Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain

What Causes Heel Pain?

A sharp shooting pain in the heel of the foot is usually due to plantar fasciitis, or heel spur syndrome. Other factors that can be responsible for heel pain include: arthritis, nerve aggravation, tendonitis, stress fractures, or sometimes a cyst. The doctor will assess the foot, ankle, and internal structures to figure out what the exact cause of the pain is.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the ligament that connects the heel to the base of the foot called the plantar fascia. When this ligament is irritated or inflamed, it can swell and cause pain in the heel. It may affect one or both feet and is typically worse in the morning, lessening over the day as the foot moves and the ligaments relax through movement. The injury is generally caused by structure defects within the foot itself. Also, wearing poorly fitting or non-supportive shoes while standing or walking on hard, flat surfaces for a long time can strain the fascia and cause the pain. A bony heel spur can also contribute to the condition as well.

What is a Heel Spur?

Heel spurs are another common cause of pain in a person’s heels. Heel spurs develop when calcium deposits accumulate to create a bony protuberance on the bottom of the heel bone. The spurs can grow to stick out as much as half an inch. While the spur does not always present with pain, many patients find that the spur is accompanied by the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the ligament, on the bottom of the foot which connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot.

What Causes Heel Spurs?

Heel spurs are another common cause of pain in a person’s heels. Heel spurs develop when calcium deposits accumulate to create a bony protuberance on the bottom of the heel bone. The spurs can grow to stick out as much as half an inch. While the spur does not always present with pain, many patients find that the spur is accompanied by the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the ligament, on the bottom of the foot which connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot.