# What could be causing this odd heel twinge?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 19, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342 "2012-02-19T19:41:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342/1 "2012-02-19T19:41:45Z")

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I have a strange twinge in my left heel when I flex my foot all the way up. It goes away if I stretch for a minute or two. There’s no twinge when I point it or walk normally, and no twinge in the right foot. I’m wondering if this could be plantar fascitis, or neuropathy, or the sciatic nerve, or…?

I took a picture of a foot online and [put a dot](http://i.imgur.com/RCqJQ.png) where the twinge is. Anecdotes from non-doc types are certainly appreciated!

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**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342/2 "2012-02-19T21:24:56Z")

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Usually nothing, certainly not signalling plantar fasciatis. This sounds like a minor nerve that got triggered by stepping or straining at a different angle. Both sides will never respond the same. Stay active. Stretch a little. Everything should be fine.

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**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342/3 "2012-02-19T21:29:41Z")

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It’s definitely not plantar fasciitis. I have that, and it hurts like a motherfucker, with every step, and it never goes away, although it can be controlled (and by controlled I mean I’m able to walk without screaming, although I still feel it) with prescription anti-inflammatories, ice, stretching, etc. I vote a weird nerve thing. You could still try an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, though.

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342/4 "2012-02-19T21:58:31Z")

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I was going to guess some kind of achilles problem, but your dot is in the wrong place.

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**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-this-odd-heel-twinge/613342/5 "2012-02-19T23:45:37Z")

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I’m glad it’s not fascitis! I was wondering if it could be a sign of neuropathy, although it’s weird that it only shows up when my foot is at certain angles.