In order to be able to determine how to treat a condition, it is often the best resort to get to know the root causes of the said condition first. In the case of foot ailments such as pain in the heels, medical studies have shown that it may be caused by a variety of other conditions. One of these is plantar fasciitis. This occurs when the tight tissue called the plantar fascia becomes irritated and inflamed. The plantar fascia is the thick band of connective tissue which extends from the bottom surface of the heel bone, running along the sole towards the toes.
Another cause for pain in the heels are heel spurs. This condition is often confused with plantar fasciitis. The two may be related but they are actually different conditions. A heel spur is a bone growth shaped like a hook of bone which forms on the heel bone and is present in many cases of plantar fasciitis. There are many more causes of heel pain such as the tarsal tunnel syndrome where a large nerve in the back of the foot becomes entrapped. Tiny cracks in the heel bone also known as stress fractures may also be an uncommon cause for heel pain especially in athletes like long distance runners who experience heel pain.
There are many home remedies for heel pain. These remedies include hot and cold compresses, massages and the application of herbal concoctions. A popluar remedy is a hot linseed oil pack. You heat a piece of cloth, saturate it with linseed oil and then apply the cloth to your heel. You may use a heating pad and place it over the cloth to keep it warm. Arnica and chamomile may also be used. You can add them to your bath water or a foot bath. They may also be used with a cloth just like linseed oil.
There are instances however when you may need to consult a doctor to address your symptoms. You may need to seek medical attention when you can no longer walk comfortably on the affected foot and you experience heel pain at night or while resting; the pain hasn't subsided after a couple of days; you notice discoloration or swelling on the back of the foot and there are signs of infection like fever, redness or warmth.
In order to determine the best course of action to take in eliminating your pain is to single out its main cause. If you are unsure what these causes may be, it is best to stop playing doctor and leave it to the experts. However, you may take precautions and not aggravate the problem by resting the affected heel, applying ice packs, do minor exercises and stretches to relax the tissues arround the heel bone and to some extent, take anti-inflammatory medications if needed.