Heel Spurs Treatment and Prevention

Heel spurs are considered a self-limited condition, which means that by making small alterations in your lifestyle and regular routines you can often control the condition. The goal is to relieve pain, reduce friction and transfer pressure from your sensitive foot areas. Failure to see improvements after conservative treatments may make surgery your only option.

Rest and activity modification are among the most important things you can do to help recover from your heel spurs. Ice and compression will help to ease your pain and discomfort from inflammation. A compression brace is the best option to receive this type of treatment.

Our Cold Compression Wraps are recommended as the best by the Mayo Clinic, several professional sports organizations, and countless medical professionals. That's why we sell them, because they are the best. We have noticed over time that our customers are so fond of our cold wraps that they are frequently coming back and ordering a second one - this way they can cool one while wearing the other. The wraps are becoming very popular with baseball and soccer trainers, and the wraps can be conveniently stored in a cooler for quick application on the field when needed.

Ultrasound is an excellent tool to reduce pain and inflammation. The application of ultrasound over the affected foot area reduces swelling, increases blood flow, decreases pain, relieves tension making muscles and tendons more flexible, minimizes scar tissue, and helps tissues heal more quickly. It can be performed at home easily and safely with a portable ultrasound device.

An Plantar/Heel Spur/Gout Radiant Energy Therapy Device is one of the most helpful tools for a plantar fasciitis injury. Through the absorption of infrared thermal energy, tissues are safely and gently heated - increasing blood flow within the plantar fascia area. Your body's natural response to this increased temperature is to try to maintain a condition of homeostasis - a balanced environment or state of equilibrium throughout the body. To do this, your body responds with a rapid increase in blood flow to the area (this is known as vasodilation), increasing the supply of nutrients to injured cells and flushing out toxins (including lactic acid, commonly found in trigger points) to promote healing. Our Thermotex Carpal Tunnel / Plantar Pain Relief Device provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

Other conservative treatments:

Properly sized comfortable footwear (leave a 1/2 inch space between longest toe and inside of shoe) with significant arch support and motion control. Also, avoid running around barefoot, or on hard and uneven ground.

Corrective footwear, orthotics (insoles and arch supports) or other foot devices (walking casts, night splints) provide support and alignment.

Cushioning or supportive items, such as taping or donut-shaped heel cushions protect, reposition your foot, and relieve pressure pain.

Exercises that stretch and strengthen your foot (flexor digitorum brevis and quadratus plantae), ankle (achilles tendon) and leg muscles (soleus, gastrocnemius, hamstring) keep you balanced and flexible.

Gentle foot massage helps relax tissues; physio therapy, chiropractic care, reflexology and acupressure are effective in relieving tension, strengthening your foot and helping with alignment.

A balanced diet keeps your weight maintained.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, corticosteroid or Botox injections have been used, but must be administered by a medical professional and involve some risks. Steroid injections have been known to weaken the tissues and cause ruptures.

Pain and anti-inflammatory medications can help relieve some aches and pains.

Heel or plantar fasciitis surgery (endoscopic plantar fasciotomy, open heel-spur fasciotomy) helps to relieve pressure, reduce pain and remove the calcium spur from the heel area. However, surgery is not a guarantee and there can be complications. If the plantar fascia is not repaired when the heel spur is removed, it is likely it will return.

Recovery from heel spurs can take between 6 weeks - 18 months, depending on the severity of your condition and your commitment to proper rehabilitation. The more dedicated you are with your treatments, the faster you will see successful, long-lasting results.

See Plantar Fasciitis for more detailed information.