Anyone can develop heel spurs, although they are more prevalent in people who engage in high-impact activities. Although Tamarac heel spurs are not a cause of alarm, they can cause pain and inflammation, affecting your ability to carry out your daily activities. In most cases, rest and over-the-counter medications can alleviate the pain. However, in severe cases, you may need more aggressive treatments like corticosteroids.
Signature symptoms of heel spurs
Heel spurs are hardened calcium deposits that develop on the underside of your heel. During the early stages, these protrusions may be invisible to you in the early stages and may be asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect them. However, over time, due to repetitive strain and stress on your foot, the heel spurs may grow in size, leading to pain in the heel of your foot, inflammation, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling. The pain ranges from dull to sharp and may sometimes travel up your leg. You may also experience problems with stability and balance, which may affect your ability to walk. You may also experience numbness or tingling sensations in your foot, and the skin around the heel may become red. In severe cases, this disorder can affect how you walk, increasing your risk of back, foot, and knee problems.
Factors contributing to the development of heel spurs
The most prevalent cause of this disorder is repetitive stress on your heel due to various reasons, including engaging in high-impact physical activities like jumping, walking on hard surfaces for an extended period, and wearing ill-fitting shoes. Over time, the stress can cause the accumulation of calcium deposits, resulting in a heel spur. Other factors contributing to this disorder include gait issues, excess body weight, arthritis, and worn-out shoes. If you have plantar fasciitis, the inflammation of the plantar fascia, you may also have a higher risk of developing heel spurs. This disorder can cause the inflamed plantar fascia to detach from your heel bone, resulting in a small bony protrusion. In some cases, the spur can worsen the pain due to plantar fasciitis, resulting in a vicious cycle of pain and inflammation.
Diagnosis and treatment of heel spurs
During your appointment at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, PA, your provider will discuss your symptoms and assess your health history. They may also examine your heel for tenderness and redness. Afterward, the team may perform X-rays to get a better view of the joints and bones in your feet. In most cases, bone spurs are invisible to the naked eye, which makes diagnostic imaging crucial. The tests can help your provider identify your discomfort’s underlying cause and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Your treatment will rely on the spur’s size and the pain’s severity. If your pain is mild, your provider may recommend non-invasive approaches such as over-the-counter medications, rest, and cold compressions to alleviate the pain. If your symptoms don’t respond to these approaches, your doctor may suggest corticosteroid shots to ease pain and inflammation in your foot. Other treatment options include custom orthotics, stretching exercises, and physical therapy.
To learn more about bone spurs, call the Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, PA, or schedule an appointment online.
