Heel spurs are a reaction to pain and stress caused by plantar fasciitis. As time passes, your body responds to stress by forming extra bone tissue. This leads to a heel spur; usually, people do not feel pain from it, but when they do, it’s like plantar fasciitis.  

Moreover, heel spurs are experienced by around 50% of patients and around 15% of the general population. However, spurs originate from plantar aponeurosis and are located in the origin of the flexor hallucis brevis.

Furthermore, this blog will help you understand heel spur pain and explore more about what is a bone spur and the experience of a bone spur on top of a foot.

What is a heel spur?

Definition and Explanation

A heel spur is a bony growth poking from the bottom of the heel between the heel bone and the ligament running through the hell and ball of your foot.

Likewise, the stress caused by plantar fasciitis leads to the formation of heel spurs. Moreover,  as time passes, the body responds to stress by forming extra bone tissue, which is the heel spur.

Moreover, The foot consists of 33 joints, 26 bones, and a hundred muscles, along with tendons and ligaments working together to bear the body weight.

Causes of Heel Spur Pain:

Common Causes

• Overuse and repetitive strain: tasks like running and carrying weight cause heel pain, and this pain further leads to swelling in bones.
• Poor footwear choices: shoes being wide, narrow, or big affects your feet and results in blisters and pain.
• Pre-existing conditions like plantar fasciitis: factors like obesity, aging, standing, and weight-bearing often lead to heel spur pain.

Risk factors

• Additional factors: factors like age, weight, and activity levels cause heel spur pain. Most middle-aged adults suffer from heel pain, which causes symptoms of heel spur pain.
• Occupational risks: where people need to bear heavy weight or keep standing for a prolonged period, can lead to this pain. 

Symptoms of Heel Spur Pain:

Identifying symptoms

• Pain patterns and locations: patients usually face sharp pain or inflammation in foot areas.
• Other associated symptoms: symptoms like pain while walking or exercising in bare feet or symptoms of a bony bump on the bottom are faced.
• When to see a doctor: if you face severe pain or swelling in the heel area, visit a doctor. 

What is a bone spur?

Definition and Types

Bone spurs are bony growths in joints or the spine area, therefore, causing damage or pain in the bones and muscle areas, resulting in osteoarthritis. Moreover, these growths usually do not have any symptoms or require treatment, as bone spurs are common as you grow. Furthermore, areas like joints in feet, hands, knees, or spines usually develop bone spurs.

Bone Spur on Foot

Bone spurs or bony growth are found at the bottom of the heel or where heel bones connect to the ligament between the heel and the ball of the foot.

The primary difference between heel spurs and other foot spurs is that excessive strain causes bone spurs to develop at the growth points on the edges of bones, while ligament strain or prolonged muscle tension leads to the formation of heel spurs.

Diagnosis of Heel Spur Pain:

Diagnostic Procedures

• Physical examination: indeed, doctors recommend X-rays, as this helps the doctor diagnose your foot condition more clearly. 
• Imaging techniques (X-rays, MRI): this diagnosis helps to confirm conditions like stress fractures, especially in the early stages, before being detectable in radiography.
• Differential diagnosis: A diagnosis like mechanical aetiology is a common test recommended by a doctor.

Treatment Options for Heel Spur Pain:

Non-Surgical Treatments

• Rest and ice: an ice pack helps reduce inflammation and relieve pain. You should rest till the pain gets reduced.
• Physical therapy and exercises: stretches like caf exercises and foot exercises help rescue pain and stress from heel pain.
• Orthotics and footwear modifications: moreover, footwear supported by an arch in the insole of sandals helps redistribute pressure and reduces the pain in the heel of a foot.

Surgical Treatments

• Indications for surgery: if conservative treatment does not work after a period of 9 to 12 months, surgery might be necessary to relieve pain.
• Types of surgical procedures: Plantar fascia release is performed to treat heel spur pain.
• Recovery and rehabilitation: doctors suggest using ice to relieve pain and inflammation from the pain.

Prevention of Heel Spur Pain:

Preventive Measures

• Proper footwear choices: everyday shoes must have an arch in the midsole, which reduces the strain on ligaments and tendons.
• Regular stretching and strengthening exercises: moreover, plantar fascia massage, seated plantar fascia stretch, wall calf stretch, heel drops, heel raises, and resisted ankle inversion reduce pain.
• Weight management and healthy lifestyle choices: wearing supportive shoes, taking time to rest, warming up before exercising, and avoiding hard surfaces help prevent heel spur pain. 

Conclusion:

To summarize, heel spur pains are mostly painless but might cause heel pain. Moreover, they are associated with plantar fasciitis, where a fibrous band of connective tissue runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot. To learn more about heel spur pain, visit Swift Rehab.  Moreover, you should seek medical advice for persistent pain.

FAQ Section:

• What causes heel spurs?

Heel spurs are caused when you put extra stress on your feet. Particularly, jogging, running, or having jobs where it requires more stress on the feet leads to heel spurs.

• How is heel spur pain treated?

Moreover, You can treat heel spurs with exercises, stretches, changing shoes, and acupuncture, which helps treat pain.

• What is a bone spur?

Bone spurs are bony growths forming along the bone edges. 

• What are the symptoms of a bone spur on the foot?

You may experience pain on the bottom of your heel, feel pain when you get up after a long period of rest, and notice that the pain goes away after taking a few steps.

• How can I prevent heel spurs?

Moreover, wearing proper shoes that have proper shock-absorbing soles, trying not to run on hard surfaces, and losing weight if you are obese will help prevent heel spurs.