Heel pain is the medical term for heel pain. This can manifest itself in different ways and have many origins.

In medical parlance, talalgia corresponds to heel pain. These usually appear during movement, especially when walking, but can also occur at rest.

Heel pain can occur in different areas of the heel:

• pain in the back of the heel ;
• pain under the heel, also called plantar talalgia;
• pain around the heel, sometimes called crown talalgia.

There are many explanations for having a sore heel. Nevertheless, it is possible to distinguish talalgia of mechanical origin and those of pathological origin.

Mechanical heel pain

Several mechanical causes have been identified to date:

• la Plantar Fasciitis, also called plantar fascia, which corresponds to an inflammation of the plantar fascia, or plantar aponeurosis, a fibrous membrane located at the level of the sole of the foot;
• Achilles tendinopathy or Achilles tendinitis, a particular form of tendinopathy, which corresponds to an inflammation of the Achilles tendon located between the lower calf and the heel;
• the fracture of the calcaneum, which is the heel bone;
• the appearance of crevices, which can be responsible for pain under the heel when walking;
• plantar warts, which are skin growths caused by a virus that can cause heel pain.

Pathologic heel pain

Talalgia can also be the result of an inflammatory reaction, a neurological disorder or a vascular disorder. Heel pain can indeed be due to:

• spondyloarthropathies, such as ankylosing spondylitis and Fiessinger-Leroy-Reiter syndrome, which are chronic inflammations of the joints;
• a rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatic disease which results in chronic inflammation of several joints;
• un psoriatic arthritis, which is characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints associated with psoriasis;
• la drop, a particular form of arthritis that most often occurs in the big toe but can nevertheless affect other joints;
• a arteriopathy of the lower limbs, a disease which results in a narrowing of the caliber of the arteries of the lower limbs;
• a sciatic neuralgia, which is manifested by pain along the thigh and lower leg that can sometimes reach the foot;
• diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by diabetes;
• sever’s disease, which constitutes a growth abnormality in children and which manifests itself by inflammation at the level of the insertion of the Achilles tendon on the calcaneus.

A talalgia can manifest itself in different ways depending on its origin. It can sometimes be accompanied by swelling of the heel, which can cause discomfort in daily movement. In some cases, the pain may gradually increase in intensity. Appropriate medical care is necessary to relieve pain and limit the risk of complications.

There are steps you can take to relieve heel pain during a heel pain. For example, it is recommended:

• de rest your feet by limiting movements;
• de wearing shoes that provide good support of the arch of the foot;
• byavoid carrying heavy loads ;

Treatment for heel pain depends on the origin of the heel pain. Medical advice is particularly recommended if the pain is sudden, severe, or persists for several weeks. The same is true if the heel pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as redness and swelling of the heel, joint pain, skin damage or fever. It is also advisable to consult a healthcare professional if heel pain occurs in children.