How Do You Know if You Have a Heel Spur?
A heel spur is a condition where a calcium deposit grows betwixt the heel and arch of the foot. What are the symptoms of heels spurs and what increases a person's hazard of developing them?
Heels spurs may happen independently or may be related to an underlying health status. People often presume that heels spurs are the cause of any hurting in the heel, simply other factors can besides cause heel pain.
This article explores the symptoms of heel spurs, as well as other causes of heel pain. It also discusses the causes, chance factors, and treatments for the condition.
A heel spur is a bony outgrowth that can occur on the underside of a person's pes. They are also known as calcaneal spurs or osteophytes.
Heel spurs may be pointy, hooked, or shelf-like. The outgrowth of a heel spur extends from the underneath of the heel towards the arch (the middle of the foot). This area of the foot is called the plantar fascia.
When seen on an X-ray, a heel spur may be up to half an inch long. If an X-ray is unable to confirm a suspected heel spur, a doctor may refer to the condition every bit "heel spur syndrome."
Symptoms of heel spurs can include:
- abrupt pain like a knife in the heel when standing up in the morning
- a dull ache in the heel throughout the rest of the day
- inflammation and swelling at the front of the heel
- oestrus radiating from the affected area
- minor, visible os-like protrusion under the heel
- betoken of tenderness at the bottom of the heel that makes it difficult to walk barefoot
If a person experiences these symptoms, a doctor may take an Ten-ray of their foot to make up one's mind the trouble. Seeing the protrusion on an Ten-ray is the only way to be sure a person has heel spurs.
Not anybody with a heel spur will experience all of these symptoms. Some people with heel spurs may feel no symptoms at all. These people may just detect they have heel spurs if they take an X-ray for another reason.
Heel spurs happen when long-term muscle and ligament strain wears out the soft tissues in the heel. Vehement the membrane that covers the heel bone is also a cause.
The heel can likewise get more vulnerable with age. A 2015 review of heel pain noted that as a person ages, the pads in the heel article of clothing down and fail to provide stupor assimilation.
Over time, calcium deposits can build upward nether the heel. These deposits form bony protrusions, which are heel spurs.
Chance factors for heel spurs may include athletic activities such as running and jumping.
There is a range of things that increment the risk of developing heel spurs. These include:
- Athletic activities: Running and jumping can vesture down the heel and arch of the foot.
- Activeness on hard surfaces: Oft walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces tin wear down the heel.
- Trauma to the heel: Bruising the heel and violent the membrane that covers information technology can pb to heel spurs.
- Getting older: A
2008 study found heel spurs to exist common in older men and women. - Beingness female person: A
2014 report found that heel spurs are more mutual in women than men. - Being overweight:
Researchers also found that heel spurs were related to obesity. - Improper footwear: Often wearing shoes that do not fit properly, have lost their support, or are non supportive, such as flip-flops, tin lead to heel spurs.
At that place are also some underlying medical conditions that may crusade heel spurs. These include:
- reactive arthritis (Reiter'due south disease)
- ankylosing spondylitis
- diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
- plantar fasciitis
Heel spurs are often confused with a condition called plantar fasciitis. Having plantar fasciitis increases a person's risk of developing heel spurs. Heel spurs often occur in people who already have plantar fasciitis.
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There are of import distinctions between heels spurs and plantar fasciitis. A heel spur is a calcium deposit that forms a bony protrusion forth the plantar fascia.
In contrast, plantar fasciitis is a condition where the plantar fascia gets irritated and bloated, which causes pain in the heel.
Doctors frequently depict the plantar fascia as a bowstring-like tissue. It stretches underneath the sole and attaches to the heel. Plantar fasciitis results from an unusual amount of force on this part of the human foot.
Possible causes of meaning force include:
- being obese
- walking or otherwise exercising the foot for a very long fourth dimension
- wearing shoes that do not support the curvation of the foot
Having diabetes is as well a adventure factor for plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis unremarkably goes away without treatment. Heel spurs, on the other hand, are permanent unless medically treated.
Treatments for heel spurs may include:
- Residual: Getting plenty of rest and taking pressure off the feet can help to reduce pain and swelling in the affected surface area.
- Applying ice: This can help reduce pain and swelling.
- Using custom-made orthotics (shoe inserts): These donut-shaped inserts go inside the shoe to take the pressure off the heel.
- Wearing cushioned sports shoes: These may besides help to relieve pressure and reduce pain.
- Anti-inflammatory medication: This helps to reduce swelling.
- Cortisone injections: These reduce swelling and hurting in the affected area. They are a stronger option if over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication is not effective.
- In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the heel spur. However, the above treatments are usually constructive, and surgery is not needed.
If heel spurs are caused by an inflammatory blazon of arthritis, treatments for the underlying condition may also improve symptoms.
The outlook for heel spurs is positive. The calcium deposit volition always be there unless surgically removed, simply this is not normally problematic, every bit treatments to reduce hurting and swelling tend to be effective.
In cases where treating the symptoms is not effective, surgery to remove the heel spur is possible.
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320411
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