Heel spur
A heel spur is a small, bony growth that forms on the bottom of the heel bone. Usually pointy and sometimes hook-like in shape, it points towards the toes along the bottom of your foot.
Heel spurs grow because of long-term stress on the heel bone caused by excess pulling of the muscles and ligaments that attach to the heel, specifically a band called the plantar fascia.
Stress on the bone causes the bone to grow, and over time, the bone builds up and forms a spur. Surprisingly, spurs usually don’t cause any pain.
Why Do Heel Spurs Happen?
Heel spurs most often develop because of a condition called plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to the front of your foot. If the plantar fascia gets stretched excessively or torn, it becomes inflamed (plantar fasciitis), causing pain near the heel. Sometimes, a spur can develop on the back of the heel because of chronic excessive pulling of the Achilles tendon in Achilles tendinitis.
When the tissue stretches too much and pulls away from the bone, your body tries to repair itself by growing new bone, which forms a heel spur.
What Are the Symptoms?
Most of the time, heel spurs don’t hurt. The pain you might feel in your heel is usually from inflammation of the surrounding tissue (plantar fasciitis), not the spur itself. There are many x-rays of people with spurs and no pain, so we know it is the inflammation, not the spur itself that causes the pain.
If a spur presses on sensitive nerves or tissues, it can cause pain, especially during activities like running, sports, or standing for a long time.
Do Heel Spurs Need Treatment?
If your heel spur isn’t causing pain or affecting your activities, you don’t need treatment. Many people have heel spurs without even knowing it!
If the spur is causing pain, you should get it treated. Pain in your heel is not normal, and there are ways to help. Untreated, the pain can get extreme, causing mobility and quality of life issues.
Treatment usually focuses on the underlying problem, like plantar fasciitis and its causes. Rest, stretching, better shoes, and local icing can help. Advanced treatments like shock wave or laser therapy or special injections might also speed up healing.
Custom shoe inserts (orthotics) can provide extra cushioning and make your walking more efficient, as well as take pressure off your heel, which can significantly help.
The Good News
Most people with heel spurs feel better with these simple treatments. Recovery is gradual. Surgery is very rarely needed. With the right care, you can get back to your normal activities without pain.
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