A calcium deposit that develops between the heel and arch of the foot is called a heel spur. It might hurt either sharply or dully when you have a heel spur. Additionally, the affected area starts radiating heat.
Heel spurs frequently begin at the front and bottom of the heel. Later on, they start to impact your foot’s other parts. They can grow to a length of up to half an inch. They might not always be apparent to the unaided eye.
It can be hard to find heel spurs. Not all heel pain is due to spurs, and not all spurs produce pain. To find out more about these bony growths and their causes, keep reading. When shown on an X-ray, a heel spur can measure as much as half an inch in length. A doctor may refer to the disease as “heel spur syndrome” if an X-ray is unable to confirm a suspected heel spur. Running and skipping are both excellent for your heart, but they are not good for your heels because they can cause heel spurs.
A heel spur, a bony protrusion on the bottom of the heel bone measuring half an inch, can be produced by repetitively striking hard surfaces. If you’re lucky, heel spurs are not painful and are more of an oddity than a health issue that requires care. If you’re less lucky, heel spurs may irritate the soft tissue surrounding the protrusion and cause you to experience sporadic or persistent pain.
What leads to heel spurs?
There is evidence that the soft tissues at the bottom of the heel can get damaged and overworked, leading to the development of heel spurs. Heel spur risk factors include:
1.Running, jogging, or jumping can cause Heel Spur
The likelihood of getting heel spurs may be higher if you run regularly. They may make it difficult for you to run comfortably, which is a particular shame. Heel spurs may form as a result of increased pressure on your feet brought on by the frequent impact of your heels on the ground.
2. Inappropriate footwear
Inappropriate footwear can result in numerous foot issues, including heel spurs, which is why it is significant to wear appropriate footwear. It may be time to buy some new shoes if your old ones are worn out, uncomfortable, or haven’t been changed in a while.
Those who wear high heels, which place additional tension on the fascia and eventually shorten the Achilles tendon.
3. Having a standing job
You might experience foot pain if you spend the entire day standing. Additionally, due to the added pressure from standing all day, heel spurs may also develop. Although wearing supportive footwear could help ease some of the strain, you should still make an effort to give your feet as much rest as you can.
4. Irregularities in the walking gait
Your chance of getting heel spurs can also rise if you have an irregular stride while you walk. It’s possible that a doctor informed you that your walking gait is improper, but it’s also possible that you were unaware of this. If your shoes wear unevenly, that may be a sign that your walking gait is irregular. If you think your walking gait might not be normal, let us observe it.
5. Having diabetes
A wide range of foot issues are related to diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. You may experience neuropathy in your feet, which can result in numbness, tingling, and a lack of sensation, as a result of persistently high blood glucose levels. Additionally, having diabetes increases your risk of developing heel spurs. You need a podiatrist as a member of your healthcare team if you have diabetes.
6. Having a weight problem
Your entire body, including your feet, is subject to increased stress from carrying too much weight. Being fat or overweight can raise your risk of getting heel spurs because it puts more strain on your feet. If you are overweight, losing weight may help with your foot pain.
The following are additional risk factors for plantar fasciitis:
- Growing older, which reduces the plantar fascia’s flexibility and thins the fat cushion that protects the heel
- Excessive ankle and foot pronation, in addition to other postural problems
- Legs that are different lengths
- Kneel down or bow your knees
- Having flat feet or high arches
- Putting greater stress on the fascia by wearing unsupportive or worn-out shoes
Symptoms of a heel spur
When heel spurs hurt, which patients describe as a pin or knife poking into the bottom of their feet when they stand every morning, they become a problem. As the day progresses, the agony changes into a dull ache. Standing up after a lengthy period of sitting also causes pain.
Heel Spur Treatments Without Surgery
Rest may not be effective in treating heel pain brought on by heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. After a night of rest, the discomfort could be stronger when you walk because the plantar fascia abruptly extends, stretching and pulling on the heel. The more you walk, the less painful it is. However, you can feel pain again after a lengthy period of rest or vigorous movement.
Here are some typical non-surgical heel spur remedies:
1.Ice packs following a workout and walking
2. Anti-inflammatory drugs are available over-the-counter (talk to your doctor)
3. A corticosteroid injection may be administered in various circumstances to reduce local inflammation
4. Stretching, particularly before bed
5. To relieve tension in the muscles, dry needling is used to target trigger points in the surrounding soft tissues.
6. Physical exercise
7. Taking a foot rest
8. Shoe inserts for orthotics that support the arch
Prevention
Wearing properly fitting shoes with shock-absorbing soles, sturdy shanks, and supporting heel counters, picking the right shoes for each physical activity, warming up and completing stretches before each activity, and keeping your heart rate in check while you’re doing them are all ways to prevent heel spurs.
Wearing footwear with worn-out heels and soles is not recommended. Shedding pounds could help you avoid heel spurs if you are overweight.
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