How to Detect a Heel Spur

Heel spurs, or bone spurs, are bony protrusions made of calcium deposits. They are also called osteophytes. The pain they cause is not from the heel spurs themselves, but rather from when they rub against bones or nerves. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, you may develop a heel spur because of the long-term inflammation of the area. To treat the heel spur, you may need to rest, wear a heel insert in your shoes, ice the heel and stretch your Achilles tendon. In more severe cases, talk to your doctor about removing the bone spur surgically.

Instructions

1. Evaluate your pain symptoms. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (see Reference 1), the most common symptom of a heel spur is pain in the heel.

2. Visit your doctor if you experience heel pain. Your doctor will check your foot and examine it for swelling or tenderness. She may ask you to do a few easy exercises, such as standing on one foot or walking around. This will help your doctor rule out any other medical conditions.

3. Test your foot your bone spurs. A heel spur will show up on an X-ray. Your doctor may also order an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT scan (computerized tomography) to confirm a heel spur.

References

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Heel Pain
• The Mayo Clinic: Bone Spurs

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• FootPhysicians.com: Heel Pain