Heel bursitis is characterized by severe inflammation, which provokes an accumulation of serous or purulent exudate in the synovial bag. In the process of the development of the disease, a person develops severe acute pain when walking, which limits the mobility of the joint and the Achilles tendon. Bursa have the form of bags filled with inter-articular fluid, which serve to reduce the friction between the tendons, muscles and bones. The synovial substance is a kind of laying between the tissues, which provides a person with painless movements.
Depending on the structure and size, the joint can have a different number of bursa, for example, there are two of them in the heel - the first is located between the Achilles tendon and the calcaneus, and the second between the skin and the same tendon. Like other human organs, synovial bags are negatively affected by certain factors that trigger heel bursitis.
Symptoms of the disease:
- swelling in the heel;
- redness and swelling of the skin;
- soreness and discomfort when moving the foot.
Reasons for the development of bursitis:
- gout and arthritis;
- secondary infection of synovial bags;
- metabolic disease;
- allergic reactions;
- intoxication;
- autoimmune diseases;
- sprains and injuries;
- excessive loads on the ankle joint ;
- walking in high heels;
- wrong shoe size or uncomfortable shoe.
Heel bursitis treatment
Treatment of heel bursitis , which proceeds in an acute form, consists of conservative methods and is carried out at home. During the first week, the patient is recommended complete rest and anti-inflammatory therapy. Purulent heel bursitis needs surgical treatment, which includes opening the synovial cavity with subsequent removal of the contents. If you find the first symptoms of the disease, you should consult a surgeon, since self-medication at the initial stage can lead to the development of very serious complications. To eliminate the pain syndrome, it is strictly forbidden to apply a heating pad or hot compresses to the diseased joint, otherwise the heel bursitis can pass from the serous stage to purulent.
Alternative treatment of heel bursitis
The recipes of traditional medicine in the treatment of bursitis can be used only after the acute period of the disease has passed and the function of the affected joint begins to recover. It should be noted that all folk recipes that you want to apply must be agreed with your doctor, otherwise possible complications may negatively affect your health.
It is useful to apply green leaves of Kalanchoe, warm sugar, and also compresses from a decoction of burdock, beets, cabbage and potatoes, which must be done at night, to a diseased joint. To accelerate the effect, it is recommended to additionally consume celery tea and grapefruit juice.
With bursitis of the heel, it is useful to make foot baths with an extract of pine cones, which must first be soaked in cool water, then boil for 30 minutes and insist overnight. Treatment of heel bursitis with folk remedies should be accompanied by such a useful and enjoyable procedure as massage. It is recommended to conduct it before bedtime, using a mixture of oils of lavender, eucalyptus and petroleum jelly. After the procedure, you should put on a warm sock and put a small roller under the foot, which will help relieve fatigue accumulated over the day.