Treatment-For

Heel Pain and Heel Spur

January 10th, 2006

Heel Spur

Heel Spur Pain

Pain in the heel in the morning

Heel spur pain is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia – the gristle on the sole of the foot – where it anchors itself to the front of the heel bone. The medical name for the heel bone is the calcaneum and the spur can sometimes be referred to as a calcaneal spur.

Typically the pain of a heel spur is felt at the front of the heel and is often worse first thing in the morning on putting the painful foot to the ground.

Heel Spur pain of this sort is one of the most disabling pain conditions known. Those who have it experience a searing pain along the sole of the foot - and the pain seems to spread from the heel spur area towards the big toe.

Heel Spur pain or front of heel pain often arises after unaccustomed activity such as walking or running. Alternatively, the heel pain may be triggered by day to day walking in boots or shoes that do not properly support the arch of the foot . Wellington boots are a common heel spur culprit but other types of footwear can also be at fault.

It may also be linked to being overweigh or to having feet with a naturally flat arch or other unusual feet shape patterns

Rarely this heel pain condition can be part of a more widespread form of arthritis but this is unusual. In most sufferers the underlying trigger is a loss of the arch of the foot – so called flat feet!

The heel discomfort of a heel spur is worse when walking and usually eased by rest. It can be made worse by tightness in the muscles of the calf or in the achilles tendon and stretching these tissues can be helpful in relieving the discomfort in the heel.

A doctor, podiatrist or physical therapist who examines a patient with this type of heel pain will typically find a loss of the arch of the foot, tightness in the calf muscles and a very, very tender spot on the front of the heel bone. Sometimes they pick up other “biomechanical” or leg shape abnormalities too.

In some patients an X-ray may show a “heel spur.” This spur can look dramatic but in fact it’s a bit of a red herring. The Heel Spur arises as a result of the inflammation and is not the cause of it. Many patients who have severe heel pain do not have a heel spur seen on x-ray and many patients who do have a heel spur have no pain in the heel! 

Entry Filed under: Joint Pain