Signs & Symptoms of Heel Spurs
Plantar fasciitis, more commonly referred to as heel spurs, is an injury sustained to the plantar fascia within the foot. When a tear occurs within this band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, it becomes inflamed, causing a number of uncomfortable symptoms for its sufferer.
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Pain
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Pain is one of the most common symptoms of heel spurs. This pain can be felt anywhere along the path of the plantar fascia, but it's most often experienced on or near the heel. For most people, the pain dissipates throughout the day, only to return the next morning.
Tenderness
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It is also quite common to experience some tenderness near the ball of the foot, even though the condition is called heel spurs. This is due to the tear actually occurring within the plantar fascia, manifesting pain on the heel and sometimes on the ball.
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Immobility
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When left untreated, this condition can also cause limited mobility, especially when the tear worsens, making it difficult to walk and get around.
Other Problems
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In more severe cases of the condition, you can also experience problems within the back, hips and knee as you try to modify the way in which you walk to accommodate for the associated pain.
Treatment
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To treat the symptoms of the condition, you need to treat the condition itself. This often starts with an anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen, naproxen or even a prescription corticosteroid. From there, splints to immobilize the affected foot as well as physical therapy and custom shoe inserts can go a long way to reducing pain and healing the condition.
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