If you have pain on the back of your heel or just above the heel bone it could be from an Achilles tendon problem. The Achilles tendon is a long strong structure that comes from your calf muscles and attaches to the back of your heel. A condition of this tendon is common and often quite painful. Injuries to this tendon are quite common in sports and other high-impact activities.
One of the most common places for the Achilles tendon to be problematic is where it attaches to the back of the heel bone. The tendon can become inflamed and even tear off of the bone. This condition is often associated with a bone spur on the back of the heel. An injury can cause this problem, but usually, that’s not the case. Tightness of the calf muscles can ultimately trigger tension where the Achilles attaches to the foot. If you have pain on the back of the heel, the best home remedies are ice, wearing shoes that have elevated heels, avoiding running and jumping activities, and taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory.
If the Achilles is a problem above where it attaches to the bone, one of the common things we see here is the thickness of the tendon. This is equivalent to scar tissue formation. This kind of problem has no home remedies. It can be challenging to eliminate the scar tissue but not impossible. The biggest risk of ignoring Achilles tendon pain is the possibility of a tear. A tear of the Achilles tendon typically means weeks and possibly months of recovery time, and also the possibility of surgery.
It’s important to avoid shoes that are flat and walking barefoot when you have Achilles tendon pain. Sandals, Crocs or other shoes that are open in the back are often more comfortable when the Achilles is sore. We can usually nurse an Achilles tendon problem back to health without surgery, but it’s critical that we get at it early in its onset. Limping around with an Achilles condition can not only be exhausting, but can also lead to a problem with your knee, hip, or back. You can avoid unnecessary long-term suffering from an Achilles problem by having it addressed within no more than a month of it starting.