Menopausal Heel Pain Causes, Diseases, and Treatments Explained!

Causes of heel pain during menopause

Menopausal symptoms such as “heel pain when walking”, “difficulty walking up and down stairs”, “feet pain and unable to wear heels” are caused by aging and a decrease in the female hormone estrogen. It is considered

A decrease in estrogen causes the cartilage and muscles that support the joints to weaken, the water in the joints to decrease, blood circulation to deteriorate, and inflammation to occur easily, leading to heel pain.

The four major causes of foot problems are age, genetics, lifestyle, and being a woman.

• Aging
  Weakening of tissues such as joints and muscles due to aging
• If you have congenital
  flat feet, if the joint at the base of the big toe is round, or if the big toe is longer than the second toe (Egyptian type), etc.
• Lifestyle Habits
  Wearing shoes that do not fit well, often wearing high heels, weakening of leg muscles
• Being a woman
  One reason why bunions are overwhelmingly more common in women is thought to be that women have weaker muscles and softer joints than men.

Menopause is a time when foot problems tend to progress

Starting with heel pain, menopause around the age of 50 is said to be a time when foot problems tend to progress , such as plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, stiff hallux, and ingrown toenails .

During menopause, the amount of estrogen secreted drops sharply, and when the ligaments, tendons, and muscles that have supported the foot skeleton so far become loose, the skeletal structure of the foot becomes distorted. Then, the shape of the foot collapses, and symptoms such as pain and deformation appear in the part where the distortion occurs.

In addition, it is possible that the damage accumulated by wearing high heels or shoes that do not fit your feet is affecting it.

During menopause, bone density and muscle strength decrease, and in addition to heel pain, foot problems such as ingrown toenails and bunions are likely to occur due to collapse of the sole arch. In particular, the male-to-female ratio of hallux valgus is 1:10, which is known to be overwhelmingly common in women.

In addition, the effects of female hormones appear not only on the feet but also on the fingers . If you feel pain in your body, not only in your heels, but also in your joints, it is a good idea to see a clinic as soon as possible.

Heel disease common during menopause

Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis are common heel diseases during menopause.

Below is a description of each disease.

Achilles tendonitis (Achilles tendonitis)

Achilles tendonitis (Achilles tendonitis) is a disease that causes pain due to inflammation of the tissue surrounding the Achilles tendon due to repeated strain on the Achilles tendon, thickening (swelling and thickening) or adhesion. . It occurs due to stress from running, training, etc., and aging.

Achilles tendonitis causes hypersensitivity of the Achilles tendon, causing pain during activities of daily living and sports. Achilles tendonitis may resolve on its own, but if symptoms do not improve, it is best to see a doctor.

Achilles tendonitis is said to occur mainly in the following two places.

• Achilles tendon attachment (part near the heel bone)
• Mid Achilles tendon (between calf and heel)

If it is mild, it will be cured in 1 to 2 months with treatment, but if it is severe, it may not be cured even after a year.

plantar fasciitis (plantar fasciitis)

Plantar fasciitis (plantar fasciitis) is inflammation and pain of the plantar fascia (the tissue on the bottom of the foot that extends from the heel to the base of the toes) and surrounding muscles. A disease that causes symptoms such as

The plantar fascia supports the arch of the foot and plays an important role as a cushion that softens the impact on the foot. If this cushioning property decreases and a great deal of stress is applied to the plantar fascia, inflammation will be caused.

In addition to hormonal imbalance due to menopause, plantar fasciitis is caused by repeated sports that give a strong impact to the feet, problems with the structure of the feet (high arches, flat feet, etc.), problems with shoes, etc. Aging, stiffness of the Achilles tendon and calves can be considered.

The incidence of plantar fasciitis increases with age. Plantar fasciitis can also be self-checked , so if you are concerned about it, check it out.

Should I go to the doctor if my heel hurts during menopause?

As long as your heel pain is not affecting your daily life, such as infrequent heel pain, there is basically nothing to worry about.

However, you should see a doctor if:

• Heel or sole pain lasting more than 3 to 4 days
• Unable to walk due to severe pain, unable to wear shoes, etc.

If you continue to walk with foot problems, the symptoms may get worse. If you feel that your feet have grown in size, your feet may be out of shape.

Covering the painful area while walking can lead to a whole-body disorder, which can lead to aggravation.

In addition, pain in the legs makes it difficult to walk, and if there are fewer opportunities to go out and exercise, muscle strength and physical strength will decline, and immunity will decline, making it easier to get sick. sex too.

If the pain continues, it is important not to leave it unattended and to see a doctor as soon as possible.

What kind of doctor should I see for menopausal heel pain?

Heel and sole pain due to menopause should be examined by an orthopedic surgeon.

Other menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, hot flashes, irritation, anxiety, and insomnia can be seen, and if you want to consult about overall symptoms, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist.

Menopausal Heel Pain Treatment and Prevention

Here’s how to treat and prevent menopausal heel pain.

active nutrition

It is also recommended to actively incorporate nutrients and ingredients that can be expected to alleviate menopausal symptoms into your diet.

• Isoflavones: tofu, natto, fried tofu, deep-fried tofu, soybean flour, bean curd refuse, soy milk, etc.
• Vitamin E: Spinach, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, green peppers, tomatoes, avocados, almonds, etc.
• Calcium: milk, small fish, seaweed, etc.

Isoflavones, which are said to act like female hormones, are nutrients that you want to actively take to relieve menopausal symptoms. As mentioned above, it is contained in various foods, and it is easy to incorporate it, such as drinking it as a drink or using it in cooking.

