Cause, symptoms and treatment of heel pain

Author Dr. Bence Balázs Moravcsik | 2020.01.07.

What are the symptoms of heel pain?

If the foot, sole and heel are subjected to a high level of stress, you may experience severe heel pain as soon as you get up in the morning. The pain can be stabbing or dull, constant or intermittent. Heel pain may increase with exertion, although there are cases where it may decrease with daily exercise. In more severe cases, however, you may feel heel pain without exertion, even when resting. These symptoms can have a significant impact on daily activities and can reduce your ability to walk and be active.

What could be the cause of heel pain?

Causes of heel and toe pain include overuse: sports, being overweight, age, or even wearing inappropriate shoes. Heel pain can lead to inflammation of the periosteum, which can result in the body's defence mechanism triggering extra bone formation, leading to the formation of a bone tumour (spur). The exact cause of the pain in each person can be determined by an orthopaedic or rheumatological specialist.

After an accurate diagnosis, a physiotherapy solution can be started, which can always be recommended by an orthopaedic or rheumatology specialist.

What treatment can help with heel pain?

The most effective solution for heel pain is shockwave therapy. Treatment success rates range from 85-90 %. There are no side effects during or after treatment and no complications. The effects of shockwave therapy can last for months or even years. The ability to heal remains enhanced for 2-3 months, as the Shockwave triggers the body's ability to heal itself, so it naturally aids healing.

What orthopaedic problems can shockwave therapy solve?

• Heel pain
• Spurs
• Bone cancer
• Muscle pain, muscle tears
• Tendon pull
• Achilles tendon pain
• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain
• Tennis elbow
• Golf books
• Sports injury
• Jumping knee

Is shockwave therapy painful?

Minimal pain may occur in some cases during treatment. In case of individual sensitivity, the treatment area may become red and possibly develop small haemorrhages, which will disappear within a short time.

How much treatment is needed for a full recovery?

Shockwave therapy does not promise immediate pain relief, but it can be a long-term solution for heel pain. The number of sessions depends on the individual and the problem. Shockwave treatment is usually recommended 5 times (up to a maximum of 10 times), usually once a week. This is the amount of time the body needs to allow the self-healing mechanism to kick in and the inflammation in the body that is causing the pain to disappear. The effects of the Shockwave treatment may continue to intensify for months and the pain may not return to the area for years.