My heels are painful whenever I walk. I've to put insoles in my shoes. It's still painful despite doing so.

Question

This is due to the thinning of the tissues in the calcaneus as a result of walking too often. Are there any remedies to ease the pain and repair the tissues in the calcaneus (heels).

The part I am referring to is the calcaneus. Please refer to the diagram below:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/ahd4/A4foot.jpg

Answer 1

You may have Plantar fasciitis...Check out this site...See if it fits.  I had it three months ago...Thought I had a heel spur.  Went to the doctor when I was really limping badly.

He diagnosed it, have me a  steroid shot, felt like a bee sting, no big deal.  It didn't work immediately, but by the third day, I felt great!  Check out this site, see if it's what you have.

Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed with the classic symptoms of pain well localized over the heel area of the bottom of the foot. Often the pain from plantar ...

orthopedics.about.com/od/footankle/a/f... - 24k -

Answer 2

Take an aspirin a day,

it'll reduce the pain.

Answer 3

I'm not sure if my heel pains are due to the same reason as yours. My doctor taught me a few stretches to help ease stiffness in my heels and Achilles' tendons. It seems like when I'm inert for a long period of time (sitting at the computer, sleeping overnight, etc), my heels and tendons stiffen. He suggested that I do stretches before I go into a long period of inaction, to flex the muscles while sitting for long times, and stretching when I first stand up.

One example of stretching is to stand facing a wall. Lean your right foot on the wall so the toes are against the surface. The press forward, increasing the pressure in your tendon gradually. Hold at maximum pressure for a count of 30. Slowly release. Repeat with the left foot.

I do this at night before sleeping and in the morning upon waking and it has helped decrease the intensity of discomfort.

Answer 4

Comfrey root, used as a poultice, is known to help bone, flesh, muscle and soft tissue, as well as skin. Buy powdered root if you can, put a teaspoon or so  in a piece of gauze or cloth, pour boiling water over, cool slightly and apply 3x daily to the heel area. If all you can get is cut root, put a couple of teaspoons in 1/2 cup of water and simmer gently about 10-15 minutes with a lid on. Dip the gauze or cloth in this and apply to the heel.

If it were me, I might also drink the comfrey tea a couple of times a day for 15 to 20 days. It is a liver stimulant and is dangerous taken long-term but I feel quite safe taking it for up to 6 weeks.

And as you well know, you will heal faster if you stop walking for a few weeks. Lavender oil and/or Tea Tree oil will help with pain and inflammation. Somewhat drying, so mix about 30 drops of the pure essential oils in a teaspoon of olive oil.