People with heel pain are always conscious of the fact that something is wrong, but they often attribute the pain to their job or on their shoes, being unaware that the pain they feel could be a symptom of a more severe underlying problem. Many problems are called from work related issues and shoes, but people should be careful not to make any unjustifiable conclusions.

Listed here are some of the more common causes of heel pain along with some tips for dealing with them.

1. Calf muscles and Achilles tendons can tighten as a result of wearing shoes with high heels, extended walks or periods of standing or from tight shoes. Women who customarily wear uncomfortable shoes and athletes are two groups that most commonly have this type of pain in their heels.

2. There is a ligament in the foot that forms the connection between the heel and the toes. Called the plantar facia, this ligament often causes pain when people roll their feet as they walk, run on a hardened surface or habitually put on well-worn shoes.

3. People who have had ankle injuries may find that they develop pain similar to that which many computer users in their wrists. This particular condition, tarsal tunnel syndrome, is caused by the pinching of the nerve that connects the ankle and the leg. This can also be caused by an inflamed tendon or a cyst in the heel area and by rolling the foot inward while walking.

A doctor can usually give a patient a good idea about the cause of heel pain. After inspection and perhaps an Xray or other test, patients with heel pain can quickly come away with an effective treatment plan.

This plan may involve some pain medication, but may also include specially fit shoes designed to keep feet from rolling and rest. In the case of a degenerative disease, additional drug and physical therapy may be needed. Also, sometimes people have injured their foot and experience heel pain as a result of that, not a disease or other problem.

Everyone with heel pain has one thing in common: they should schedule an appointment immediately to have it checked.