Heel Pain and Bone Spurs: A Dynamic Duo
Many of our patients at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center come to us for help with heel pain. In most cases, we’ll discover that the patient has plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia – the thick, long ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot. Inflammation may be due to repetitive stress to the heel such as walking, running, and jumping.
Plantar fasciitis can be complicated by the presence of bone spurs.
What are bone spurs?
Athletes, runners, and just about anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet put a lot of stress on their heels. In response to all of that stress and pressure, the heel bone may develop outgrowths – small bits of bone that stick out from the normal heel area. Now, in some people, the bony growths make no difference at all and a person isn’t even aware they have them. In others, heel spurs can poke into and tear the plantar fascia, causing pain and discomfort in the heel.
Treatment for heel spurs and heel pain
Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm, tackles heel pain and its partner, heel spurs, with a variety of conservative, non-invasive treatment recommendations:
- rest – stay off the injured foot as much as possible.
- icing – apply ice to the area several times a day.
- medication – take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- stretching exercises that you can perform at home or with the help of a physical therapist
- custom orthotics to relieve pressure and correct an underlying cause of the problem
All of these treatments have the same goal: to calm down the inflamed plantar fascia, reduce your pain, and help you get back to your favorite activities.
In rare cases, plantar fasciitis complicated by heel spurs may require surgery.
We encourage anyone suffering from heel pain in Fairfax County and the greater D.C. area to make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm as soon as possible. Prompt treatment of heel pain and heel spurs will shorten the time you’ll experience pain and disability and help you avoid surgical intervention. To make an appointment, call our Centreville podiatry office at (703) 996-3000 or contact us online.
