What is a heel spur? Symptoms and treatment

Heel spurs can be the cause of significant heel pain. Believe it or not, you probably have bone spurs without knowing it, because most bone spurs themselves cause no symptoms.

But if a spur on your heel bone happens to rub on soft tissue like the plantar fascia, causing plantar fasciitis, or worse yet on a nerve, the tissue breaks down, causing swelling, pain, and tearing. Bone spurs in the foot can also cause corns and calluses as tissue builds up around the spur.

Spur shaped growth at back of heel is a heel spur

When your heel bone is exposed to repeated activities that put stress on your feet, downward pressure from being overweight, or stress from wearing poorly fitting shoes, calcium deposits form on the bottom of the bone. These deposits build on each other, eventually causing a spur-shaped deformity called a calcaneal spur (calcaneal is the medical term for your heel bone).  Those who are obese or have flat feet, and women who frequently wear high heels are most susceptible to heel spurs.

Although many people with plantar fasciitis have heel spurs, spurs themselves are not the cause of plantar fasciitis pain. In fact, one out of 10 people have heel spurs, but only 5 percent of these have foot pain. Because the spur is not the cause of plantar fasciitis, the pain can be treated without surgically removing the spur.

Read: FAST procedure relieves plantar fasciitis

What are the symptoms of heel spurs?

• Pain on the bottom of the foot near the heel
• Pain during the first few steps upon getting out of bed in the morning, or after a long period of rest. The pain subsides after a few minutes of walking
• Increased pain after, but not during exercise or activity

How are heel spurs treated? 

Heel spurs do not require treatment unless they are causing pain or damaging other tissues. When indicated, treatment may be directed at the causes, the symptoms, or the spurs themselves. More than 90% of patients with plantar fasciitis caused by a heel spur will improve within 10 months of starting simple, non-surgical treatments.

Rest: Decrease or stop the activities that make the pain worse, such as running on hard surfaces

Ice: 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day

Weight Control: If the heel spur is due to obesity, losing weight will take some of the pressure off the foot

Over the counter medication: Non-steroidal anti inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen (advil) or naproxen (aleve)

Better shoes and orthotics: Shoes with thick soles and extra cushioning can reduce pain.  Pre-made or custom orthotics (shoe inserts) are helpful as well as soft silicone heel pads to elevate and cushion your heel.

Night splints. Most people sleep with their feet pointed down, which relaxes the plantar fascia. This is one of the reasons for morning heel pain. A night splint stretches the plantar fascia while you sleep and does not have to be used after the pain subsides

Physical therapy. We may suggest physical therapy to stretch your calf muscles, heel cord, and plantar fascia

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT): High-energy shockwaves stimulate the healing process in damaged plantar fascia tissue. ESWT is noninvasive—it does not require a surgical incision.

If the bone spur continues to cause pain, we may suggest a steroid injection at the painful area to reduce pain and inflammation of the soft tissues next to the bone spur. If pain continues, surgical intervention may be recommended.

Remember, no pain is normal. If you have persistent heel pain, your body is telling you that something’s wrong.

Good News for heel pain sufferers!

Some Good News for those who suffer with heel pain!

Heel pain, also known as plantar fasciitis, affects people of all ages and backgrounds. It is seen more frequently among those who play sports, suffer from diabetes, and the elderly. However, it is not seen only among these individuals.

You May Be Suffering Needlessly

When you are affected by heel pain, your whole world is affected. It can become difficult to do even the easiest of tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning. I want you to know that East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates can help!

All You Have To Do Is Come In To See Us

There are many conservative therapies we can discuss with you, such as stretching or applying heat or cold packs. We also are able to talk to you about the newest, state-of-the-art technologies available to help you get back on your feet in no time at all.

There Are New Procedures That Can Help

One option for treating heel pain is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy which uses sound waves to heal your plantar fascia, the inflamed part of your foot that is most likely causing your pain. Another possible treatment is laser therapy.

The idea behind this painless procedure is that the energy from the laser penetrates about 12 centimeters below the skin, and is able to break up scar tissue in the connective tissues and the plantar fascia and create a healing process for your heel. The process takes about 15 minutes and can be finished in 3 to 6 treatments.

The most important thing for you to know is that you are not alone, and you don’t have to suffer from heel pain. We’ve dedicated our professional lives to helping people just like you to live happy, healthy lives.

Call today and make an appointment to see us. There is simply no need to continue to suffer from heel pain.

