What Is A Heel Spur?

I run a lot and have developed a good deal of pain in the bottoms of my feet. My friends have told me I probably have heel spurs. What are heel spurs?

Heel spurs are extra bone growths at the heel. They usually result from excessive pulling on the heel bone by tendons or the connected tissue attached to the bone.

Heel spurs are very common but typically do not cause pain. The spurs cause pain when inflammation develops in near by tissues. Heel spur pain is also called plantar heel pain syndrome. When a person arises and puts their foot down first thing in the morning and notices pain that is one of the first symptoms. This pain may also occur with the first few steps after sitting for a long time.

Heel spur pain can usually be diagnosed during a physical examination. If you press on the bottom of the heel where the arch begins it will usually cause pain. Pain with pressure to the center of the heel indicates that an inflamed bursa may also be present. X-rays sometimes are taken to confirm the diagnosis, but results may be normal at first.

A doctor’s treatment is usually aimed at relieving pain. Wrapping the arch with padding and tape or using orthotics, which help to stabilize the heel, can minimize extension of the fascia and minimize pain. Heel pads and supportive shoes with very soft soles may also help. Ice massages and calf stretching are also effective. A mixture of corticosteroids and a local anesthetic can be injected into the trouble area of the heel. The majority of painful heels spurs resolve without surgery.

Removal of the spur or the dense band of tissue that extends from the spur at the bottom of the heel bone to the base of the toes (plantar fascia) should be performed only when constant pain is not relieved by other treatment measures. Surgery should be used only as a extreme last resort because the results are rarely predictable. On many occasions, pain persists after surgery.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 12:13 am and is filed under Heal Pain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.