Ouch! Every time you take a step it hurts.
It feels like there’s no skin between the bone in your heel and the ground.
Walking reasonable distances shouldn’t be a painful experience. But for many Americans it is.
And don’t be like the many other Americans who decide to ignore the pain and do nothing about it. That’s only going to make it worse.
Here’s why you could be experiencing that pain in your…heel:

1. New Training or Activity that is Too Advanced Or Used Too Quickly
Got a teenager that just started a new training regimen for basketball season? That could be a cause. Are you an adult getting back on the horse with rigorous exercise? Any new, intense, or extensive activity can be too much for your heels to handle. Improper footwear, increased weight, and not using good foot mechanics for your exercise can also contribute to the problem.

-That problem, by the way, is what doctors call “plantar fasciitis.”
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis: You’ll know it when you have it. You feel it where the arch of your foot meets your heel. It’s sharp and most intense in the morning. It gets better throughout the day because the plantar fascia, the tissue on the underside of your foot, stretches out throughout the day.

2. Sudden Activity Increases Cause Achilles Tendonitis
Sudden activity, along with overuse can cause this condition. It can range in severity from mild to extreme.

-It commonly happens in middle-aged adults who play sports with intense activity, like tennis or basketball. And this is especially so if you only play the sport on the weekends.
In some serious cases, you can tear your achilles tendon, which requires a painful surgery with an extended recovery process.

3. Injuries, Disease, or Genetics Cause Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
With this injury, you experience a shooting pain in the sole of your foot. Most people discuss a numb or tingling sensation.

-Diseases like diabetes or arthritis can bring it on. And an ankle sprain can sometimes cause it too.
Plus, some people born with flat feet or fallen arches also experience this pain.
Treating These Kinds of Heel Pain

In their mild and moderate forms, these injuries simply use the RICE method to recover.
“RICE” stands for:
• Rest
• Ice (Use it for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Do not use while sleeping. Keep a towel between the ice and your skin.)
• Compression (Use a compression wrap to reduce swelling.)
• Elevation
If you have more chronic or severe pain that just won’t go away, see a medical professional for further advice.