It hurts to step on your heels. What could this mean?

After a long walk, physical exertion, because of uncomfortable shoes, and even for no apparent reason, sometimes it hurts to step on your heels. What can it be - just fatigue or a signal about health problems?

Features of the calcaneus

This is the largest of the bones of the foot, it is located in such a way that the entire weight of the body falls on it. At the same time, it has a spongy structure, hence, over time, it has the property of wearing out of constant loads.

This is the reason why it is painful to step on the heel of elderly people. In the region of the calcaneus, connective tendons pass from the heel along the length of the sole and to the metatarsal bones. For various reasons, these tissues can become inflamed, and it becomes painful to tread on the heels. That this is the inflammatory process - it is almost impossible to determine, as outwardly it does not manifest itself in any way, except painful sensations.

What can be the reasons

First of all you should think about your shoes. Too close? Or high? This is a direct way to the violation of blood circulation and pain in the legs. No less harmful too low shoes. Fashionable "ballet shoes" or sneakers on a completely flat sole carry the center of gravity of the body solely on the heels, and do not spread all over the foot, as expected. However, attributing pain in the heel only at the expense of physical fatigue would be reckless. In fact, there are many reasons why it is painful to step on the heels. What can it be - arthritis, bursitis, heel spur, gout, or maybe an infection? Any of these diagnoses is quite real. The only way to find out the truth and get the right treatment is a full medical examination, an X-ray photograph is required. The detailed laboratory tests will help to determine the metabolic disorders in the body, the increased content of uric acid - the root cause of gout.

Guilt can be a tendon

Due to injury or constant stress, for example, the constant wearing of high-heeled shoes, such an unpleasant thing as tearing, at best - stretching the plantar tendon can occur. In some cases, it can be assumed that if it hurts to hit the heels, this is a rupture of the Achilles tendon, the largest one that attaches the calf muscle to the heel bone. This is a very serious injury that can happen to athletes when a leg is struck from behind, when trying to jump with an unbent leg, and also with a fall. In this case, the pain will be strongly felt in the back of the foot, in the area of the heel with the transition to the sole.

At what time it hurts - it also matters

Pain in the legs at night can speak of banal fatigue, and of infection, or a beginning cold - as is known, the disease begins with aches in the body, and most of all in the joints. This may be a symptom of reactive arthritis - in this case the pain intensifies at night and is of a pulling nature. If it is painful to step on the heels in the morning, this may be a sign of the heel spur. With motor activity, the pain subsides a little, and at rest it resumes.

How to calm the pain in the heels

Since the symptoms and causes of pain can be different, the most reasonable time will be a timely call to the doctor. But this does not mean that you should not try to ease your suffering. With pain in the heels and joints helps cold compress. You can just stand up, pass the sick leg with icy water and immediately lie down. It is also necessary to take an anesthetic, rub it with a distracting ointment, such as "Fastum Gel". And, of course, do not forget about prevention. If the heels hurt, it is better to forget about heavy exercises and jogging - it will be enough to walk. Heels have already been told - not more than 5-6 cm and not less than 2 cm. You can not walk on solid soles to anyone, especially those with flat feet. In conclusion - a banal advice: the disease is easier to prevent than treat.