Frequently Asked Questions About Heel Spurs

We treat heel spurs in our office and find that while patients know they are in pain, many have no idea why or what is causing their feet to hurt when walking. The best way to learn more about feet is to visit our clinic for information and a diagnosis. In the meantime, if you think you have a heel spur, here is a list of frequently asked questions to provide you with more information.

WHAT IS A HEEL SPUR?

The technical term for them is calcaneal spurs, a bone growth on the heel.

WHAT CAUSES THEM?

Typically, they are caused by calcium buildup on the bone. These calcium deposits do not normally form on the heel and when they do, they cause a bony growth. Some factors that increase the risk of one forming are:

Obesity or being very overweight
Tight shoes
Standing for too long at work
Walking with pressure placed on one foot over the other
Old age

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE ONE?

Once there is a growth on the bone, the heel no longer feels and typically has a pointy feeling or bump when one touches the heel. In most cases, people experience severe heel pain when walking or running. Even standing can cause intense discomfort.

While the actual bone itself does not experience pain, the tissue surrounding it does. The pain that the tissue experiences is what causes a reaction when moving. Many people describe it as a jabbing sensation.

WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT?

Visit our office for an examination and X-rays. If there is a heel spur, we can treat it through a variety of therapeutic methods. Leaving a heel spur unattended can lead to more pain and allow the condition to get worse over time.

HOW DO YOU TREAT A HEEL SPUR?

Surgery may be necessary for treating the condition to remove the excess bone. However, we have non-invasive methods that we can use for treatment first. These treatments include resting and stretching the foot, as well as wearing an orthotic shoe insert. The treatment method that we use will depend entirely on the size and severity of the actual spur.

WHEN WILL I FEEL BETTER?

Rest and icing the foot can offer temporary relief right away. Once the actual treatment plan begins, most patients begin to experience relief within a few days or several weeks. It really depends on the amount of damage to the tissue around the spur. If surgery is necessary, it will take a while to recover from that surgery. We can discuss the entire process during a consultation.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?

Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment so that we can examine and diagnose you. If it turns out that you do have a heel spur, we can then take steps to correct and treat the problem. If something else is causing your foot pain, we can treat that as well.