Diagnosis

After you have described your foot symptoms, your doctor will want to know more details about your pain, your medical history and lifestyle, including:

• Whether your pain is worse at specific times of the day or after specific activities

• Any recent injury to the area

• Your medical and orthopedic history, especially any history of diabetes, arthritis or previous injury to your foot or leg

• Your age and occupation

• Your recreational activities, sports and exercise program

• The type of shoes you usually wear, how well they fit, and how frequently you buy a new pair

Your doctor will examine you, including:

• An evaluation of your gait - While you are barefoot, your doctor will ask you to stand still and to walk in order to evaluate how your foot moves as you walk.

• An examination of your feet - Your doctor may compare your feet for any differences between them. Then your doctor may examine your painful foot for signs of tenderness, swelling, discoloration, muscle weakness and decreased range of motion.

• A neurological examination - The nerves and muscles may be evaluated by checking strength, sensation and reflexes.

In addition to examining you, your health care professional may want to examine your shoes. Signs of excessive wear in certain parts of the shoe can provide valuable clues to problems in the way you walk and poor bone alignment. Depending on the results of your physical examination, you may need foot X-rays or other diagnostic tests.

Expected Duration

How long heel pain lasts depends on the cause. For example, heel pain that is related to obesity should improve gradually as you lose weight.

If your heel pain is related to a specific sport or exercise regimen, a period of rest may bring relief. Once your heel is pain-free, you may need to modify your training program to prevent your pain from returning. Most heel pain goes away in a short period of time either on its own or after treatment.