Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment for Heel Spurs

What Are Heel Spurs and How Do You Treat Them?
When it comes to heel spurs, there are two sorts to consider, as well as the position of the spur. Bone spurs on the bottom of the heel are more prevalent, while bone spurs on the back of the heel are more difficult to treat.

 

What exactly are spurs? Spurs are extra bone growths, not calcium deposits, as some patients have mistakenly assumed. Bone is made up of a variety of minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, collagen, and hydroxylapatite matrix, among others. Calcium deposits are simply calcium and can be found in a variety of locations throughout the body. However, bone is more than just calcium. Spurs aren’t just calcium; they’re real bone.

 

This blog will focus on bone growths that originate from the calcaneus, or heel bone. Bone is a living creature that, like all other parts of the body, expands when subjected to force or stress. (Wolff’s law, discovered in the 19th century by the German anatomist and surgeon Julius Wolff (1836–1902), holds that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the pressures placed on it.) To put it another way, when the tension on the heel bone increases, it will generate more bone to handle it.

Heel Spurs Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes

Plantar Heel Spurs (Plantar Heel Spurs) are a type of heel spur

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment for Heel Spurs Plantar heel spurs are spurs that form on the bottom of the heel. The term “plantar” refers to the bottom of the foot. “Posterior” heel spurs are heel/bone spurs on the back of the heel. Excess force from the plantar fascia, which links to the heel bone, causes the spur to grow, according to the notion of plantar heel spurs. According to one idea, as the foot pronates (rolls inward and the arch lowers), the foot lengthens and the arch lowers. The plantar fascia is stretched and pulled on its insertion on the heel bone as a result of this. Another idea is that when the plantar fascia pulls on the heel due to dysfunction of the big toe joint, which is the other end of the fascia. Heel spurs can also be caused by disorders like ankylosing spondylitis, which is a kind of arthritis.

2. Heel Spurs in the Back

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment for Heel Spurs

Heel spurs on the back of the heel, also called posterior heel spurs, form where the achilles tendon connects to the heel bone. Excessive pull on the achilles from its leg muscle attachments (gastrocnemius and soleus) generates tension on the heel bone, resulting in a heel spur at the achilles/heel bone interface, according to the notion. What causes excessive force on the achilles tendon? The cause is once again pronation of the feet. When walking or running, one of the main functions of the two leg muscles that link to the achilles (gastrocnemius/soleus) is to decelerate or lessen pronation of the foot. Excess pronation (which can be caused by a variety of factors) leads the muscles to overwork and put extra strain on the achilles, resulting in bone spurs on the back of the heel. Some kinds of arthritis can also develop posterior heel spurs.

Symptoms of a Heel Spur

Heel spur pain is a common ailment that is frequently misinterpreted.

 

The following symptoms of posterior heel spurs are common and painful:

 

• A “knife cutting into the back of the heel” type of pain

• Swelling and inflammation of the soft tissues in the surrounding area

• Bursitis, which affects the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles surrounding the heel joints, is a painful ailment.

Plantar heel spurs, unlike posterior heel spurs, do not cause pain on the bottom of the heel. The plantar fascia, where it joins to the heel, or the heel bone at the tubercles at the bottom of the heel, are the true culprits of heel discomfort on the bottom. Tubercles are lumps on the bottom of the heel bone that are anatomically correct. They are not related with spurs and are typical anatomy. Periostitis is an inflammation of the periosteum, or membrane that covers the heel bone and tubercles, which causes this pain.

 

What’s intriguing is that in my over 30 years of practice and thousands of heel pain cases, I’ve frequently discovered that when the feet are x-rayed, the foot with the larger plantar spur isn’t always the one that hurts. There is frequently no link between the size of the spur on the bottom of the heel and the pain. I’ve encountered a lot of examples when the painful heel doesn’t have a spur at all, but the spur is on the other heel, which doesn’t hurt at all.

