Heel spurs are a common foot condition, characterized by a bony growth on the bottom of a person’s foot, typically from the heel and outstretching towards the arch.
Symptoms of a heel spur include:
A knife-like pain in the heel upon standing
Inflammation
Swelling
Heat
Bony protrusion in the heel area
Upon visiting a podiatrist, they may send you off for an x-ray to confirm the suspected diagnosis.
There are a couple of different ways that a person can develop heel spurs. One is by tearing the membrane that’s connected to the heel bone, while the other is wear and tear on the soft tissues of the heel that occurs with aging. A calcium build-up that turns into something more sharp can also affect the heel.
A person is more likely to develop heel spurs if any of the following apply to them:
Sports, especially those that involve running and are done on hard surfaces
Foot injuries
Aging
Female
Obesity
Wearing ill fitting or improper shoes
Luckily, heel spurs are fairly easy to treat and take care of. Remedies include:
Resting the affected foot
Icing the foot to reduce swelling and heat
Anti-inflammatory medication
Orthotics
Surgery (in rare cases)
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