The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, but Achilles tendonitis is also a common cause of pain in the rear of the foot. How can you tell the difference? And does it matter since both hurt?
We’ll delve into the answers and offer you a simple solution that’s likely to be effective for you. Stay with us though. We need to lay out a little information about Achilles tendonitis before we start talking solutions.
Understanding Achilles Tendonitis
Simply put, Achilles tendonitis is a muscle strain in a tendon in the heel of your foot.
Symptoms can be very similar to a heel spur or plantar fasciitis and include pain in the heel when you apply pressure after a long period of being inactive — due to swelling and tightening of the structure during the activity — as well as shooting pain and burning.
Unlike plantar fasciitis, however, pain can also be present above the heel area. When that’s the case, it can be a sure sign that Achilles tendonitis could be the real cause of your heel pain.
If you notice the outer heel of your shoes appears to be more worn than other areas, that’s a possible sign of this painful heel condition. But that can be a sign of other foot problems as well. That’s why it’s so important to seek a medical opinion about any kind of foot pain rather than simply assuming the cause — or ignoring the pain altogether. It’s never normal for a foot to hurt, although pain in the heel from various causes is very common.
If you have Achilles tendonitis, you can experience an especially high level of pain in the heel when you’re jumping or pushing off during sports or exercise. The pain and damage to your Achilles tendon can get so bad that you can’t stand up properly.
No Matter The Cause, Solution Is The Same
While you can’t cure all foot problems with shoe insoles, mild to moderate cases of Achilles tendonitis respond to pressure relief from cushioned shoe insoles
First, take action to correct anything you’re doing wrong that may be worsening your symptoms. That means you shouldn’t make abrupt and radical changes in the kind of footwear you choose or the kinds of exercises you do. And you should always stretch and warm-up before exercising. This is particularly important as you age since tendons stiffen with age.
Then, order some shoe insoles for your heel pain. Amazon offers a wide array of choices, but be sure to choose cushioned insoles, not necessarily those designed for support. While all insoles do a bit of both, it’s cushioning that will help ease Achilles tendonitis.
In many cases, Achilles tendonitis occurs alongside plantar fasciitis, and it’s difficult to determine which problem is causing most of the pain. Fortunately, the treatment for mild to moderate cases is the same — shoe insoles. If you have heel pain and aren’t using shoe insoles to help ease it, you’re probably hurting unnecessarily.
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