“I have a lot of pain from heel spurs. What can I do?”
I am having a lot of pain right below my heels when I walk due to heel spurs. What should I do to treat this?
7 Answers
Physical therapy. Heels spurs are usually not the cause of heel pain. This is a chronic condition due to tightness of the plantar fascia. Usually a calf stretching program and intrinsic foot muscle strengthening program helps relieve this type of pain.
See an orthopedic surgeon or podiatry surgeon. Treatment can range from orthotics, steroid shot, to surgical removal.
Start with an over-the-counter heel gel insert, then put a water bottle in the freezer and, after frozen, roll it on the sore spot for 5 minutes, 4 times a day. If no help, see a physiatrist or podiatrist who will order an X-ray to see the size and location of the spur and perform a steroid injection in the heel. (Make sure they give you cold spray first!) A custom insert may also be made for you.
Heel spurs are very painful, as you well know. A podiatrist can be very helpful. Do not do surgery as they often just return. The important thing to understand is the underlying cause. Use heel pads with cut outs to take the pressure off your heel. If it is the back (the Achilles area), I suggest special heel pads. It’s important to take any pressure off the back of the heel, so make sure the back of the shoe is not rubbing on your heel. Do not buy a bigger shoe. This will make the foot more unstable. Surgery is not the answer.
1. PT with ultrasound
2. Steroid or PRP injection
3. TENNEX
2. Steroid or PRP injection
3. TENNEX
Steven M. Simon
Physiatrist (Physical Medicine)
Plantar fasciitis is painful, but the spur is due to irritation of plantar fascia against the heel bone. Initial treatments are palliative NSAIDS like ibuprofen and naproxen orally. Freeze a half-liter bottle of water and roll on it with the sole of your foot. Pick up a large marble with your toes for 15 minutes 2x daily (curling the foot stretches the tendon). Massage the plantar fascia to stretch it. Try a small heel lift 1/4 inch to see if this improves it. Get injected with steroids at the site, by your local doc. If these fail, special orthotics can reduce contact pain OR surgery can restructure, but only as a last resort.
Assuming that it is truly from heel spurs, you can stretch the fascia of your feet as well as your calves and hamstrings. Often people freeze water bottles to massage under their feet with (roll your foot over the frozen botfle for an ice massage). Anti-inflammatory medications and gel heel cups can also help. Good luck!
