BONE SPURS IN THE FEET: WHY DO THEY HURT SO MUCH? AND HOW CAN YOU TELL THAT IT ISN’T A SPUR?

If you’re here, it’s probably because you’ve heard the term “spur pain.” To say it’s unpleasant is definitely an understatement. In fact, it can be so painful as to make it almost impossible for the person with a foot spur to stand on the foot. Foot spurs are also one of the main reasons for pain in our heels.

So, what causes heel spur pain? What are the symptoms? Can it be avoided? What treatments are available? And how does wearing the right customized orthotics help?

What is a foot spur?

A foot spur is an inflammation that develops in the lower area of the heel, between the heel and the arch. In the past they were explained as a downwards extension of the bone in the heel. This simply isn’t true. The extension, or spur, exists normatively in some 15% of the population without causing any pain. The pain is caused by microscopic tears causing tension on the plantar ligament at the base of the foot. This ligament is a rigid, inflexible strip connecting the heel bone to the toes, and enables maintaining the foot’s proper arch. When these microscopic tears become inflamed, they lead to thickening around the ligament which in turn causes the pain known as foot spur, or plantar fasciitis.

What causes spur pain?

Several factors can cause the onset of spur pain, among them:

• Defective foot structure, such as flat foot, or cavus foot (extremely high arch)
• Wearing inappropriate shoes, especially if the soles have become misshapen or if the shoes lack arch support
• Athletes who run or jump without appropriate shock absorption
• Aging, which causes both weakening of the ligament, and loss of bone calcium
• Excess weight and obesity

Symptoms

Signs of spur pain can include:

• A sharp, knifing pain in the heel, especially when rising in the morning or after a rest
• Dull pain in the heel throughout the day
• Inflammation and swelling inside the front of the heel
• Heel sensitivity that makes walking barefoot very difficult

How is a heel spur diagnosed?

Spurs can be diagnosis by a physical examination of the foot, which includes flexing and stretching the ligament, and asking the patient to describe the pain and when it occurs.

Can spur pain be prevented?

Spur pain can be avoided by using high quality orthotics customized to provide correct foot support. Orthotics prevent the plantar ligament from stretching. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help, since excessive body weight on the heel can cause the inflammation known as “spur.”

How are spurs treated? And how do orthotics help?

Using orthotics can prevent excessive stretching of the plantar ligament, provide support along the length of the sole, and soften the tread in the heel area which becomes highly sensitive due to the spur. Orthotics also provide proper foot support, raise flatness, aligning a high arch, and correct the cavus.

When it comes to spurs, orthotics provide the foot with targeted support which prevents the ligament from stretching and promotes the healing process.

It’s also important to provide the body with additional assistive measures as far as possible, such as:

• Stretching exercises
• Physiotherapy
• Night brace
• Shock waves to the spur
• Medication based on a physician’s recommendation and prescription

In most cases people suffering with heel spurs see improvement when using these treatments. But if the problem continues, your physician might recommend surgical intervention to ease the pain and improve mobility.

And when isn’t it a spur?

In some cases what appears to be spur pain is actually coming from other factors that have nothing to do with a spur. It’s very important to identify these situations correctly and consult with a professional or physician to get the right advice.

It could seem like a spur, but might not actually be, when:

• There’s an injury to the nerve located in the upper internal heel. In this case, the pain is not from a spur and orthotics won’t help. The situation may call for surgery or cortisone injections.
• Pain appears while resting and not only when getting up from sleep. This kind of pain could indicate that you don’t have a spur.
• Psycho-emotional pressure, stress or anxiety.
• Wearing inappropriate shoes.
• Around 70 to 80 years old, the layer of fat in the heel which protects the bone begins to show damage. If this is the case, the most effective solution may be just softening the area.
• Pain derives from exerted foot stress, common to athletes who cause hairline fractures in the bone’s outer layer. These usually heal with rest.

If you’re experiencing pain in your foot, it’s time to stop suffering. Using orthotics can help solve the issue. For your free online diagnosis, click here>>