What to do if your heel hurts in the morning or whenever you get up

You are not the only person suffering from heel pain. Quite the contrary: this is a problem that affects many people. It can be caused by several factors, such as trauma, overweight, uncomfortable shoes and inflammation. It is important to know that heel pain should not be ignored for too long, as certain conditions can progress and get worse.

To put an end to suffering and recover the health of your feet, you need to know the causes of heel pain. O awesome.club discovered what are the disorders that may be behind the symptom, indicating how to treat each one of them.

Fractures or bone fissures in the region are usually caused by injuries. In addition, they can go unnoticed, staying a long time without manifesting symptoms.

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the type of fracture. In some cases, it is possible to escape surgery. For example, resorting to immobilization of the foot with a cast, to prevent movement of the fractured bone.
The RICE method, which comes from the English: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, also provides great help. The technique includes resting the foot with an ice pack, wearing compression stockings, and elevating the foot above heart level.

Reactive arthritis affects the joints and develops as a result of infections the person has had in the past, such as gonorrhea, salmonellosis, mycoplasmosis, dysentery and other diseases that affect the urinary system or gastrointestinal tract. In addition to heel pain, the characteristic symptoms of reactive arthritis (especially when aggravated at night) are unpleasant sensations in the genital area and inflammation in the joints and eyes.

Treatment:

If inflammation in the heel area has arisen as a result of chlamydia, gonorrhea or other genital diseases, it needs to be urgently treated. See your doctor as soon as possible.

Osteoarthritis causes deformity and wear and tear of the joints, but it can also affect the heels.

Treatment:

The goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to relieve pain. Procedures can include:

Injections of hyaluronic acid into the affected joint to decrease inflammation and increase mobility Weight loss to reduce pressure on the joint; Replacement of the affected joint with an artificial one; Contrast baths to relieve swelling around the joint; There is even a natural remedy to reduce inflammation: lemon massage. Just rub the juice of a slice of fruit on the affected joint.

Bursitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the joint capsule.

Treatment:

The problem may heal on its own. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if the inflammation is caused by an infection, or an injectable pain reliever to relieve pain. When it comes to a complicated case, the specialist may opt for surgery to extract the fluid accumulated in the bursa (small bag).

Measures to relieve pain:

Taking ibuprofen; When sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your legs to relieve pressure. Take a hot shower or apply a warm compress to the affected area.

Gout causes urates (salts of uric acid) to build up in the joints, which can cause a sharp pain in the heel.

Treatment:

To reduce pain and swelling, apply ice to the affected area and keep your foot elevated above heart level. Another alternative is to take anti-inflammatory medications.
Gout treatment aims to reduce the level of uric acid in the body:

Drinking a lot of fluids; Do not drink alcoholic beverages; The doctor may prescribe specific medications, such as allopurinol.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a fibrous and inelastic connective tissue membrane that covers the musculature of the sole of the foot, from the calcaneal bone to the base of the toes. The main symptom is heel pain.

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment for the problem, but there are several ways to alleviate it and prevent complications arising from it.

Firstly, you need to reduce the pressure exerted on your legs, avoiding running and long walks; To reduce swelling and pain in the legs, apply ice to the feet; Before getting up, warm up your feet: sit on the bed with your legs extended, pull your feet towards your body, rotate them left and right. Repeat 10 times.

The heel spur is a formation that sits on the heel bone. It can appear due to concomitant injuries and diseases in the joints or bones. Heel spurs are often painful, especially when walking.

Treatment:

Buy heel protectors or orthopedic insoles; Doctors may prescribe physical therapy, including clay baths, mineral baths and ultrasound therapies; In complicated cases, doctors can surgically eliminate the bone formation; There is also a natural remedy that can help: grate 100g of cabbage on a coarse grater. Add 100ml of boiling water to the cabbage. When the broth has cooled to room temperature, place your heel in the liquid and hold for 5 minutes.

If you feel pain when you step on your feet after exercising, you may have injured your Achilles tendon.

Treatment:

Achilles tendon injuries usually heal on their own. However, you can speed up the process:

Take pain relievers like ibuprofen; Do not overload the leg. Use crutches; When sitting or lying down, keep your foot on a pillow or cushion; Use an elastic bandage to reduce swelling in the calf; Use specific orthopedic insoles to protect the Achilles tendon, preventing further damage.

Deep cracks formed in the thick layer of hardened skin can cause severe pain when walking, even bleeding.

Treatment:

The first step is to see a dermatologist to rule out the possibility of foot fungus infections; Another cause of fissures is dry skin. The problem is especially relevant in summer, when we wear more open shoes. To avoid the appearance of deep cracks, you need to moisturize your feet with creams and remove dead skin.

Wear only comfortable shoes with insoles; Do not overload the body during exercises. Increase weight gradually and warm up before workouts; Watch your weight. Obesity can negatively impact health in general and joints; Do not run barefoot on hard surfaces and train in athletic shoes; If you suffer an injury, consult a doctor.

We always recommend that you consult a doctor in all cases and before carrying out or starting any treatment.

Do you suffer from heel pain? What other health problems tend to be more frequent in your case? Comment!