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Heel Spur Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Surgery

Heel spurs usually form on the back of the heel or directly underneath it. They develop in response to irritation of the bone either from inflammation, repetitive friction, or following an injury. Heel spurs are also referred to as osteophytes or calcaneal spurs and can vary greatly in size. Wearing supportive and well-fitting shoes can help distribute weight evenly and reduce strain on the heel. Using a custom orthotic will provide your foot with the extra cushion it needs to make sure every step is padded with comfort and minimal pressure. Since the orthotics are customized for your specific foot, you can rest assured they will fit beautifully without having to worry about slipping.

How are calcaneal spurs diagnosed?

Physical therapy exercises can strengthen the foot muscles, improve flexibility, and promote healing. Resting the affected foot and applying ice can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. The most prevalent symptom is sharp, stabbing pain in the heel, particularly during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged periods of rest. In the ukrabet bahis event none of the traditional treatment methods work, surgery is always an option to address the issue.

Top Heel Spurs Related Articles

  • Alternating activities and incorporating rest periods can help prevent the formation of calcaneal spurs by avoiding excessive strain on the feet.
  • We’ll craft a treatment plan that eases your pain and gets you moving.
  • Calcaneal spurs are bony growths that develop on the calcaneus or heel bone.
  • While both conditions can cause heel pain, they require different treatment approaches.
  • Conditions such as arthritis and diabetes can also contribute to the development of calcaneal spurs, as they affect the overall health and function of the feet.
  • ESWT is a non-invasive procedure that uses shock waves to stimulate healing and reduce pain.

Alternating activities and incorporating rest periods can help prevent the formation of calcaneal spurs by avoiding excessive strain on the feet. Calcaneal spur x-rays are commonly used to confirm the presence of calcaneal spurs. These imaging studies can reveal the bony growths and provide insight into their size and location. A thorough physical examination by a healthcare professional can help identify the characteristic signs of calcaneal spurs, such as tenderness and inflammation. When plantar fasciitis becomes chronic (which it so often does), the insertion tendon of the plantar fascia can traction against the heel bone and cause the calcaneal spur to slowly grow.

Diagnosis of Calcaneal Spurs

  • Heel spurs are also referred to as osteophytes or calcaneal spurs and can vary greatly in size.
  • Without visible X-ray evidence, the condition is sometimes known as «heel spur syndrome.»
  • Ultimately, X-rays are one of the most common tests that healthcare providers use to diagnose heel spurs.
  • Calcaneal spurs can lead to discomfort and trouble performing activities of daily living due to heel pain.
  • Their exact pathophysiology is not well understood but many theories have been proposed 2-4.
  • While not all calcaneal spurs cause pain, they can become symptomatic and lead to significant discomfort, particularly during weight-bearing activities.
  • Plantar calcaneal spurs tend to usually occur in older men and women and may be related to obesity, osteoarthritis and current or previous heel pain.

If you are overweight, losing weight may also help prevent heel spurs. If there is noticeable lump, but no pain or other symptoms, they will usually be left alone. If however they start to cause symptoms such as pain or numbness, or they are causing damage to surrounding structures, heel spur treatment is required. You usually can’t see or feel inferior heel bone spurs as they are surrounded by soft tissue until they are quite large, but you may notice discomfort when you walk.

Prevention of Heel Spurs

Bone spurs themselves are not painful or dangerous but if they start encroaching on neighbouring structures like muscles, tendons, nerves or other bones, they can cause pain, stiffness and numbness. Treatment includes rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, orthotic inserts, and, in severe cases, surgery to remove the spur. Severe pain and discomfort can lead to difficulty walking or engaging in physical activities. Osseous spurring of the plantar aspect of the calcaneus was first documented in 1900 by the German physician P Plettner, who coined the term Kalkaneussporn (calcaneal spur) 7. Classically seen on plain radiographs, CT and MRI as a bony spur on the sagittal image projecting inferomedially from the calcaneus.