Heel Bone Spurs: Common Symptoms
Heel bone spurs are hardened tissue growth at the heel where the tendons are found. The main heel spur symptoms are piercing pain in the heel when stretching the foot and a continuous aching of the foot. These calcified tissues can poke at the soft inflamed tissue in the foot, causing discomfort. At first, the pain can be very sharp and can be noticed the most when you stand. Over time, the pain can subside to a dull ache, but this can become a permanent cause for annoyance for the patient. Heel bone spurs cause pain by jabbing into soft tissue that has become very irritated and inflamed, a condition known as plantar fascia stress.
What Leads to Heel Bone Spurs
A common trigger of heel spurs is when the the thick connective tissue that connects the toes to the heel, called the Plantar Fascia becomes inflamed. This abnormal stress on the heel causes calcification of the soft tissue in the foot, producing plantar fascia inflammation. Things that cause this include abnormal stress, excessive weight, age or poor foot function. When the tissue becomes tight, it is torn over and over by the daily use of the foot. As the tissue becomes inflamed, it results in heel spurs.
How to Identify and Relieve Heel Bone Spurs
To properly diagnose this condition you need a foot x-ray. With an x-ray, your doctor can verify that a heel spur has developed. Treatments include everything from simple foot elevation to relieve the pain to more extreme foot surgery to remove the spur, if your doctor feels it is necessary. Many people are able to lessen inflammation by applying gentle heat to the heel. This alleviates the pain by dilating the blood vessels in the foot and increasing blood circulation. Others find that simply wearing orthotics can provide help. These are designed to correct over-pronation and add support to the arches of the foot. By removing the strain on the Plantar Fascia, the tissues in the foot are given the time they need to properly heal. Many orthotic arch supports come with additional heel pads that act as shock absorbers for the heel which help to immediately ease the pain. Also, physical therapy treatments such as diathermy can lessen inflammation. This process utilizes an electrical current to produce heat that will ease plantar fascia stress.
How to Prevent Heel Bone Spurs
One way to help prevent heel spurs is stretch the foot and calf before strenuous exercise. By stretching these tissues, you create more flexibility which lessens the likelihood of plantar fascia stress. Also, it is very important to wear shoes that fit properly and provide ample arch support and cushioning to the foot. Heel bone spurs can be avoided by adding orthotics to your shoes to help avoid stress on the Plantar Fascia. Paying attention to our feet is a very important step in staying healthy. Healthy feet are a significant component to our long-term health.
