Heel Pain With A Snapping Sound? Know About Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Pain in the heel can be uncomfortable and it can take place due to a lot of reasons. For every step we take, our heel supports us in delivering stability and allows us to move in different directions. Even many of us are aware of this pain, but usually, it goes without any concerns. Still, it can turn out to be a bad experience for some people as treating this sort of pain may necessitate surgery. Today, the team of Mewar Hospitals will mention different things about heal pain. Therefore, must read this blog till the end.
Key Points About Heel Pain
- It is considered one of the most common foot problems.
- One of the most common causes behind pain in the heel is plantar fasciitis.
- In some cases, it can build up slowly and as time passes, it can turn out to be worse.
- The person may not walk properly in case of suffering from this pain.
- People who run or jog habitually can experience heel pain. Even it can be observed among people aged 40 to 60 years.
- The common cause behind heel pain in children is a condition called Sever’s disease.
Causes Behind This Condition
1. Plantar Fasciitis
It is described as one of the common causes of heel pain. There is a band of tissue (ligament) called the plantar fascia that connects the heel to the foot’s front side (tip of the foot). When this ligament suffers from inflammation, it is known as plantar fasciitis. This condition, apart from pain, troubles a person with stiffness.
2. Achilles Tendinitis
The Achilles tendon refers to a tissue that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. When this tissue is inflamed, there can be a presence of pain along with stiffness and swelling in the heel’s back side. This injury is most often associated with athletes like basketball players and runners.
3. Fracture
Sometimes, due to an accident or a fall that impacts the foot, the bone can break and contribute to pain. If you’re suffering from persisting pain right after a fall or an accident, it is necessary to visit the hospital. This is because a fracture refers to a medical emergency and thus requires urgent treatment. On the other side, stress fractures can happen due to repeated stress on the bone, especially among athletes.
4. Bursitis
There is a fluid-filled sac or pouch known as a bursa that permits fluid movement and cushions our joints. There can be a swelling in the bursa and this swelling is called bursitis. This condition can also turn out to be painful.
5. Haglund’s Deformity
Due to constant irritation and inflammation, an enlarged bony bump can occur in the back side of the heel. This can also lead to pain and make the feeling worse if someone wears shoes with tight straps.
6. Sever’s Disease
This is a problem of heel pain in children especially those who are between 8 to 16. If stress occurs in the heel bone’s growth plate, this condition can appear. Due to involvement in various sports, the kids can perform too much running or jumping by which the growth plate can become inflamed. This activity can lead to pain. However, it is not supposed to be a serious problem and can settle with the help of some home-based remedies like rest or ice, and some stretching exercises. Talk to the doctor for better support.
Some other causes of heel pain involve heel spur, bone tumor, osteomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, issues with circulation, etc.
Symptoms To Observe Regarding Heel Pain
The pain is generally felt beneath the foot, on the front side of the heel. There can be a feeling of snapping sound if a person suffers from an injury. And if an injury is there, the person will start experiencing pain with a sudden effect. According to what condition has caused pain, a person can experience symptoms.
Regarding some commonly occurring symptoms of heel pain, the first one is stiffness. Apart from that, there can be a presence of swelling or tenderness. A person can notice redness near the site of pain. Even the pain can occur after a person stands from a resting or sitting state.
The Time You Should Get In Touch With The Doctor
While suffering from heel pain, a person generally waits for a day or two anticipating that it will go away automatically. We recommend taking help from home remedies at the beginning which turns out to be effective in many cases. Like, try to give some rest to the body so the symptoms could improve. Here are some points to remember in this case.
* When the pain continues to trouble for multiple weeks, don’t skip visiting the doctor.
* Get in touch with them if the pain is unbearable or if it begins suddenly.
* Be aware if there is an occurrence of redness or swelling in the heel.
* Talk to them after suffering from signs of infection or fever.
* Take assistance if you’re feeling uncomfortable to walk on the painful side.
Diagnosis of Heel Pain
One of the useful practices to diagnose this condition is a physical examination. The doctor can also review your medical history. He can ask some questions regarding pain like its location, how long you’re suffering from it, etc. Additionally, there can be a need to execute some tests like a CRP test for identifying an infection. Apart from these options, the doctor can take help from an X-ray that will clarify whether a person has been affected by particular or multiple conditions causing pain.
Treatment Options For Heel Pain
Now, regarding the treatment of heel pain, it is mainly based on the cause of the pain.
Home Remedies
One of the best things you can do at home for relieving heel pain is rest. Like, if you’re engaged in regular jogging, walking, or standing for a long time, try to limit this activity until the pain goes. The next thing is putting ice on the affected area. Apply an ice pack multiple times a day for 20 minutes so it will be beneficial to reduce swelling. But, don’t make direct contact with ice and skin. It will be good to put a piece of cloth or a thin towel between the ice and the skin.
Exercise
You can talk to the doctors of Mewar Hospital for the treatment of heel pain. According to your health condition, they can recommend some exercises which you can try at home. If the pain is due to Achilles tendinitis, the doctor can send you to a physical therapist who will guide you precisely according to the situation.
Support
Sometimes, wearing a poorly fitted shoe can also deliver pain in the heel. Adjusting the footwear or taking support can also deliver some benefits to the patient. Like, if there is a problem of plantar fasciitis, the doctor may recommend wearing a splint at night. This will allow the foot to remain straight. In cases of Achilles tendinitis, you may need to go for shoe orthotics which are medical devices to solve foot issues. Else, the doctor can guide you for wearing sturdy and comfy shoes with an arch that fits well according to your shape and ultimately gives support to the heel.
Medicines
To decrease pain and swelling, there can be a recommendation for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. When they don’t support the patient positively, the doctor can inject corticosteroid injections. It is injected directly into the heel which brings relief from pain for a short-term period.
Surgical Help
One of the last options for the treatment of heel pain is surgery. It will be counseled only when all the other options fail to deliver support in easing the pain. Doctors take help from conservative treatment options for near around six to twelve months. After that, they decide to solve this problem with a surgical method. Like, if someone is suffering from plantar fasciitis, the surgeon will remove the plantar fascia from the heel bone. To know more about the surgical procedure for heel pain, you can get in touch with our orthopedic surgeons.
Steps To Prevent Heel Pain
Here are some activities that can help to prevent you from this kind of problem.
- For a healthy lifestyle, try to maintain balanced body weight. Those who are obese or overweight may have to suffer from heel pain along with a wide range of problems. This is because when a person is overweight, it puts extra stress on the lower part of the body including the heels.
- If you’re feeling pain, try to restrict those activities which may appreciate its level. If you think things aren’t getting fine, consult the doctor.
- The next thing is about making sure that you wear the correct footwear. Go for the comfortable pair, gives proper support, and fits well into your foot. Don’t try to wear shoes that contain high heels.
The Ending Message
The problem of heel pain can affect a person in many means. You may not feel comfortable at the time of suffering from it. Sometimes, it can affect the walking behavior of a person which can put him in an awkward state. Therefore, try to apply home remedies as mentioned above. And whenever you feel something wrong even after applying those measures, talk to the doctor.
For better assistance, the experienced and skilled team of orthopedic doctors from Mewar Hospital is here to assist. We are available in different cities in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. So, you can contact us or visit our centers for more help.
You may also link with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube & Pinterest
Talk to the best team of expert Doctors in the country today for all your treatment queries.
Call now 0294 6633330