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Heel pain can result from injuries like sprains and fractures. Some medical conditions, including bursitis and reactive arthritis, may also cause it. Treatment can depend on the cause.

Each foot and ankle are made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons. The heel is the largest bone in your foot.

If you overuse or injure your heel, you may experience heel pain. This can range from mild to disabling. It’s possible you’ll need to have a doctor or podiatrist diagnose the cause if simple home remedies don’t ease the pain.

There are several common causes of heel pain.

If you develop heel pain, you may first try some home remedies, such as rest, to ease your symptoms. If your heel pain doesn’t get better within two to three weeks, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

You should call your doctor immediately if you experience the following:

  • Your pain is severe.
  • The pain starts suddenly.
  • You have redness in your heel.
  • You have swelling in your heel.
  • You can’t walk because of the pain in your heel.

If you develop heel pain, you can try these methods at home to ease your discomfort:

If these home care strategies don’t ease your pain, you need to see your doctor. They’ll perform a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms and when they began.

Your doctor may also take an X-ray to determine the cause of your heel pain. Once your doctor knows what’s causing your pain, they’ll be able to provide you with the appropriate treatment.

In many cases, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy. This can help to strengthen the muscles and tendons in your foot, which helps to prevent further injury. If your pain is severe, your doctor may provide you with anti-inflammatory medications. These medications can be injected into the foot or taken by mouth.

Your doctor may also recommend that you support your foot as much as possible — either by taping the foot or by using special footwear devices.

In very rare cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the problem, but heel surgery often requires a long recovery time and may not always relieve your foot pain.

Heel pain can be disabling and affect your daily movements. It may also change the way that you walk. If this happens, you may be more likely to lose your balance and fall, making you more prone to other injuries.

It may not be possible to prevent all cases of heel pain, yet there are some easy steps that you can take to avoid injury to the heel and prevent pain:

  • Wear shoes that fit properly and support the foot.
  • Wear the right shoes for physical activity.
  • Stretch your muscles before exercising.
  • Pace yourself during physical activity.
  • Maintain a healthy diet.
  • Rest when you feel tired or when your muscles ache.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.