Not all causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis although it is the major reason. Other possibilities of heel pain are explained below. 

Heel Neuroma

This takes place when a nerve in the heel is inflamed. It is usually caused by an injury. 

Heel Bursa

A bursa is a small sac of fluid that the body builds up to protect one of its parts from unusual pressure. Pain takes place when there are small ruptures in the nerve which lead to a bursa. 

Stress Fracture in the Heel

A stress fracture or broken bone is an incomplete broken bone. It is still way over stressed and eventually a small break takes place. In the beginning it does not show up on an xray at first but as the break grows and causes more pain it will appear. It usually causes the body to send blood to the area and results in swelling which results in more pain.

 Bone tumor

It is rare to have a tumor in the heel. The good news is that they are mostly benign. When there is pain with this it is usually because the bone has fractured also. 

Bone spur at the back of the heel

This is called retrocalcaneal exostosis and is usually caused from the shoe rubbing the back of the heel.

 If you can think of another foot condition that causes heel pain, please let me know.  I will add it to the list and send everyone the revised list. 

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

Arthritis

There are different kinds of arthritis associated with heel pain which is similar to the pain in plantar facsiitis. Usually there is a heel spur also associated with the heel pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis are a few of the conditions that may cause heel pain. They usually appear with other symptoms such as back pain and stiffness.

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