normalized, the pain in the heels will recede. And, conversely, massage your heels more often, and this will help your intestines (unless, of course, there is a serious disease there).

Be more responsible when choosing shoes. If it is chosen correctly, then it will provide real support to the heel, if not, the pain will worsen.

Unable to relieve pain in the heels on your own? Contact your doctor. He will conduct research and, based on their results, prescribe treatment.