Dear richardjohnson,
Please read the Important Disclaimer at the bottom of this page and
bear in mind that a Researcher's findings are no substitute for
medical advice. While I am pleased to offer you the results of my web
search, you should by all means consult with a general doctor or
podiatrist to treat your ailment.
The heel is the largest bone in the human foot but also one that
endures a great deal of pressure throughout the day. Some injuries are
chronic, such as those resulting from a congenitally imbalanced
walking motion. Although you attribute your pain specifically to
sessions of basketball, it is possible that your physical exertion on
the court only exacerbates an underlying chronic problem to the point
where it causes pain. The solution may therefore may something as
simple as a shoe insert to correct for pronation or some other
biomechanical flaw.
The one thing you should not do is continue to take part in an
activity that causes you intense, day-long pain.
"Pain that occurs right after an injury or early in an illness may
play a protective role, often warning us about the damage we've
suffered. ... Pain, such as may occur in our heels, also alerts us to
seek medical attention. This alert is of utmost importance because of
the many afflictions that contribute to heel pain."
American Podiatric Medical Association: Your Podiatric Physician Talks
About Heel Pain
http://www.apma.org/topics/heel.htm
Among the afflictions that commonly result in heel pain are heel
spurs. A heel spur is a bony growth or an enlargement of the bone
extending from the underside of the heel. It develops in response to
the straining, stretching, and tearing of various tissues in the foot
during quotidian activity and athletic exertion.
foot.com: Heel Spurs
http://www.foot.com/info/cond_heel_spurs.jsp
The pain caused by heel spurs is often accompanied by another
condition, plantar fasciitis, which can also occur on its own. This is
an inflammation of the fibers running between the heel and the ball of
your foot. Running and jumping are contributing factors to this
inflammation, which may subside from the natural stretching motions
that occur when you move about during the day and walk at a regular
pace. Subsequently, jarring motions or extended periods of bed rest
can revive the inflammation and reignite the pain.
Southern California Orthopedic Institute: Plantar Fasciitis
http://www.scoi.com/plantar.htm
Another common cause of pain in the heel and elsewhere in the foot is
excessive pronation, which is the inward or flattening motion of the
foot at the point of contact with the ground. Pronation, while largely
hereditary, is exacerbated by modern footwear and obesity. If you're
overweight, part of the long-term solution to your foot troubles may
have to be a slimming cure.
Steenwyk: Pronation and Supination
http://www.steenwyk.com/pronsup.htm
There are many general afflictions that can lead indirectly to foot
pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis (joint inflammation), neuroma (an
irritated fluid sack), Haglund's deformity (a bone enlargement at the
back of the heel, where the Achilles tendon is attached), achilles
tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon), bone bruises, and
stress fractures. It is not possible to rule out any of these in your
case, and no layman is in a position to diagnose your exact condition.
A medical professional who can learn your personal history and
scrutinize your foot by palpation and instrumented examination is the
only person qualified to give you practical advice.
To avoid the possibility of causing permanent damage that may hinder
all your athletic activities or even cripple you on a daily basis, you
should take your problem to a doctor specializing in ailments of the
foot, known as a podiatrist.
"Heel pain can have many causes. If your heel hurts, see your doctor
right away to determine why and get treatment."
American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons: Heel Pain
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=235&topcategory=Foot
You need not fear that any podiatrist will pressure you into surgery.
It is widely acknowledged that the risky and traumatic bodily invasion
of surgery should be employed only as a last resort. Podiatric
afflictions are caused by a longstanding set of circumstances, and a
systemic problem deserves a systemic solution.
In most cases of chronic or acute foot pain, surgery is not necessary.
The typical treatments are physiotherapy -- including gentle
stretching exercises and reformed walking motion -- and the use of
orthotic inserts. Orthotics are wedges or pads, made of flexible or
sometimes rigid material, that are inserted into your shoes to help
correct a flaw in the way your foot is constructed or the way you are
moving it. Some orthotics are custom-made by molding technology to
precisely suit the measurements of your foot, while others can be
purchased ready-made at a drugstore, with or without a prescription,
depending on what your podiatrist recommends.
Hospital for Special Surgery: Foot/Ankle/Leg Conditions: Orthotic Devices
http://orthopaedics.hss.edu/services/conditions/foot_leg/orthotic_devices.asp
To get in touch with a podiatrist in your neighborhood, you can use
the following web form offered by the American Podiatric Medical
Association (APMA). It has three text-entry boxes, but if you just
enter your zip code into the middle one, a helpful map appears with
the names, addresses, and phone numbers of APMA members located in
your area. Each entry also provides a link to a service that will give
you driving directions from your home to the podiatrist's office.
American Podiatric Medical Association: Member Locator
http://go.vicinity.com/apmad/
To give you a better idea of some of the treatments you might expect a
podiatrist to recommend, let me mention the results of a survey
conducted by the heelspurs.com website on its visitors. They report
that among the effective methods they applied to themselves were
application of ice to soft tissues, stretching the calf muscles before
getting out of bed and several times a day, making use of athletic
tape, and of course using orthotic inserts. Your podiatrist will
determine the best course of treatment, but at least you see that some
of the most common ones do not involve a drastic lifestyle change.
Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spur, Heel Pain
http://heelspurs.com/index.html
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has published some
technical papers on this subject, neither of which you will find easy
to read or even comprehensible. This goes to show you what a deep
field podiatry is, requiring advanced medical knowledge for proper
diagnosis.
AAFP: Plantar Fasciitis and Other Causes of Heel Pain
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990415ap/2200.html
AAFP: Diagnosing Heel Pain in Adults
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040715/332.html
Here are som further informative sites you might like to visit to
reassure yourself before a podiatrist's appointment.
Foot Disorders
http://www.foottalk.com/heelpain.htm
Podiatry Channel: Heel Pain
http://www.podiatrychannel.com/heelpain/
Plantar Fasciitis: A Common Cause of Heel Pain
http://familydoctor.org/x2280.xml
Dr. Foot: Heel Pain
http://www.drfoot.co.uk/heel%20pain.htm
Dr. Pribut On Heel Pain
http://www.drpribut.com/sports/heelhtm.htm
Podiatry Network: Heel Pain
http://www.podiatrynetwork.com/r_heel_pain.cfm
If you feel that my answer is incomplete or inaccurate in any way, please
post a clarification request so that I have a chance to meet your needs
before you assign a rating.
Regards,
leapinglizard
Search Queries:
heel pain
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heel pain treatment
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orthotic device
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