If you or someone you love is experiencing any pain or discomfort in their heels, please give us a call at 610-432-9593 and make an appointment to come in and see us for a thorough diagnosis. We will take the time to listen to you, understand your concerns, and then offer the best treatment options.

Dedicated to your health,

Adam Teichman, DPM

P.S. If you know someone who would benefit from a copy of Heel Pain 101, please have them call 888-482-9604 or click on the link to request a copy.

What is ESWT?

You Simply Do Not Have to Suffer From Heel Pain Any Longer

I want to let you know about a state-of-the-art, painless procedure that we offer at East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates to treat heel pain. It is called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT. With the new treatments we offer, like ESWT, there is simply no reason for you to suffer from unnecessary heel pain any longer.

 There Are New Procedures That Can Help!

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a state-of-the-art option for people who suffer from chronic heel pain. It is a non-invasive procedure using high energy sound waves that takes no longer than 20 minutes and shows results very quickly.

The basic idea behind ESWT is very simple. The foot is placed on a machine which sends about 3,600 sound shock waves to the area where the plantar fascia (the connective tissue) is inflamed and hurting. These waves are able to break down and get rid of bad tissue and allow healthy tissue to take its place. It helps bring new blood vessels to the area, and then breaks up the scar tissue which essentially creates a healing process.

Heel Pain Doesn’t Have to Slow You Down.

Shock wave therapy does not hinder your everyday activities. You will still be able to go on like before without the use of crutches or a cast. There is no down time required; the only thing that is required, in fact, is stretching exercises which we will give you to do.

Over the span of about 2 to 3 months your heel will continue to heal. Most patients will see results almost immediately and by the end of the 3 months will have no pain left.

Please make your very next step on your 75,000 mile journey a visit to our office so that we can discuss your heel pain symptoms and find the right treatment for you.

When you are suffering from heel pain you are suffering needlessly. If you or someone you love is experiencing any pain or discomfort in your heels, please give us a call at 610-432-9593 and make an appointment to come in to see us. We will take the time to listen to you, understand your concerns, and then offer the best treatment options.

Dedicated to your health,

Adam Teichman, DPM

P.S. You can call our office at 610-432-9593 to schedule an appointment. We are located at 2895 Hamilton Blvd., Suite 101 in Allentown. You can also visit our website at www.EastPennFoot.com.

P.P.S. If you know someone else in our area who would benefit from their own copy of my free book Heel Pain 101, please have them call 888-482-9604 or visit our website to request their own personal copy.

Ouch, My Heel Hurts!

Heel pain. Everyone has had it and it is the most common pain we experience with the first step in the morning when we get out of bed. It may occur after a long day at the office or after a day at the mall. Medically, it’s known as Plantar Fasciitis.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common and persistent foot problems affecting men and women of all ages. It originates deep within the foot directly on the heel bone or in the foot’s connective tissue. Pain results when tissues become irritated or inflamed, and occurs most frequently in adults forty years and older, especially women. Being overweight and wearing inapropriate footwear are common contributing factors. The pain is most noticeable after getting out of bed in the morning and tends to decrease after a few minutes, returning later in the day as time on the feet increases.

Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis

Common treatments like NSAIDs (such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen), injections (either cortisone injections or prolotherapy injections) stretching exercises, physical therapy and custom orthotics (shoe inserts) often relieve Plantar Fasciitis within 1-2 visits.

If heel pain has lasted more than 6 months, and hasn’t responded to the methods noted above, more aggressive treatments may be needed, such as Extracorporeal (meaning “outside the body”) Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT. In ESWT, shock waves are delivered to the heel from outside of the body. The targeted area reacts by creating new blood vessels which increases delivery of nutrients, ultimately healing the affected area. Low energy shock wave treatments are administered in 3 or more sessions and cause little to no pain. For more serious heel pain cases, high energy shock waves may be required, which will require anesthesia.

Not all heel pain is caused by Plantar Fasciitis. It can also occur from inflammation of the Achilles tendon, bursitis, arthritis, gout, stress fractures, or irritation of the nerves in the area of the heel. In these cases, your pain could be a symptom of a serious medical condition which should be diagnosed immediately.

East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates has extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of all foot and ankle conditions. Take advantage of our doctor’s expertise to alleviate your heel pain.

Adam J. Teichman, DPM., AACFAS

2895 Hamilton Blvd, Suite 101 Allentown, PA 18104

T: 610-432-9593 F: 610-432-4887