Heel pain pain is a very common presentation at The London Foot and Ankle Clinic.

It can cause severe discomfort, restrict sports and exercise and significantly affect quality of life.

While plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon problems account for most cases of heel pain, there are many other conditions that can result in similar symptoms.

Many patients with chronic symptoms who fail to respond to treatment may have other pathology present as well. At The London Foot and Ankle Clinic we make sure to make the right diagnosis.

The following are causes of “heel pain”:

Degenerative or overuse conditions

• Plantar fasciitis
• Plantar fascia rupture
• Overload heel pain syndrome
• Achilles insertional tendinopathy
• Achilles non-insertional tendinopathy
• Retrocalcaneal bursitis
• Haglunds deformity
• Superficial calcaneal bursitis
• Posterior ankle impingement
• Os trigonum syndrome
• Subtalar arthritis
• Fat pad atrophy – loss of normal heel cushion
• Calcaneal apophysitis (Sever’s disease)
• Calcaneal stress fracture
• Infection
• Systemic conditions such as i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, Reiters syndrome, Ankylosing spondylitis, gout
• Soft tissue mass (tumour)

Neurological causes

• Disc prolapse and sciatica
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Nerve entrapment i.e. lateral calcaneal nerve (Baxters nerve entrapment)

Trauma

• Calcaneal fracture
• Calcaneal stress lesion (reaction within the bone, but no fracture)
• Fat pad trauma
• Soft-tissue contusion/bruising

Other

• Bone tumours
• Soft tissue tumours

For symptoms, investigations and treatment please find further information under the specific condition page.

Common causes of heel pain