Heel Pain
Heel pain is discomfort in one or both
heels.
What is going on in the body?
Heel pain occurs when the bones, muscles, or other soft tissues of the heel are
inflamed or damaged.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Following are some of the factors that can cause heel pain:
Achilles tendinitis, which is an inflammation of the Achilles
tendon that runs down the back of the heel
a bruise from hitting the heel against a hard object
gout, which is a disease that causes painful joints
inflammatory bursitis, which is a condition caused by the tendon
rubbing on the back of a shoe
medial calcaneal neuroma, a condition in which the nerve on the inside
and bottom of the heel becomes irritated and enlarged
a misshapen heel bone
plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the sole of the
foot
rheumatoid arthritis, a severe form of arthritis that causes pain,
swelling, inflammation, and, sometimes, destruction of the joints
Reiter's syndrome, a type of arthritis that causes pain,
swelling and redness in the joints
Very rarely,
cancer involving the bone can cause heel pain.
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