Can anyone tell me what a 'heel spur' is? A family member is suffering badly from one.?
Is surgery the option? (if nothing else works,that is).
Answers:
plantar fascia is the part that is affected by the heel spur condition. plantar fascia is the thick fibrous tissue on the sole of the feet beneath the fat tissue. the condition may arise due to weight gain, excessive stress, or even inactivity. the problem is caused by calcification, which is only a term for the formation of calcium deposits in the plantar fascia.
best method to exorcise hell spurs is through exercise. work the Achilles heel and the plantar fascia for may be 10 minutes every day until the condition disappears.
an ice pack should be applied to the spot after periods of rest and inactivity.
in case of obesity weight loss is the best option
Heel Spur- A hard bony shelf as wide as the width of the heelbone caused by repeated pulling away of periosteum from the heelbone (calcaneous). The repeated stress or injury causes inflammation and calcification of tendons and ligaments in the foot.
Heel spurs develop when calcium deposits form on the heel. The cause is usually due to excessive stretching of the ligament of the heel, usually from over-pronation. Knowing the cause of the over-pronation makes treatment easier.
Steps:
1. Lose weight if your are overweight. Excess poundage puts extra pressure on the feet, and especially the heels. For chronic heel pain associated with spurs, weight reduction often helps reduce heel pain and swelling.
2. Throw away your high heels, or at the least, wear heels sparingly. Heel spurs are much more common in women than in men because of the sytle of ladies' footwear. High heels cause excessive stretching of the heel ligament, and increase stress and trauma to the arch and heel.
3. Wear shoes with good motion control to help stabilize the heel.
4. Stretch before exercising. Gently warm up the ligaments of your feet and legs with slow and easy knee bends, toe curls and rotating the ankles in circles.
5. Add cushioning to the heels of your shoes. Consider adding a heel cradle or cup, available where orthopedic-style shoes are sold.
6. Raise the heel of your shoe with a heel cushion.
7. Apply an ice pack to your heel, if the heel becomes painful and swollen.
8. Ask your doctor about ultrasound, physical therapy and "strapping," to avoid the need for heel spur surgery.
9. See a doctor for an injection of steroid administered near the heel. Steroids can reduce pain, inflammation and swelling.
Tips:
Toe curls are done by placing a towel on a kitchen floor and curling your toes, trying to pull the towel to you.
Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spur, Heel Pain
heelspurs.com is an extensive source of information about plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and heel pain. The links above are to different areas of the web site.
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Many patients with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur on the front and bottom of their heel, but heel spurs do not cause pain. The common name is "heel spur" because it's easier to pronounce than "plantar fasciitis" and doctors are able to point to the spur on an x-ray. Causes of heel pain include inadequate flexibility in the calf muscles, lack of arch support, being overweight, suddenly increasing activity, and spending too much time on the feet. Arch support was rated the best treatment in our first survey of 1,800 visitors to heelspurs.com. My favorite form of arch support is the PowerStep Insert. In other surveys, patients ranked rest, ice, tape, and night splints as the most beneficial treatments for heel pain. Everyone seems to love the ProStretch for stretching the calf muscles and plantar fascia. Our LED Light Therapy is getting more and more positive feedback. Ibuprofen Cream can be applied directly to painful areas to avoid stomach irritation.
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