Heel Spurs: Symptoms of Heel Spurs

Heel bone, the largest bone in the foot, performs the function of absorbing pressure and shock exerted on the foot. Running from the heel to the forefoot is a thick connective tissue, called plantar fascia, which is responsible for maintaining the arch of the heel. Sometimes calcium deposits from the plantar fascia pull away from the heel region, thereby conducing a bony protrusion. This bony outgrowth or spur appears like an abnormal nail-like growth around the tendons of the foot attached to the heel bone. The spur protrudes from the bone and then grows into the flesh of the foot. The heel spur causes severe pain in the rear foot, which becomes excruciating pain while walking or standing. This pain which is experienced is not primarily caused by the spur itself, but is instead caused due to inflammation and irritation of the plantar fascia.

These spurs are commonly observed in people with a history of back pain conduced by plantar fasciitis. Middle-aged people are the ones who show a greater tendency of developing these spurs, however, these spurs are not confined to any particular age group. Moreover, people with osteoarthritis, poor blood circulation, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. are vulnerable to heel spurs. People with flat feet (over-pronation) and high arches exhibit stretching of the plantar fascia which results in heel spur formation. Usually women who wear high-heeled or badly fitting shoes on a regular basis have a greater tendency of developing heel spurs. Being aware of the heel spurs symptoms will enable one to identify it. Read more on Heel pain.

Heel Spurs Symptoms

The different symptoms of heel spurs are excruciating pain, tenderness, inflammation and limited mobility. Spurs are known to be continuous sources of painful aching. Often the pain caused by a heel spur is described as 'toothache in the foot'. People with heel spurs find the pain to be immobilizing. The pain begins at the bottom of the foot, often radiating into the arch of the foot. Heel spurs symptoms mostly intensify when a person wakes up, early in the morning after a night's sleep. Intense pain is also experienced on standing and commencement of walking after a period of rest. The pain begins to decrease as the person continues to walk. This is because the capillaries and nerves begin to adapt themselves to the movement. At rest, even the capillaries and nerves rest, and the sudden demand made on them, on commencement of walking, results in pain.

The intensity of pain will depend on the amount of strain placed on the foot the previous day. Sudden strain such as jumping can conduce severe pain, which may be initially localized (path of the plantar fascia) but later on will be the cause tenderness and pain in the entire heel. Pain is one of the most common symptoms of heel spurs. For most people, the pain evanesces, however, reverts the next morning. When the symptoms of a heel spur are not taken into serious consideration and left untreated, it may lead to limited mobility. Walking and moving around becomes extremely difficult. In severe cases of heel spur occurrences, people experience back, hip and knee problems. This is because when walking in the usual manner becomes difficult, one tries to modify the walking style to minimize the amount of pain, thereby leading to back pain, hip pain, etc.

Heel Spur Treatment

When an X-ray reveals a bone outgrowth protruding from the bottom of the foot at the point of attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, a heel spur diagnosis is made. To attain heel spur relief, a patient should follow some simple steps.

Rest: The first step to treating heel spurs is short term rest for inflammation control. The patient needs to avoid performing any activities, such as jogging, prolonged standing, etc. that can aggravate the condition. Rest is required to give the inflammation time to subside.

Ice Pack Application: Ice packs are beneficial in diminishing some of the symptoms of heel spurs. Pain and inflammation can be controlled by placing an ice pack on the heel. Ice packs provide wonderful relief after sudden aggravation of heel spurs symptoms.

Exercises and Medication: The tissues surrounding the heel bone tend to become relaxed when certain simple exercises and stretches are performed. The pain and inflammation can be controlled by anti-inflammatory medications.

Shoe Inserts and Night Splints: Shoe inserts enable people suffering with symptoms of a heel spur to continue performing their routine activities without any hindering pain. Night splints on the other hand keep the heel stretched while sleeping. These splints prevent the arch of the foot from contracting at night, thereby reducing the amount of pain experienced the next morning.

Read more on

• Plantar Fasciitis Treatment to Get Rid of the Heel Pain
• Heel Spur: Calcaneal Spur Treatment

Heel pain caused by a heel spur dissipates as one continues to walk. However, as this condition progresses over the years, the pain takes a longer period of time to dissipate. Heel spurs symptoms do not heal quickly and heel spur relief may occur anywhere between 3 months to over a year. When the above mentioned heel spur remedies fail to cure the condition, heel spur surgery is adopted.