My heel is swollen after a sports injury. Please help.

Question

Hi doctor,

I got injured while playing. I fell down and my knee hit the ground. To prevent it, I tried to apply counter pressure on the floor using my heel. Now I have swelling in my heel for a week. On the first day, I could not able to walk properly. I had a burning sensation on the heel. After a week, I was able to walk but there is a tingling sensation on the heel. Please help me.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You got a trauma on the heel due to the application of counter pressure over the heel. Now, there is numbness along with it. A numb heel is caused due to blood flow constriction or nerve damage. The tibial nerve runs inside the tarsal tunnel and it can be compressed. Compression of a small nerve can cause pain, and numbness, or tingling sensation on the heel area. In many cases, nerve compression is related to a sprain, fracture, or varicose vein on the heel. I suggest you do physiotherapy with foot strengthening exercise and use ice compression. You can take tablet Methylcobalamin 1500 mcg sublingually once daily for two weeks. It plays a great role in the regeneration of nerves. You can use a silicon heel pad to reduce friction and it helps to have smooth walking.