terrible pain in heel of foot?

Question

no swelling, or bruising, or even injury, but for 3 days the bottom of my foot, in the heel has hurt incredibly whenever i try to stand and put pressure on it, of course dr is out, between holidays and lack of funds..., was wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone, what it is, why its caused and certainly how to stop it...

i have heard of this planters wart, also heel spur, sounds exactly like my problem, and the more i walk on my toes, the more it aches, now i see why, i am 5'8" 135 lbs and a mgr for a busy restr. so i am on my feet alot...

Answer 1

Have you been wearing shoes that are uncomfortable ,..or shoes that don't fit. Maybe you have a plantar wart?

HEEL SPURS

Plantar fasciitis (pronounced PLAN-tar fashee-EYE-tiss) is an inflammation of the plantar fascia. "Plantar" means the bottom of the foot, "fascia" is a type of connective tissue, and "itis" means "inflammation". Heel spurs are soft, bendable deposits of calcium that are the result of tension and inflammation in the plantar fascia attachment to the heel. Heel spurs do not cause pain. They are only evidence (not proof) that a patient may have plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia encapsulates muscles in the sole of the foot. It supports the arch of the foot by acting as a bowstring to connect the ball of the foot to the heel. When walking and at the moment the heel of the trailing leg begins to lift off the ground, the plantar fascia endures tension that is approximately two times body weight. This moment of maximum tension is increased and "sharpened" (it increases suddenly) if there is lack of flexibility in the calf muscles. A percentage increase in body weight causes the same percentage increase in tension in the fascia. Due to the repetitive nature of walking, plantar fasciitis may be a repetitive stress disorder (RSD) similar to tennis elbow. Both conditions benefit greatly from rest, ice, and stretching. Surgery is a last resort and may result in more harm than good in up to 50% of the patients.

We get a lot of calls from parents who have very active children who are between 8 and 13 years of age who have heel pain. The children probably just have "Severs disease" which means the combination of activity and a growing heel bone is causing pain. Rest and time are required. Ice may ease the pain. The ActiveWrap may help. Very few people under the age of 25 get plantar fasciitis.

Here are the treatments that I think are the most important:

Stretching the calf muscles several times a day, especially in the morning and after prolonged sitting. Everyone seems to think the ProStretch is best (see reviews). We also have the FootWedge, FootFlex, and Night Splints
Ice after activity. Plain ice is good, but customers love (see reviews) the flexible gel packs of the ActiveWrap and we also have the CryoSphere.
Tape when applied properly (especially for severe cases...see our taping document )
Stretching the plantar fascia in the morning.
Rest.
Arch Support (especially if you have flat feet). I recommend the PowerSteps.
Heel pads with 1/4" thickness after compression (see warnings)
Losing weight if possible, especially in overweight women because our survey of 5,000 visitors shows overweight women are 6 times more likely than overweight men to get plantar fasciitis. This is probably because fat deposits lower on the body in women than in men. This lowers the center of gravity which will cause excess tension in the plantar fasciitis if there is not also greater flexibility in the calf muscles.
I would rank losing weight higher, but it is too difficult for most Americans to reduce the amount of food they eat.

The classic sign of plantar fasciitis (which is often called a "heel spur" because it's easier to pronounce) is heel pain with the first few steps in the morning (84% of our visitors). If this symptom is not present then the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis has to be checked more carefully. The pain is usually in the front and bottom of the heel, but the definition of "plantar fasciitis" indicates it can be over any portion of the bottom of the foot where the fascia is located. Patients often report that the pain "moves around." The pain can be mild or debilitating. It can last a few months, become permanent, or come and go every few months or years for the rest of a patient's life with no obvious explanation. Every year, about 1% of the population seeks medical help for this condition (one company claims it's 2.5%). The heel may hurt when it strikes the ground, but plantar fasciitis is not caused by the heel striking the ground. Some patients begin walking on the front of their foot because of heel pain. This may help if they have something other than plantar fasciitis, but if they have plantar fasciitis, walking on the forefoot causes more tension in the plantar fascia (which pulls more on the heel) and it can make their condition worse. Unfortunately, it can take 12 to 36 hours after harmful activity before the pain increases, so it is not usually obvious what activity is causing an increase in pain. For example, a runner may not know if it was a recent change in shoes or changing to a terrain with hills that is causing an increase pain. But since a lack of flexibility in the calf muscles and/or excess weight are the causes of most cases, it is not usually a particular activity that can be blamed.

