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Heel Pain

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Heel pain is discomfort in one or both heels.

What is going on in the body?

Heel pain occurs when the bones, muscles, or other soft tissues of the heel are inflamed or damaged.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Following are some of the factors that can cause heel pain:

Achilles tendinitis, which is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon that runs down the back of the heel

a bruise from hitting the heel against a hard object

gout, which is a disease that causes painful joints

inflammatory bursitis, which is a condition caused by the tendon rubbing on the back of a shoe

medial calcaneal neuroma, a condition in which the nerve on the inside and bottom of the heel becomes irritated and enlarged

a misshapen heel bone

plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the sole of the foot

rheumatoid arthritis, a severe form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, inflammation, and, sometimes, destruction of the joints

Reiter's syndrome, a type of arthritis that causes pain, swelling and redness in the joints

Very rarely, cancer involving the bone can cause heel pain.

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