Facts About Bone Spurs on the Feet
If you are experiencing pain in the heel of your foot, and perhaps in your arch as well, particularly first thing in the morning, you may be suffering from a bone spur, according to Coolrunning.com and an article written by Josh Clark. You may feel pain if you press on the front of your heel where it intersects your arch. The spot where you feel the pain is where the bone spur has developed.
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Bony Projection
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A bone spur is comparable to the spur that a cowboy has attached to his boot, which he uses to "encourage" his horse to get a move on. A bone spur is a bony projection that crops up along the edges of bones. The medical term for a bone spur is "osteophytes." The actual spur isn't painful, according to the Mayo Clinic, but the spur can rub against bones and nerves, which is painful.
Feet aren't the only place where bone spurs form. A spur can form on any bone in the body and generally forms at a joint, where bone meets another bone. Additionally, bone spurs can develop where tendons and ligaments connect to the bone. The spine is another place where bone spurs can pop up. Bone spurs even can occur under your toenails.
Spurs
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If a bone spur develops in your foot, it is often referred to as a heel spur, because the spur can form where the calcaneus, or your heel bone, connects to the fascia, which is the connective tissue in your foot.
According to Arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com, there are three types of foot spurs, including those that arise in a joint anywhere on the foot that has been damaged by degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). This disease destroys the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones that are in your feet.
The second type of bone spur occurs when tendons or ligaments that attach to the bone become calcified. This type of bone spur may develop near your Achilles tendon, on the bottom of your foot.
The third type develops when a joint or bone has been damaged. The body tries to heal the site and, as the healing progresses, new bone growth will develop and that creates a bone spur. -
Painful
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If the connective tissue in your foot is inflamed or irritated, this can result in a spur. A heel spur can be very painful, according to Heel-that-pain.com. The pain is described as localized under the heel or to the heel and it is a very sharp, poking pain. The pain can turn into an ache, and bruising and inflammation also can result. Stepping down on your heel may cause you a great deal of pain, particularly after you have spent the night in bed.
Fascia and Heel
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According to Foot-clinic.co.uk, our heel is the biggest bone in our foot. It assumes most of the pressure and shock as we walk or run. If there is abnormal growth of the heel bone, a heel spur can develop. The foot consists of the plantar fascia, which is a broad band of fibrous tissue that is situated along the bottom foot surface and which runs from the forefoot to the heel. This tissue strip is dense and it supports the arch of your foot, according to Vsortho.com. When this pulls away from your heel area, a protrusion of bone can result. This is the heel spur.
Tears and Stress
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Small tears, from stress, can occur in the tissue. Generally, your body repairs these tears. However, if it keeps happening over and over again, a bone spur, which is the outgrowth of the bone in a pointed shape, will occur.
Vsortho.com notes that a bone spur is actually the body's way of trying to attach the fascia, or tissue, firmly to the heel bone.
Treatment
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Taking anti-inflammatory medicine should help ease your pain. If that doesn't work, you may need to get a cortisone shot. Wearing stiff-toed shoes seems to prove beneficial to individuals with bone spurs. In addition, wearing shoes that have rocker-bottom heels is recommended. These shoes permit foot motion without as much bending. Consider wearing a shoe that has a wider toe box.
You can have surgery to remove the bone spurs. This type of surgery is called chilectomy and is an option if the spurs are preventing motion. Another procedure, which is a fusion process called arthrodesis, helps eliminate a lot of the pain associated with this condition, but will result in permanent toe stiffness at the base.
Prevention
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According to Emedicinehealth.com, bone spurs are usually the outcome of arthritis, so there isn't any way to prevent them. Emedicinehealth.com recommends that you do everything in your power to remain active.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.heel-that-pain.com/heel_spur/heel_spur_treatment.php