Despite the claims of various product manufacturers, there is no cure-all. Different treatments help different people. Patients need to be active in their treatment. Experimenting with several different treatments is often necessary before finding those that help. As in exercising and working out, actively finding a way to enjoy the daily routine that is beneficial to your feet is crucial for continued improvement. Applying ice, stretching, and taping are not inherently enjoyable, and it is not always obvious that they are helping. The pain usually increases gradually over weeks or months before help is sought, and improvement is usually just as slow. Patients often have to be patient. Setbacks are the norm in dealing with plantar fasciitis, and simply preventing the daily minor injuries is just as important as preventing the less frequent big injuries. A portion of a patient's lifestyle (excessive running or standing, over-eating, inactivity, or inflexible shoes) has often caused the pain, and it is that portion of their lifestyle that has to change. Desk jobs are unnatural and a very recent development, so they are probably a major cause by way of atrophy (desk jobs prevent the feet and legs from being naturally flexible and strong). Frequent stretching before walking should be emphasized for those with desk jobs.

Plantar fasciitis is related to "heel spur syndrome", but they are not the same. The heel spurs to which this web site refers are on the front and bottom of the heel, not the back of the heel. But many of the ideas presented here may be helpful for dealing with other types of heel spurs and heel pain. Heel spurs are not spike-shaped, but flat and shelf-like. They appear like spikes because x-rays are taken from the side looking down along the edge of the shelf. Pain probably rarely if ever results from heel spurs poking into tissue. Many people have heel spurs and they do not have any pain. A heel spur and/or the plantar fascia may trap or irritate nerves in the heel area (if only by inflammation) and this may be the primary cause of pain in some cases. It is often difficult and usually unnecessary to distinguish between plantar fasciitis and heel spur syndrome, if there is a difference. Causes and treatments for the two conditions are the same. Many doctors use the terms "heel spurs" and "plantar fasciitis" interchangeably. The phrase "heel spur" is used more often than "plantar fasciitis" because a heel spur can be seen on an x-ray, the idea of a "spur" poking into tissue provides a believable and understandable cause of pain even if it's a false description, and because it is easier to pronounce and spell than "plantar fasciitis".




Causes: The condition is usually caused by a change or increase in activities, no arch support, lack of flexibility in the calf muscles, being overweight, a sudden injury, using shoes with little cushion on hard surfaces, using shoes that do not easily bend under the ball of the foot, or spending too much time on the feet. The cause is usually unknown and mysterious to the patient. It has often been said that those with flat feet or high arches are more likely to get plantar fasciitis (heel spurs), but I do not know if that is the case. 30% of our visitors indicated they have high arches and 20% indicated they have flat feet, but this may not be different from the rest of the population. Arthritis, heel bone damage ("stress fracture"), loss of natural tissue for cushioning under the heel ("fat pad atrophy"), tarsal tunnel syndrome (the foot's version of carpal tunnel syndrome), and other conditions can cause similar foot and heel pain. Many of the ideas presented here can be helpful in dealing with these other conditions. Excess body weight is a major cause of heel pain. Our visitors are 27 times more likely to be overweight from either fat or muscle (BMI>25) than underweight (BMI<20). Our visitors are twice as likely to be obese (BMI>30) as the average American. But our visitors often do not know they are overweight because they are comparing themselves to other Americans who are the heaviest people in the world. Here's a chart to check your weight. Calorie restriction experiments since the 1930's in many species have shown that for every excess dry ounce of food (28 grams, 120 calories) you eat, especially empty sugar calories from drinks, rice, white bread, or potatoes, you lose one hour of your life and health, the equivalent of smoking 4 cigarettes. In other words 600 extra calories a day (2 soft drinks and a candy bar) will shorten your healthy years (youth) and lifespan 8 years on average, the same as a pack of cigarettes a day. Not getting at least 1 hour of heavy exercise each week also shortens healthy years, youth, and lifespan about 8 years. People who eat nutritious food and have a BMI of 19 live the longest and are often called "little old ladies".
The most successful treatments reported by our visitors are the following:

heelspurs.com (this web site) was ranked by visitors as the most beneficial "treatment", indicating visitors believe information is a key to getting better. Visitors are frequently very thankful for heelspurs.com because it shows them they are not alone or crazy as is often implied by friends, family, co-workers, and doctors.
Rest was ranked the number two "treatment". The most important part of my recovery was to finally learn the motto "when in doubt, don't do it". I'm a little afraid to emphasize this too much because reduced activity can lead to atrophy which may be the cause of some cases. It takes 12 to 36 hours for many soft-tissue injuries to reach their maximum soreness, so it's often difficult to know when you're overdoing it or which particular activity (like squatting or climbing stairs) caused the pain to increase again. Swimming is one of the few safe alternative exercises.
Ice is a miracle cure for soft-tissue injuries. Ice is not only great for professional football players with knee or shoulder injuries, but also for desk-jockeys who can't seem to get rid of their heel pain. It was ranked the third best treatment by our visitors. Applying ice after activity or injury is crucial. It may be beneficial to apply it up to 5 times a day. The best method of applying ice seems to be freezing a can of beans and applying it for 5 minutes. It can be reused, it doesn't melt and get things wet, and the metal transfers cold better than a plastic water bottle. It's best to keep the injury cool as much as possible for up to 48 hours after the injury, but cooling it for only 5 minutes after the activity provides possibly 50% of the benefit. I would apply ice every evening immediately after daily activities. Keeping a recent injury cool reduces internal "micro-bleeding" that can lead to micro-scars (and spur formation) and keeps inflammation down. Applying ice for longer periods of time may cause vasodilation (blood vessels increase in diameter in order to keep the tissue warm) that may speed healing by improving blood flow, but it may also be harmful by increasing inflammation if an injury occured within the last 2 days. Some sources say apply ice for 15 minutes, but that is too long unless there is something like like plastic or cloth that is partially insulating the ice from the skin. The tissue should be made cold, but not frozen. If the skin turns blue, it has been applied for too long. Some effort should be made to enjoy the ritual of applying ice so that you're not discouraged from doing it.

