Table of Contents
What can cause heel pain without injury?
Plantar Fasciitis Without Injury
- Obesity or Rapid Weight Gain:
- The Aging Process:
- Excessive Pronation or Underpronation:
- Ill-Fitting or Unsupportive Footwear:
- Work Conditions or Exercise Regimens:
- Bursitis of the Heel:
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome:
- Haglund’s Deformity:
When should I be concerned about heel pain?
Severe pain and swelling near your heel. Inability to bend your foot downward, rise on your toes or walk normally. Heel pain with fever, numbness or tingling in your heel. Severe heel pain immediately after an injury.
Can plantar fasciitis feel like a bruised heel?
When you have plantar fasciitis, you usually feel pain in the bottom of the heel or the arch of the foot. Some people describe the pain as feeling like a bruise or an ache. The pain tends to gradually go away once you begin walking around. With continued walking, the pain may return, but usually goes away after rest.
What causes pain under the heel of your foot?
Heel pain, especially stabbing heel pain, is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation or, rarely, a cyst.
How can you tell the difference between a bruised heel and plantar fasciitis?
The pain from a bruise usually isn’t as severe or last as long as pain from plantar fasciitis. This is inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs from the bottom of your foot up to your heel bone. With plantar fasciitis, you’ll feel an intense or stabbing pain when you take a step.
How can I walk with a bruised heel?
Other tips
- Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and do not rub the heel.
- Take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, such as ibuprofen.
- Do not walk barefoot on hard surfaces.
- Do not do anything that hurts, including heel stretches or exercises.
- Try adding soft heel inserts to shoes.
What does it feel like to have a bruise on your heel?
It’ll likely hurt when you walk or press on the heel. If the bone is also bruised, the pain might feel sharp. You may also see a red or purple bruise on the outside of your heel. The bruise is from bleeding under the skin. The pain from a bruise usually isn’t as severe or last as long as pain from plantar fasciitis.
Can a bruised heel be caused by plantar fasciitis?
With plantar fasciitis, you’ll feel an intense or stabbing pain when you take a step. The pain will be worse in the morning when you first stand up and after you exercise. What causes a bruised heel? A pad of fat surrounds and protects your heel bone. Damage to this pad from excessive force to your foot can lead to a bruised heel.
When to see a doctor for a bruised heel?
You might not need to see a doctor for a diagnosis. This is because a bruised heel is often treatable at home. But if your heel pain doesn’t improve with self-care measures, make an appointment with a foot specialist, called a podiatrist.
Why does the bottom of my heel hurt?
The main symptom of a bruised heel is pain at the bottom of your heel bone, also called the calcaneus. It’ll likely hurt when you walk or press on the heel.