Experiencing heel pain upon standing or walking is a common occurrence. Unless we have an injury or condition that does not allow us to use our feet, many of us spend a great deal of time on our feet each day, and this can stress them. There is a variety of causes for why so many people feel heel pain.  Some are serious, while others are simple enough to correct.  Heel pain can sometimes be felt even when a person is sitting or lying down because tissues of the foot are inflamed or irritated, and results in continuous pain. Severe foot conditions can cause heel pain intense enough to interfere with the mobility of individuals suffering from them.

Health, activity level, injury, and even the kind of shoes that you wear can all result in plantar fasciitis.

Health issues such as diabetes and obesity lead the list for possible causes. Diabetics are susceptible to developing nerve damage in the foot due to their disease and this can result in severe plantar fasciitis and serious complications if left untreated. Overweight individuals place added stress on their feet, which have to balance the excess weight. This can cause discomfort and other painful foot symptoms. Losing weight and wearing supportive footwear can help eliminate heel and other foot pain.

Heel pain is an equal-opportunistic condition in that it can strike super-active people as well as those who are less active. Straining and pulling injuries resulting in heel injury can occur.  A torn Achilles tendon can result in sharp, stinging heel-pain that can increase with movement or with weight placed on the affected foot. Sometimes splinting and resting the foot will allow the Achilles tendon to repair itself, while serious tendon tears often require a surgical fix.

Plantar Fasciitis is another possible cause for heel pain and the most commonly diagnosed condition affecting the foot.  This foot problem marked by sharp heel-pains often begins when you first get out of bed in the morning.

Bad-fitting shoes and wearing shoes that are not appropriate for the activity you are engaging in or for the terrain you are traversing upon are also possible causes for this foot problem. Choosing to forego wearing any footwear at all and walking or running on harsh surfaces, can also bring about this conditions. High heel shoes are possible causes for heel problems in many women.  Wearing these shoes results in an unequal distribution of a woman’s weight, and this can stress the feet and cause problems.

If you are experiencing heel spurs that does not go away after a day of elevating and resting the foot, consult with your doctor. Those people having diabetes should notify their health care provider immediately should they begin experiencing heel pain, as this could be a sign of a more serious foot condition.