Heel Spur

Many people have a heel spur without experiencing symptoms, but once the pain begins, every step can be excruciating. At Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, Joel Segalman, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAO, and Stephen Lazaroff, DPM, FACFAS, have extensive experience identifying the cause of your heel spur and providing conservative treatments that heal the problem and alleviate your pain. If you need relief from heel pain, call the office in Waterbury or Newtown, Connecticut, or request an appointment online today.

What is a heel spur?

A heel spur is a type of bone spur, which is a rounded bump of excess calcium growth. The extra growth develops in response to another problem that affects the underlying bone.

Heel spurs most often develop as a result of plantar fasciitis or less often, Achilles tendonitis. The plantar fascia is a connective tissue running from your heel to your toes. The tissue often becomes inflamed as a result of small tears, repetitive movements, and athletic activities.

The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscle to your heel. Overuse injuries or suddenly increasing your activity level lead to an inflamed tendon.

In both conditions, the inflamed tissues rub against the heel. Eventually, a bone spur develops where the plantar fascia or Achilles tendon attaches to your heel.

What symptoms does a heel spur cause?

The main symptom is pain on the bottom of your heel, especially when walking, running, or standing. If you have plantar fasciitis, the pain may be worse when you first walk in the morning, then it improves.

When a heel spur is caused by Achilles tendonitis, you may also have pain on the back of your heel and along the tendon. The pain and swelling of Achilles tendonitis get worse when you exercise. 

How is a heel spur treated?

Your Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC provider examines your foot and may need to take X-rays to verify the presence of the spur.

Bone spurs alone aren’t always painful. In many cases, your symptoms come from the underlying plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis. Treating them often stops the pain.  

Your treatment may include the following:

• Applying ice
• Elevating your foot
• Wearing orthotics
• Using a night splint
• Getting a steroid injection
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications
• Following a regimen of stretching and strengthening exercises
• Undergoing treatment with extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT)

EPAT is a noninvasive sound wave therapy that reduces inflammation and promotes healing in the plantar fascia or Achilles tendon.

If you still have heel pain despite conservative treatments, you may need to consider surgery to remove the heel spur.

You can get relief from heel pain when you seek help from Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book online today.