Roughly 11% of American adults experience plantar heel pain, making it one of the most common foot complaints podiatrists treat. That sharp stabbing sensation when you first step out of bed, or the aching throb at the end of a long day, is your heel trying to tell you what’s wrong.
Podiatrists Matthew Hinderland, DPM, Jordan Cameron, DPM, Trevor Whiting, DPM, and Shane Soto, DPM, at Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colorado, evaluate and treat heel pain from overuse injuries, structural problems, and nerve compression.
Where your heel hurts, when it hurts most, and what the pain feels like all provide clues about the underlying problem. Here are the most common causes our team diagnoses and treats:
Many people with chronic heel pain have plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that runs from your heel bone to the base of your toes along the bottom of your foot. It provides arch support and cushions the impact your foot absorbs when you walk or run.
When the plantar fascia gets overloaded from too much activity, poor foot mechanics, or unsupportive shoes, small tears and inflammation develop. During sleep, your foot relaxes, and the plantar fascia contracts. When you stand and put weight on it again, that tight tissue has to stretch suddenly, creating sharp pain.
The pain typically improves as the tissue warms up and loosens, but it often returns after long periods of standing or at the end of the day.
If you feel pain and stiffness behind your heel where your shoe meets your ankle, your Achilles tendon is likely involved. This thick tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and gets stressed with repetitive activities like running, jumping, or walking in unsupportive shoes.
The area may feel tender to the touch, and pushing off with your toes during walking can increase discomfort. Chronic Achilles tendonitis can weaken the tendon and increase rupture risk.
Heel pain that feels like burning, tingling, or numbness might stem from nerve compression. Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tibial nerve running along the inside of your ankle gets compressed as it passes through a narrow space near your heel.
The pain often radiates into the arch or toes and may worsen with prolonged standing or activity.
Sudden heel pain that started after a fall, hard landing, or sharp increase in training intensity could mean you’ve developed a stress fracture. This type of fracture doesn’t always show up on X-rays right away, but causes deep, aching pain that worsens with weight-bearing activity.
Heel spurs are bony growths that develop on the underside of your heel bone, often in response to long-term plantar fasciitis. They show up on X-rays but usually aren’t the source of pain. The inflammation in surrounding soft tissue — particularly the plantar fascia — is what creates discomfort.
Our team evaluates your foot structure, gait mechanics, and activity level to determine your heel pain’s cause. Treatment options include:
Heel pain rarely resolves without addressing the underlying cause. Ignoring it and pushing through the discomfort usually makes the problem worse because you’re continuing to stress damaged tissue or compressed nerves.
Heel pain that lasts more than a few weeks, keeps coming back, or interferes with your daily activities needs professional evaluation. Our team can identify the root cause and develop a treatment plan that improves your pain and mobility.
Call our Colorado Springs office at 719-488-4664, or use our online booking feature to schedule an evaluation today.
