Heel Pain? The Problem Might Not Be in the Heel | Most Heel Pain Is Misdiagnosed Like This

This young dancer had heel pain for 8 months.

In India, she received 6 months of physiotherapy. All of them diagnosed plantar fasciitis and treated the bottom of her foot. But the pain never truly improved.

When she came to my clinic in New Zealand, I found something very different during the examination. She had marked tenderness behind the medial ankle, and the pain could clearly radiate into the heel. Even more importantly, the sensation under her heel was reduced. These are not typical signs of plantar fasciitis.

This is a classic presentation of: 👉 Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome — a nerve compression problem near the ankle.

Sometimes, heel pain does not come from the heel.

Accurate assessment makes all the difference.