Experiencing burning heel pain can be extremely uncomfortable and frustrating, with many patients confused about what could be producing such symptoms. Burning heel pain isn’t a condition on its own, but is typically a symptom of several conditions. Here is a list of the potential causes of a burning sensation in your heel, that may or may not radiate throughout your foot or ankle.
Nerve Entrapment
In many cases, burning sensations are actually a symptom of nerve-related issues. When nerves are damaged or compressed, the typical symptoms include burning, numbness, tingling, pins and needles, and the like. Hence, when experiencing burning heel pain, we must consider nerve entrapment causes.
- One of the most common nerves to become entrapped in the heel of the foot is the medial plantar nerve. This nerve runs along the inside of the ankle and foot, and can become compressed as a result of anatomical abnormalities, such as flat feet or overpronation. Other risk factors for medial plantar nerve entrapment include repetitive motion, such as running or jumping, and wearing tight shoes that put pressure on the foot.
- Another nerve that can become entrapped in the heel of the foot is the lateral plantar nerve. This nerve runs along the outside of the foot and can become compressed as a result of overuse or repetitive stress, such as from standing for long periods of time or participating in high-impact activities like running or jumping.
- The posterior tibial nerve is another nerve that can become entrapped in the heel of the foot. This nerve runs behind the ankle and can become compressed as a result of injuries or trauma, such as ankle sprains or fractures. It can also be compressed by anatomical abnormalities or by wearing shoes that are too tight or do not provide proper support.
- Less commonly, the sural nerve, which runs along the back of the calf and the outside of the foot, can become entrapped in the heel. This can occur as a result of ankle sprains or fractures, or from wearing shoes that put pressure on the back of the foot.
Diabetic Neuropathy
As mentioned above, as nerve-related issues are a common cause of burning sensations, we must consider other causes of nerve damage, one of which is diabetic neuropathy. When you have diabetes, it means that there may often be higher-than-normal glucose levels circulating in your blood vessels. This can lead to vessel and nerve damage, hence diabetic neuropathy affects up to 50% of those diagnosed with diabetes.
When you’re experiencing diabetic neuropathy, you may also notice neural symptoms (burning, tingling, numbness, pins and needles) in other areas of the body, like the toes, hands and fingers. You may also experience sharp or shooting pains, you may feel like you’re wearing a sock when you’re not, and your senses may also be dulled or hypersensitive. As diabetic neuropathy can affect people in different ways, it can be hard to predict.
Like diabetic neuropathy, your burning may also be caused by alcoholic neuropathy, where instead of diabetes, the nerve damage is caused by the effects of alcoholism.
Trauma To The Foot Or Ankle
Another common cause of nerve damage is simple accidental trauma to the foot or heel – or even further up the leg, along the path of the nerve that innervates the heel and foot area. This can result from various sources such as car accidents, playing sports, falls, medical procedures, or surgeries that cause compression, stretching, or injury to the nerve supplying the affected area. Even mild forms of trauma, such as prolonged pressure on a nerve caused by tight shoes, a cast, or forceful and repetitive movements that cause tendon or ligament swelling, can narrow the pathway where the nerve passes, resulting in damage. Moreover, dislocated bones can exert damaging pressure on adjacent nerves.
Physical traumas or injuries of this nature may ultimately result in the development of a rare chronic condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), which is characterised by chronic pain that is disproportionate to the initial injury.
Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs
While pain is a much more common symptom of plantar fasciitis heel pain than burning, it can sometimes present with burning sensation, especially if there’s a notable amount of swelling in the area. Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed when a connective tissue called the plantar fascia at the bottom of the foot is damaged and inflamed. As this tissue starts at the heel and fans out to connect to the toes, discomfort and tenderness may be present along this region.
Heel spurs, on the other hand, are bony growths that develop on the heel bone as a result of long-term strain on the plantar fascia and the surrounding tissues. They can also develop in response to injury or other conditions that cause inflammation. Heel spurs themselves are often painless, but they can cause pain if they rub against the surrounding tissues or if they put pressure on nerves, which in some cases may lead to burning symptoms around the heels.
What Can I Do For Burning Heel Pain?
Given that burning pain is a symptom and not a condition, the first step in treatment is to identify exactly what is causing the burning sensation – and any other symptoms you may be experiencing. Once we have a diagnosis, then it’s time to create a personalised treatment plan that considers your unique circumstances. Creating comprehensive management plans that focus not only on the short-term relief of your symptoms but also helps keep them gone or under control for the long term is a key focus of our podiatry team here in Masterton. If you’re experiencing burning heel pain, we’re here to help.