Heel pain, also known as heel pain, is a common name for heel pain. The specific part refers to the pain on the sole side of the heel, which is common in middle-aged and elderly people aged 40-60, mostly women. Heel pain is similar to foot hyperosteogeny or plantar fasciitis in western medicine, but not all. Modern medicine has different opinions on the etiology of heel pain, and some think it is mainly caused by spur. Others think that it is mostly the result of nerve compression and increased calcaneal pressure. Most experts believe that the disease may be related to trauma, aseptic inflammation, metatarsal fasciitis, calcaneal bursitis, achilles tendonitis, fat pad degeneration and other diseases caused by trauma. Other patients are related to wind, cold and dampness. In some cases, there is no clear history of trauma and no bone spur formation.
What the hell is heel pain?
[If! SupportLists] 1, [endif] plantar fasciitis
The common causes of heel pain are pathological changes caused by long-term, chronic and slight trauma accumulation. There may be hyperosteogeny near the medial fascia below the calcaneus, which is shown as a spur on the lateral X-ray photograph. The latter is often regarded as the cause of heel pain, but clinical studies have proved that the causal relationship between it and heel pain is difficult to determine. Plantar fasciitis does not necessarily have spurs, and people with calcaneal spurs do not necessarily have heel pain. When there is heel pain, you can pad the heel to reduce the tension of the achilles tendon on the calcaneus and relieve the pain. At the same time, it can also be treated by drug injection.
2, heel pad pain
It often happens to the elderly. Heel pad is an elastic pad formed by adipose tissue and elastic fibers, separated by fibrous tissue under the calcaneus. In youth, the heel pad is elastic and can absorb shock. In old age, the elasticity of heel pad decreases, and the calcaneus bears the weight without pad. In severe cases, scars and calcium deposits will be formed, causing heel pain. Unlike foot pain and plantar fasciitis, there is tenderness under the whole heel. The treatment is to use sponge heel pad or local drug injection.
3. Posterior calcaneal bursitis
The synovial sac that most easily occurs between the achilles tendon and the skin is caused by improper wearing of high heels. The wall of synovial capsule can be thickened, the capsule is filled with synovial fluid, and it is swollen and tender locally. The treatment should be to improve the shoe shape. If the bursa of fabricius is swollen, puncture and aspiration can be performed.
4. Calcaneal neuritis
It is common in boys aged 8 ~ 12. The pathological changes are similar to the osteosclerosis of the lower leg and tibial tubercle. It is a symptom that the unhealed epiphysis is pulled by tendon during development. Pain is below the achilles tendon attachment point and can occur on both sides at the same time. Running and tiptoeing can aggravate symptoms. Symptoms disappeared naturally after epiphysis healed. General symptomatic treatment can reduce children's activities, and heel pad can also be used to reduce the tension of achilles tendon on calcaneus.
5, subtalar arthritis
This situation mostly occurs after calcaneal fracture, which belongs to a kind of traumatic arthritis. In the anterior tarsal sinus on the X-ray photograph, the pain is aggravated when carrying weight. If conservative treatment fails, calcaneal arthrodesis should be performed. Old calcaneal fractures or rare calcaneal tumors or tuberculosis are also the causes of heel pain. Diseases other than heel cause heel pain, such as rheumatoid spondylitis, lumbar disc herniation compressing sacral nerve root, calf tibial nerve compression, etc.
What should I do if my heel hurts?
1, choose the right shoes: a pair of suitable sports shoes can reduce the pressure of weight on the heel, don't wear soft thin shoes.
2, control weight: if you are fat, you must lose weight and reduce the heel load. Don't do sports that impact your heels.
3, cold compress and hot compress: cold compress in time after strenuous exercise or injury, and appropriate hot compress 48 hours after injury can relieve fatigue and pain.
4, foot exercise: adhere to foot exercise, enhance the strength and elasticity of muscle ligaments, but on the soft ground, such as walking barefoot in the sand. Hard ground is not allowed. Don't walk on the uneven ground, don't walk the healthy trails in the park, and don't step on pebbles.
5, warm water soaking feet: soak feet with warm water at night to promote local blood circulation.
Prevention and care of heel pain
1, try to avoid wearing shoes with thin soles. Choose soft shoes with rubber soles. Avoid walking on hard ground.
2, often do foot pedal action, enhance the tension of plantar aponeurosis, strengthen the anti-strain function, and reduce local inflammation. It is suggested that the traditional Chinese medicine' heel bone prescription and medical plaster' be applied externally, and the effect is obvious.
3. Try to avoid standing and walking for a long time. Lift the heel leisurely to reduce the load on this part.
4. I like to sleep with the window open at night, which is a major cause of heel pain. Long-term heel cold leads to obstruction of meridians, obstruction of qi and blood circulation, and dystrophy of bones and muscles. So you can soak your feet with warm water, which can alleviate local inflammation and relieve pain. Physical therapy can be carried out under the guidance of a doctor when necessary.