 

Heel Spurs and Their Treatment

A simple x-ray can be used to determine whether you have heel spurs. Heel spurs and heel pain are difficult to treat and require a combination of treatments and time. It necessitates patience as well as a commitment to following the process to the letter. It will take longer to treat and resolve pain if it has been there for a long time. I usually start with shoes, regardless of the source or location of the problem. I require all of my patients’ usual shoes to be brought in so that I can assess what they are wearing and whether the shoes are inappropriate or simply old and worn out. Most shoes are only useful for about a year if they are worn on a regular basis. The materials stretch, distort, and lose their stability and cushioning with time.

 

New or nearly new shoes are the finest shoes for heel spurs or any other foot pain, as they provide the highest chance for recuperation. The following are the most crucial characteristics of the greatest heel spur shoes:

 

• An orthotic insole is built into the shoe to support the arch and relieve strain on the plantar fascia.

• Shoes with adjustable laces or straps to accommodate different foot types.

• Extra-deep structure allows for any type of custom insert to be used.

• Stability is improved by a firm outsole and midsole.

• A powerful heel counter

• Wide last design to keep the foot in its natural anatomical posture without squeezing or bulging.

• All-day comfort is provided with soft foam uppers and a padded inner around the heel area.

• Multi-layered footbed and sole cushion the bottom of the heel and disperse shock.

Many shoes from IDEASTEP, an orthotic footwear firm, meet these requirements, and my wife and I both wear IDEASTEP shoes. They have some of the greatest heel spur shoes on the market, with superior orthotic insoles and ergonomic soles that give anatomical arch support and unequaled cushioning. To see the collection, go here.

 

Now for the details.

 

Treatment for Plantar Heel Pain:

• For plantar heel discomfort, which is frequently caused by the plantar fascia or the actual heel bone rather than the spur, I normally start with shoes and an insert. I normally use an IDEASTEP BioSole Gel insert for the insert. I’ve been using this exact insert for over 25 years and have had great success with it. It boasts a sturdy arch support and a gel pad under the heel that adapts to the shape of the foot over time. The BioSole Gel minimizes pronation, which can lead to plantar fasciitis, and unlocks a malfunctioning big toe joint, as well as having a gel pad under the heel for periostitis or tubercle pain. To see the BioSole Gel inserts, go here.

• A cortisone injection can assist with extreme pain, but it doesn’t address the underlying concerns.

• If necessary, oral medicines can be administered.

• For plantar heel discomfort, heel spur exercises such as moving the foot back into dorsiflexion toward the thigh while sitting or lying down can be beneficial. This is especially true when you first get out of bed in the morning.

• If the insert and medication don’t work after a while, I’ll usually recommend a custom foot orthotic for the best pronation control and arch support.

• Several weeks in a walking boot is usually beneficial in recalcitrant situations.

• Plantar heel spurs are occasionally surgically removed, but I have never done so in my practice.

Relief of the Posterior Heel Spur:

Treatment for pain relief from a posterior heel spur is far more complex and debilitating. Patients frequently remark that walking is difficult, and that lying down with the back of the heel on the bed causes pain. The rubbing of the backs of the shoes can aggravate the pain. I’ve discovered that limiting pronation, which causes the leg muscles to overcontract, pushing on the achilles tendon, which irritates and can develop spurs, is the key to lowering pain. Reduced pronation is useful even in the event of arthritic spurs.

 

It all starts with well-made supportive shoes and an inlay to reduce pronation. If the in-office test reveals it can control enough pronation, I’ll start with the BioSole gel. I give them a stiff custom orthotic if I believe they need more control. Medication can help in the short term, but I stay away from cortisone because it can harm the achilles tendon. I propose a walking boot for a few weeks in stubborn situations with very acute discomfort. Some patients, unlike those with plantar heel spurs, require surgical resection of the spurs. I only suggest this after several months of aggressive conservative treatment and physical therapy, in addition to the other treatments I’ve outlined. In certain circumstances, surgery can fail and result in a long recovery period.

 

The greatest approach to avoid heel spur discomfort is to avoid it in the first place. Wearing well-made, not-worn-out shoes is the first line of defense. Never walk around barefoot or with only socks on! When standing or walking, shoes are required at all times. Slippers with the above attributes can be worn around the house and will provide the necessary support and protection. These are likewise designed by IDEASTEP and are effective for heel spurs and heel pain.

https://www.aideastep.com/898-shoe-insert/