What Causes Pain And Swelling In The Heels?

Posted on Thu, 5 Jan 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 Jan 2017 Answered on

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I have recently started having pain, swelling, and heat in the lateral aspect of my left heel.the symptoms have increased and have started to radiate to the top of my foot and ankle. There has been no trauma or injury to this area.

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
bursitis / gout

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting the question.

I have been through your question in detail and i feel that either your have a lateral heel bursitis or gout.

Lateral Heel Bursitis - occurs due to fluid accumulation in a bursa that is normally present behind and lateral aspect of the heel.
An underlying inflammation is responsible for this.

Gout - raised uric acid levels in the blood can lead to depositon of tiny uric acid crystals in and around the lateral heel soft tissues including the tendons and ligaments.

A Xray / MRI of heel and blood investigations ( complete blood count and uric acid levels) should be done to differentiate between the two.

Take anti-inflammatory tablets like ibupfofen,paracetamol etc.
If serum uric acid levels are found to be raised then tablets like cochicine and allopurinol will help lower the levels back to normal.

Apply compression bandage and local analgesic gels followed by hot fomentation for 15 minutes two times a day for 5 days.

If this does not help then you need to see a orthopaedic doctor for further management.

Do let me know once the reports are ready.

Hope this answer helps you.

Thank you.

Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Mahaveer Patil (6 minutes later)

I am trying to get into my family Dr. Is there anything i can do in the meantime to help alleviate my symptoms? Ive tried elevation, rest, and nsaids. All to no avail. Also, if it is gout, will i have "outbreaks"in other areas of my body?

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Query answered

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

For temporary relief,NSAID's is the best option.But it should be combined with application of local gel and hot fomentation as i mentioned earlier.

Fibrinolytic tablets like trypsin,chymotrypsin and serratiopeptidase along with NSAIDs will help.

Gout can have outbreaks in any other part of body if the uric acid levels continue to remain at higher levels.

So it is better to rule it out by the blood test.

Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Mahaveer Patil (12 minutes later)

Does alcohol intake or diet have any effect on how the gout has started?

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Query answered

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Yes, alcohol and non vegeterian diet (especially fish and red meat) is known to cause gout.
Soda drinks,spinach also raise the uric acid levels.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Mahaveer Patil (8 hours later)

There has been no trauma or injury of any type to this area

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Query answered

Detailed Answer:
Yea,i know that there has been no trauma or injury to this area as you had mentioned this earlier.

I have advised you considering the above history itself.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D