Heel pain is a common problem for many women and men, and like many foot-related issues, it’s a problem that becomes even more common with age. While lots of issues can contribute to heel pain, for many people, the culprit is a bony growth called a heel spur that forms on the bottom of the heel bone (or calcaneus).
Heel spurs are most often associated with repetitive wear and tear and excess pressure on the sole of your foot, which is why they tend to be more common among older people, athletes and other active people, and people who are overweight. Regardless of the underlying cause, though, the good news is that they can be treated — but early medical intervention is essential.
Our team at Texas Foot & Ankle Specialists, PLLC helps patients overcome painful heel spur symptoms and restore mobility with therapies focused not only on managing pain, but on correcting the underlying inflammation that makes symptoms worse. Here, learn about three common symptoms associated with heel spurs so you can seek treatment as early as possible.
While some types of heel pain feel better after a little rest and TLC, heel spur pain is especially stubborn. In fact, many people find their pain is worse when they get up in the morning or after a long period of sitting or resting.
That’s similar to another common cause of foot pain: plantar fasciitis — and in fact, both of these painful, inflammatory conditions often occur together. As with plantar fasciitis, heel spur pain relief often happens as you move around, increasing circulation in your feet and relieving stiffness in the ligaments and surrounding soft tissues. Once you take a break and relax for a bit, though, your pain is likely to feel worse when you move again, at least temporarily.
While prolonged periods of rest can definitely increase heel spur pain, especially in those first few minutes of movement, too much activity can trigger symptoms, too. Long periods of standing or walking or any impact that involves repetitive impacts to your heels and feet are common causes of heel spur pain.
These activities put extra pressure on the ligaments and soft tissues surrounding your heel, causing the bony spur to dig into those tissues and trigger inflammation. Achieving a balance between rest and activity is one reason why heel spur symptoms can be so difficult to manage without medical intervention.
Localized tenderness is a classic sign associated with heel spurs. If you have pain or aching when you press on the bottom of your heel, that’s a classic, telltale sign of a heel spur. In this instance, pain happens as a result of inflammation around the spur.
When you press the area, the spur digs into inflamed tissue, causing immediate discomfort that can range from a burning ache to a sharp, stabbing pain. The area might appear swollen, as well. You might also notice increased pain when wearing shoes that don’t provide a lot of cushioning in the heel area or in shoes that lack adequate arch support.
Heel spurs can definitely cause a lot of discomfort, but the good news is that they’re highly treatable, especially when caught early. While surgery may be the best solution for advanced spurs, early treatment with ice, medication, custom orthotics, anti-inflammatory injections, and physical therapy can provide dramatic improvement for most people.
Don’t delay treatment for your heel problems. To find out if your heel pain is caused by a heel spur or another underlying problem and what we can do to help, schedule an appointment at our locations in Mesquite, Forney, and Kaufman, Texas, today.
