| What the heck is a heel spur and how do I end | | | | heel spurs. There is a lot of stress on the tissue in |
| up with one? I have heard doctors and patients | | | | the arch of your foot and that tissue is anchored |
| talk about heel spurs, but I have never known | | | | by the heel bone. Therefore, there is a lot of |
| exactly what it is. I checked it out and a heel spur | | | | stress on those tissues and the heel at the same |
| is actually a hook of bone. That hook forms on | | | | time. That stress can result in plantar fascia. |
| the bone of the heel and then in turn causes pain | | | | About 70% of those with plantar fascia end up |
| by inflaming the plantar fascia which is tissue in | | | | with heel spurs. |
| the arch of the foot. However, though one often | | | | If you have heel spurs there are a number of |
| causes the other, be careful not to confuse heel | | | | treatments available. Your doctor, in fact, will likely |
| spurs with plantar fasciitis. | | | | have you use a combination of them. You will be |
| We are most susceptible to heel spurs in our | | | | told to rest and avoid jogging and exercising on |
| middle age years. Generally they are found in | | | | your feet for a few days. You may be asked to |
| those with a history of foot pain that comes | | | | ice the area to control the pain and reduce |
| from plantar fasciitis. They are also most often | | | | inflammation as the heel spur heals. You may also |
| found in middle-aged men and women. However, | | | | do specific exercises and stretches designed to |
| bone spurs can be found in anyone at any age. | | | | relax the tissues that surround your heel bone. |
| Generally the heel spur is not the primary cause | | | | There are also medications you can take, these |
| of the pain, but instead is an indirect cause. The | | | | are anti-inflammatory medications that help |
| spur inflames and irritates the plantar fascia and | | | | decrease the inflammation and control the pain of |
| thus causes great discomfort in the patient. The | | | | heel spurs. Some doctors prescribe shoe inserts |
| way most bone spurs are diagnosed by the | | | | to allow you to continue normal activities. Lastly, |
| doctor is through the use of x-rays. Your doctor | | | | there are night splints that keep your heel |
| will look fo ra hook of bone sticking out from the | | | | stretched out at night while you sleep. Most of |
| bottom of your foot. Generally, it will be located | | | | the treatments or combinations of them will help |
| where the tissue in the arch of your foot is | | | | to clear up the pain and inflammation of heel |
| attached to the heel bone. | | | | spurs in as little as 90 days. |
| You may also be wondering how you end up with | | | | |