What is causing your tacchi dard (heel pain)?
Tacchi dard (टाच दुखणे / heel pain) is one of the most common orthopaedic complaints. The most frequent cause is plantar fasciitis, but others include:
- Plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the thick band from heel to toes; sharp pain with first morning steps
- Heel spur (calcaneal spur) — a bony growth on the underside of the heel bone; often coexists with plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinitis — pain at the back of the heel; common in runners and people who are on their feet all day
- Fat pad atrophy — cushioning fat under the heel thins with age; common in older patients
- Stress fracture of the calcaneus — uncommon but important to exclude in athletes and after long runs
Treatment — most cases resolve without surgery
- Stretching — calf and plantar fascia stretches; the most effective treatment when done consistently
- Supportive footwear and insoles — heel cups, arch support; avoid walking barefoot on hard floors
- Night splint — keeps the plantar fascia stretched while sleeping
- Corticosteroid injection — targeted relief for persistent cases; significant improvement in most
- Shockwave therapy — for chronic cases not responding after 3–6 months
- Surgery — plantar fascia release; reserved for the small number who fail all non-surgical treatment