How to Treat Soreness from Heel Spurs

A heel spur is a result of excessive bone growing on an individual's heel bone. Normally this growth will occur underneath the heel bone, also known as the calcaneous bone. Heel spurs are often present when someone suffers from plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the band of tissue that connects the heel of the foot to the toes and extends across the sole of the foot. Heel spurs can be very painful, bringing much discomfort when the person tries to walk. The spurs are especially painful first thing in the morning when getting out of bed for the first time and pressure is applied to the heel. Fortunately there are treatments that can ease the pain of a heel spur.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Stretch your calf muscles before getting up in the morning. Speak to your physician about exercises designed to relax the various tissues that are located around the heel bone and do them before getting out of bed. It may be helpful to also do these exercises and different stretches before going to bed as well.

2. Utilize ice to apply cold to your heel spurs. When the pain flares up employ an ice pack to help reduce some of the inflammation and bring the level of pain to a tolerable level. Ice can be applied for 15 to 20 minutes after activity that causes the heel spur to cause you problems.

3. Try taking anti-inflammatory medications to control the soreness from a heel spur. In most cases an over-the-counter drug should suffice, such as ibuprofen. But if the pain is severe then you may want to inquire of your doctor about getting a prescription for something stronger and more effective.

4. Make sure that your shoes fit properly and look into improving your arch support with orthotics. Ill-fitting shoes can precipitate a heel spur. Shoe inserts can help to hold up your arch as can shoes that come with a raised heel and superior arch support. Your physician can point you in the direction of a foot doctor who can fit you for othotics specifically designed for this purpose.

5. Rest the foot, if possible. Resting the foot with the heel spur by not engaging in any activity such as jogging or playing basketball can get rid of the worst pain associated with the condition.

6. Lose weight to reduce the constant stress on the foot that may be making things worse.

7. Opt for a cortisone shot or surgery when the pain becomes severe. Cortisone is used to reduce inflammation in the region of the spur and can give relief to the pain but physicians will usually only give a limited amount of these shots in a single year. Surgery is a possibility when all else fails to treat the soreness, with the heel spur being removed and/or the band of connective tissue being operated on to provide to alleviate the problem.

Resources

• Health A to Z website
• Medicine net website

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