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Heel spur
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025

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A heel spur occurs as a result of a spiky bone growth on the foot, otherwise known as the heel bone. People who suffer from longitudinal flatfoot are most often subject to this ailment. The foot and its longitudinal arch are overloaded. After the overload, inflammation occurs, which deforms the periosteum of the foot, and the heel tissues are subject to deformation.
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Why does the heel bone become deformed?
The heel bone is deformed, most often, as a result of rheumatism. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a possible cause, and metabolic disorders (gout) may also be a cause. The list also includes infections, which are of two types (acute and chronic) - gonococcal and chlamydial.
Read about other causes of heel spurs in this article.
Complex treatment
Apply only complex treatment, contacting a specialist traumatologist or surgeon. At the beginning of the treatment, you need to reduce the load on the part of the body that hurts. Special orthopedic insoles, which are made exclusively by individual orders, produced a remarkable therapeutic effect. The correct layout of the outer and inner arch with the correct deepening and the presence of a pad under the heel must be observed.
Foot baths
A warm bath with sea salt can serve as a preventative measure for the disease. Such baths can work as a home pain reliever for leg pain. Baths improve blood circulation and nourish the soft tissues of the legs.
The doctor may prescribe physiotherapy, shock wave therapy, ultrasound treatment, or laser therapy, do not refuse this, the effect will be immediate.
Medicines
Medicines are used if previous methods did not have the desired effect. The doctor may prescribe diclofenac, piroxicam, metindil. These medications are not steroids, but they relieve inflammation remarkably. You can use creams and various ointments, which also contribute remarkably to treatment. Such ointments and creams include: finalgon, mobilat, voltaren. Consult an orthopedic doctor, who will prescribe the correct course of treatment and prescribe the necessary medications.
Operation
Surgical methods are used only if conservative treatment is ineffective. However, the frequency of surgical treatment remains insufficiently high: it is used in relation to 5% of patients. It is used if conservative treatment does not give results within 6 months. It is also carried out if the person's pain syndrome is too pronounced, so much so that he cannot tolerate conservative treatment.
The operation is performed using several methods. The choice of methods is determined by the patient's condition, the technical capabilities of the medical institution and the qualifications of the specialists. Open traditional surgery is most often used. This is the simplest method, which does not require special equipment. The operation can be performed in any hospital. However, this method of intervention also has its drawbacks, which include a high degree of trauma to the operated area and surrounding tissues, a high probability of complications, the risk of infection, and a long recovery period.
Endoscopic surgery is a method in which a full incision is not made. In this case, the degree of tissue damage is significantly reduced. The essence of the operation is that the doctor makes 2 small incisions. A special camera is inserted into one, which allows you to examine the structure and features of the internal environment, visualize the pathology. Special instruments are inserted into the second, which allow you to remove the spur. This method has much fewer side effects, significantly reduces the risk of infection and postoperative complications. The recovery period is much shorter, since there is practically no damage.
A method of minimized fascia dissection is also used, which causes a minimum of consequences and damage. The entire operation is performed under the control of X-ray equipment. First, a small incision is made, the diameter of which is approximately 3 mm. Then a tiny scalpel is inserted into this area, which cuts the fascia from the spur. After this, the scalpel is removed from the wound surface, a cutter is inserted, which completely grinds down the spur. Today, this operation is performed quite rarely, since it requires special equipment that is not available in every hospital. The recovery period after the operation is the shortest.
Prevention
It is very difficult to cure spurs. It is a long and labor-intensive process, so it is better to provide timely prevention than to overcome the consequences later. Prevention is also important after operations so that spurs do not form again.
The essence of prevention is to prevent the action of risk factors as much as possible, as well as to eliminate those concomitant diseases and congenital pathologies that can lead to the development of a spur. It is necessary to promptly treat somatic and infectious diseases, eliminate persistent viruses and latent infections.
It is important to fight excess weight and lead an active lifestyle. In this regard, you need to spend as much time as possible outdoors, play sports. Physical exercises should be performed regularly. It is also necessary to perform breathing and relaxation practices that help normalize metabolic processes, prevent the development of deposits, neoplasms, and inflammatory processes. You should try to avoid injuries, damage to joints, muscles, and tendons. Shoes should be comfortable, with special orthopedic insoles, which relieve the load from the back and distribute the load correctly. It is not recommended to wear high-heeled shoes, as they deform the foot and hand. It should be borne in mind that shoes without heels are also not good for the body. The best option would be a heel from 2 to 4 cm high. If necessary, you can use special heel pads.
It is important to control the load on the feet and try to distribute it correctly. It is important not to overload the lower back, unload the spine. Particular attention should be paid to the detection and timely treatment of diseases of the joints and lower back. Flat feet are also a risk factor, so people with this pathology need to do special exercises, wear corrective insoles.
People with gout, diabetes, and atherosclerosis should be especially careful about their health, as these are the main risk factors. It is necessary to treat these diseases and prevent further progression. As soon as you feel pain or notice other signs of a spur, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Forecast
With timely detection, elimination of the cause of the spur development, and adequate treatment, the prognosis can be favorable. Spurs on the legs are difficult to treat, long, however, recovery is possible, the main thing is to be patient and strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations. If you do not follow the recommendations, do not treat the spur, the prognosis can be unfavorable: severe pain, complete immobility and disability.