If you constantly feel pain in your heels, there are many other health problems to rule out, and your doctor will consider them as differential diagnosis before giving you his final word. If you live an active lifestyle, your doctor might consider the possibility of a muscle sprain or strain or Achilles tendonitis, which is also a common overuse injury in athletes. There are also bone disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and reactive arthritis which is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
In younger patients, heel pain may also be caused by heel bumps, which is the result of an excessive formation of bone and often associated with flat foot or wearing high heels when the bone tissue is still immature. Other diagnoses should be taken into consideration, including tarsal tunnel syndrome, which is a nerve compression similar to the carpal tunnel syndrome but located in the foot or ankle. Your physician should carefully evaluate all of these medical conditions, and it will take a physical exam and a precise recollection and description of what you feel, how, and when you experience these symptoms. If you think you might have Plantar Fasciitis click here.
References:
Buchbinder, R. (2004). Plantar fasciitis. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(21), 2159-2166.
Warren, B. L. (1990). Plantar fasciitis in runners. Sports Medicine, 10(5), 338-345.
Chinn, L., & Hertel, J. (2010). Rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries in athletes. Clinics in sports medicine, 29(1), 157.
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