Answer 2

I have had both plantar's warts and plantar fasciitis, and something else. Unless you see some discoloration or growth (even if indented) on the bottom of your foot, it is probably not plantar's warts (from a virus).

Heel spurs can cause plantar fasciitis by rubbing at the tissue, causing an inflammation that gets to a nerve.

Anti-inflammatories might help. The prescription dose is up to 800 mg of ibuprofen (Motrin), 3 times a day. I ultimately had to go for a cortisone injection into the heel.

One thing though, bony overgrowth of all types - including heel spurs - has been linked (by some) to increased production of insulin. Increased production of insulin can be due to genetics or lifestyle, but the likelihood of same increases as we age.

When I started eating a diet to balance my blood sugars (I was hypoglycemic) my heel pain settled down, and went away.

www.hufa.org has some basic info about low blood sugar and pain management. Check out the links on the welcome page.

Answer 3

Could be plantar fascitis. Is it worse in the mornings and then gets better as you walk around? Does it feel like a rock is in the bottom of your foot when you walk?

There is a band of tissue called the plantar (meaning bottom of foot) fascia that stretches from one end to the other. This tissue can become overstretched and cause the problems you are describing.

See a podiatrist (foot doctor) if the problem persists. Generally, it resolves on its own, but many people can have it long term. Talk to your doc about taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents) or just use aspirin if it is bad, until you can get in to see a doc. Good luck. Oh, go to the county hospital if you don't have any money.

Answer 4

this sounds so familar to me i could scream the answer out and you would most likely hear it . i hate this paiin. its most likely an achillese tendon that is a tendon that comes from the leg down to the heal of the foot and them spreads out over the heal to sort of grab the heal . the tendon is most likely swollen now .
the things i have been told to do are a get off to see a food doctor which i have b get some othotic shoes which i have on order . c in the mean time take an anti inflamatory pill advil is one such pill. as for the pain the pill should help some . ice the foot put a tea towel between you and the ice and let your foot rest on that for 20 minutes of so a few times a day . next i was told to get some epson salt and put that in a bucket of water just enough water cool / cold water and let stirr it up so the sallt disolves and them do this about as much as the ice thing
rest the foot use some creams like deep cold ones that make the foot cold and put them on.
wear your shoes around the house . get heal supports drugs stores have them about 10 bucks in canada use them in your shoes try to stay off your feet and keep them up as much as you can .
when you can see the doctor do so he may get an xray but he may also just go the route i am telling you about now.
if you need orthotic shoes get them now if you can . real ones made by a doctor useing a cast to make them .
otherwise get some good shoes with lots of arch support and heal support . you can buy the shoes at a foot doctors they have the good ones there and they do sell genetic inserts that cost less and can help .
right now i am in such pain with my foot i can hardly walk and i have no pain pills so i am really feeling this stupid pain and its wrecking my day week month and life for now .
i hope you feel better soon . god be with you and have a good christmas i wont but i suppose we all cant have one oh well. i dont know where you live but where i do i can get tylenol 1 codine with a script from a doctor i do have to ask for them but i get them and the help with the pain dont over do it on them but take them as it says or less and you should be ok if your not allergic to codine if so well its up to you talk it over with the chemist.

Answer 5

There are a couple of things is could be. The achilles tendon runs across the back of your heel and connect on the bottom of the foot. This tendon may be inflamed and that can hurt pretty bad. Apply heat for 15 minutes, then apply ice for 15 minutes. Take ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on the bottle. Do this for a couple of days until you can see your doctor. Also, don't wear high heels.

Answer 6

If you want to cure plantar fasciitis completely in one month check out this site: http://treatmyplantarfasciitis.uk.to- I did it, it works! Pain was gone in only a few days. Good luck!

Answer 7

heel spur

Answer 8

webmd.com or mayoclinic.com or cleveland clinic.com

Answer 9

i agree with you_me_ us.. answer.....he did an excellent job...read his answer..and print it out and read it again..