If you have heel spurs, you probably only want to know one thing – how can I get rid of them? To find out more about heel spurs and what you can do to cope with them, read on.
What Are Heel Spurs?
Heel spurs are little deposits of calcium that grow on the heel bone. They often develop as the result of participating in repetitive activities, such as jogging or dancing. In some cases, heel spurs develop in conjunction with plantar fasciitis. When the plantar fascia is inflamed, it causes pressure on the heel bone. In response to this, the bone responds by producing calcium in an attempt to heal itself. This can cause heel spurs to develop.
Symptoms of Heel Spurs
Heel spurs can cause pain on the bottom of the foot, particularly near the base of the heel. The pain tends to be worst right after you wake up in the morning, or immediately after getting up from a period of rest. It tends to be a sharp pain, and is sometimes described as feeling like there is a pin sticking into the bottom of the foot. Pain also tends to occur after exercise.
Coping with Heel Spurs
Unfortunately, there is no cure for heel spurs. However, there are things that you can do to ease the pain. Start with these steps:
- Apply ice to reduce inflammation. Sit down, get comfortable, and place an icepack on the heel. Keep it on there for about 15 minutes, and do this at least twice a day. It’s a good idea to ice the heel immediately after exercising or being on your feet for an extended period of time.
- Massage the bottom of the foot. You can do this with your hands, of course, or you can roll a frozen bottle of water or a tennis ball underneath your foot.
- Take an anti-inflammatory medication. For acute pain, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, may help to relieve pain and inflammation (see your doctor/pharmacist for advice on this).
- Rest the foot. It’s probably not an option to stay completely off your feet until the pain subsides. However, you should cut back the amount of time that you are spending on your feet as much as possible. If you exercise regularly, this is a good time to take a short break. Give your body time for the inflammation to subside so that you can get back in action without pain.
- When you start exercising again, take it slowly. If you normally do a high-impact activity, like running, consider switching to something gentler for a while, like cycling, swimming, or yoga. When you start running, increase your mileage slowly.
- Figure out what is causing the problem. Do you need new shoes? Are your feet getting enough support? If your shoes are worn out or simply don’t offer enough cushioning, this could be a big part of the problem. Visit a specialized shoe store. Ask the staff to measure your feet to make sure that you are wearing the right size shoes. Look for comfortable shoes that fit well and offer plenty of support. You may also benefit from using custom arch supports or orthotic devices, which are worn inside the shoes to give the feet additional support.
If you have heel spurs, visit Foot Solutions. We can help you find the solutions to cope with your heel spurs. We can fit you for shoes and even order custom arch supports for you. Between our wide selection of comfortable, supportive shoes and shoe inserts, you are sure to find the solution to help you deal with heel spur pain.