What you want to take with isoflavones is vitamin E, which has the effect of supporting the ovaries that secrete estrogen and adjusting hormone balance.

Also, when estrogen decreases, bone density decreases rapidly, so be sure to take in nutrients such as calcium that strengthen your bones.

Taking advantage of supplements (equol)

Recently, equol has been attracting attention.

Soybeans and soy products contain soy isoflavones. Equol is a substance that is metabolized by intestinal bacteria from daidzein, which is contained in soy isoflavones, and has a similar effect to the female hormone estrogen.

However, not everyone can produce equol, and only about 50% of Japanese people can produce equol. In other words, 1 in 2 people cannot produce equol in their body. You can check whether you can produce equol with a commercially available test kit.

If you have a constitution that cannot produce equol in the intestine, you can take it as a supplement.

According to a survey conducted by the Yotsuya Medical Cube Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Center on more than 100 patients with finger disorders, nearly 60% of patients who continued to take equol at a constant level for 3 months It seems that there has been an improvement.

In this survey, in addition to improving the swelling and pain of the finger joints, some people also felt effects such as improvement of stiff shoulders and constipation, lightening of dark spots, and shiny hair.

If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms other than heel pain, you may want to consider taking an equol supplement after consulting with your doctor.

It is also recommended to take herbal medicine for heel pain.

Chinese herbal medicine is recommended as a drug treatment to relieve the symptoms of menopause, and is also used for pain in heels and joints.

For foot and heel pain

• Relieves muscle tension, joint pain and inflammation
• remove water from the affected area
• promote blood flow

Treatment is performed with herbal medicine including herbal medicines that have effects such as

Chinese herbal medicine improves blood flow and relieves muscle tension and pain, so it not only improves feet and heels, but also improves stiff shoulders and lower back pain at the same time.

Also, by improving blood flow, nutrition reaches the whole body, so you can get a body that is less likely to get tired. By choosing Kampo according to the symptoms and constitution of each person, you can feel a quick effect and improve your constitution from the root. If you want to spend every day in good health, Chinese herbal medicine is recommended.

Here are two herbal remedies that are recommended for those who suffer from heel pain.

・Makyou Yokukanto
: A herbal medicine used for pain in joints and muscles that tend to get worse due to cold and humidity.
It relieves joint pain by removing water accumulated in the affected area due to coldness and suppressing swelling and pain.

・Boi Ogito
This herbal medicine is recommended for watery types who tend to sweat and feel tired easily.
Improves swelling and joint pain by promoting water metabolism and removing excess water. If you want to easily try Kampo medicine that suits your symptoms and constitution, why not use ” Online AI Kampo

” where a medical team familiar with Kampo will deliver the perfect Kampo medicine to your home at a reasonable price . One of the merits is that you can complete everything from diagnosis, prescription, purchase of Chinese medicine to delivery while at home.

Stretching to reduce the burden on the bottom of the foot

The bottom of the foot, including the heel, plays an important role in supporting the weight. When walking, of course, when running, the burden on the bottom of the foot is even greater.

It’s important to keep your muscles and tendons flexible, as a loss of flexibility in the bottom of your foot is more likely to cause pain.

As an effective coping method for plantar fasciitis, there is a stretch that reduces the burden on the bottom of the foot. When the calf muscles become stiff, the burden placed on the bottom of the foot increases, so it is a good idea to stretch the surrounding area together with stretching the bottom of the foot.

[Stretching of the sole]

1. Sit down and support the area around the calf with your left hand, then hold your toe with your right hand and slowly bend it
2. Do it while being aware of the sole stretching, and do 3 sets or more a day as 1 set of 10 times.

[calf stretching]

1. Pull the painful leg back. Keep your heels firmly on the floor
2. Place both hands on the forward leg and slowly shift the center of gravity to the front leg.
3. Do this 2-3 times a day

Exercise within a reasonable range when there is little pain

If you don’t get enough exercise, your muscles will become weaker. When there is little pain, exercise moderately to improve physical strength and muscle strength, and improve blood flow.

However, if you overdo it and the symptoms get worse, it will be serious. After consulting with your doctor, exercise as much as possible.

improve gait and posture

In order to prevent heel and sole problems, it is important to walk with the correct posture. Walking long strides is effective for dieting, but it is said that short strides are better for the health of your legs .

If you are worried about whether your gait is correct, it is recommended to consult a physical therapist and have them take a look.

review shoes

If your shoes are affecting your heels, feet, and deformities, you need to choose the right shoes. Consider consulting a shoe specialist or podiatrist to review your current shoes .

People who wear the following shoes and socks should be careful.

• Shoes that cannot fix your feet (sandals, slippers, sandals, clogs, boots, etc.)
• Shoes with loose laces that allow feet to swim inside
• Shoes with soft heels or shoes with too much cushioning
• wide shoes
• Shoes with raised (uneven) insoles at the arch
• Socks made of slippery material (stockings, tube socks, etc.)

In addition, since there are care products such as support socks, it is also recommended to incorporate these.

Treat menopausal heel pain early

Menopause is said to be a time when foot problems such as heel pain tend to progress due to the decrease in estrogen.

If the pain subsides in a few days and it doesn’t interfere with your daily life, it’s okay to wait and see, but if the pain persists or other symptoms of menopause are difficult, it’s a good idea to see a clinic as soon as possible. .

Continuing pain in the heels and feet makes it difficult to exercise and go out, resulting in physical strength and muscle weakness, weakening the body’s immunity and making it easier to get sick, leading to a vicious cycle. It is important not to put up with it and to deal with it appropriately.