What Causes Heel Pain in a 40-Year-Old Woman?
Pain in the heels of a 40-year-old woman may be caused by overexertion, trauma, bone spur, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and other reasons. It is recommended that patients seek medical attention promptly. After clarifying the cause, corresponding treatment measures should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.
1. Overexertion: It may be due to prolonged standing, walking, and other reasons, causing excessive traction on the heels, leading to symptoms such as pain, redness, and swelling. Patients should avoid standing or walking for extended periods. Meanwhile, a hot towel can be used for hot compresses at a temperature of 40~50°C. Continuous hot compresses should be applied for two hours to promote blood circulation and improve symptoms.
2. Trauma: If affected by direct or indirect external violent factors, the skin and soft tissue of the Achilles tendon area may be compressed, causing tissue fluid leakage and manifesting as discomfort such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Within 24 hours, ice wrapped in a towel can be directly placed on the affected area for ice compresses to reduce tissue fluid leakage and improve swelling. The ice compress time should be controlled at 30 minutes, with an interval of 3~4 hours. After 24 hours, a hot towel can be used for hot compresses, with the temperature controlled at 40~50°C. Hot compresses should be applied every 10 minutes to promote blood circulation and reduce pain.
3. Bone Spur: Prolonged standing or walking may stimulate the heel bone repeatedly, leading to bone degeneration and the formation of bone spurs. When the bone spur stimulates the heel area, obvious pain and limited mobility may occur during walking. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed, such as Mupirocin Ointment, Erythromycin Ointment, and Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel. If walking is affected, surgical treatment, such as minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, is recommended.
4. Achilles Tendinitis: It may be due to lack of warm-up exercises before sports or excessive exercise, causing inflammatory reactions in the heels, manifesting as pain, redness, swelling, and limited mobility. Patients can take oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as prescribed, such as Diclofenac Sodium Slow-Release Tablets, Ibuprofen Sustained-Release Capsules, and Paracetamol Tablets.
5. Plantar Fasciitis: Excessive walking or prolonged standing may lead to repeated excessive traction of the fascia and plantar muscles, causing sterile inflammation. The plantar fascia is a tissue connecting the heel and toes. When plantar fasciitis occurs, the heel will also show inflammatory reactions, such as pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken orally under the guidance of a doctor, such as Paracetamol Tablets, Indomethacin Enteric-coated Tablets, and Diclofenac Sodium Sustained-Release Capsules. Due to varying conditions, treatment plans also differ. Patients should follow the doctor's instructions for treatment, avoid believing in so-called folk remedies, and refrain from abusing drugs to prevent serious impacts on their condition. In daily life, patients should engage in appropriate physical exercise according to their own conditions to enhance their physique.
