pain in outer edges of heel

by Brenda
(Monticello, IN)

For months I have had pain all the way around my heel on right foot. I have bought numerous pairs of shoes and many inserts hoping that would fix it but the pain is still there and getting worse.

Hi Brenda,

Apparently, the time has come to seek medical care. There are many conditions that will cause heel pain (read my section on heel pain). In many instances changing the shoes that you wear, adding heel cushions or arch supports will do the trick. When they do not and the pain has persisted, it tells me there is a more severe problem going on.
In my experience when patients complain of pain through the whole heel, that is suggestive of a heel bursitis which is a bursal sac that becomes inflamed from the constant pounding of the heel on the ground. This symptom may also indicate a heel neuroma which is basically a pinched nerve that may also cause diffuse pain in the heel. In both cases the pain generally gets worse the more you walk.
Another consideration would be a tear of the plantarfascial ligament. There does not need to be a history of trauma in order for this to occur. This is unlike plantar fasciitis or heel spur that most people are familiar with. In these cases the plantar fascial ligament actually tears and in general tends to be more painful than plantar fasciitis and is usually not resolved by self care on the part of the patient.
So, as you can see in order to get relief, you are first going to need a proper diagnosis.
That is why I would suggest you contact a foot specialist in your area and have a thorough examination of your foot to determine the cause of your pain.
Once an accurate diagnosis is made it becomes far easier to alleviate the pain.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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