Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
-
Often, individuals who present with "isolated" heel pain but with normal laboratory findings are dismissed without diagnosis. However, if these patients are carefully questioned and examined, a significant proportion are found to have a spondyloarthropathy. The keys to making this diagnosis are obtaining a thorough medical history and performing a complete physical examination. The classic complaints of back pain and enthesitis in other areas are frequently not reported by patients unless specifically sought, because they are thought to be unrelated to the heel pain.