Five Ways To Heal A Heel Spur In Eagle Mountain, UT

A person makes more than 5,000 steps each day. These small daily steps will add up to a million miles, making your feet wear out and leading to several injuries and long-term conditions. Five out of ten people with wear and tear injuries develop heel spur syndrome.

A heel spur will impact your mobile ability, making walking challenging and painful. Below, we explore the fastest way to heal a heel spur and how long it will take for a full recovery in Eagle Mountain, UT.

What Are Heel Spurs?

Heel spurs are tiny, bony knobs caused by extreme calcium deposits that can significantly impact mobility. It usually grows in the heel bone area, and it is majorly driven by ill-fitting footwear, constant pounding on hard surfaces, and will cause tremendous pain.

Causes Of Heel Spurs

Heel spurs commonly arise when your foot muscles or ligaments are constrained, fibrous tissues at the base of your foot that bind your heels to toes are stretched, and membranes covering your heel bone tear.

In addition, constant pounding done by athletes causes calcium deposits to pile up on the base of your heel bone, causing a protrusion that leads to swelling. However, you do not have to be a professional athlete to get a heel spur. The illness is also caused by:

• Excess weight or obesity
• Ill-fitting footwear
• When running or jogging on a hard exterior or surface.
• Gait disease that causes distress to your feet
• Diabetes, arthritis, and old age
• Extended arches or flat feet
• Standing for extended periods on your feet.

Risk Factors For Heel Spurs

Several things can increase the risk of you developing heel spurs. These include:

• Athletic activities: Jogging, jumping, and running will tear down your heels and foot arches.
• Hard-surface activities: constant running or jumping on hard surfaces will cause problems for your heels.
• Heel trauma: When you have consistent bruises or torn membrane cover, it may cause the development of heel spurs.
• Old Age: Recent studies have shown most heel spurs are typical in older men and women.
• Being overweight: Most obese people are at high risk of developing heel spurs.
• Improper shoes: When you constantly wear ill-fitting shoes, it can lead to heel spurs.

Symptoms Of Heel Spurs

There are several common symptoms of heel spurs regardless of the underlying cause. Most people usually experience constant heel spur pain during rest or early morning, while others may experience sharp pain at the base of the foot. Heel spur pain can also be moderate and exist as a minor ache throughout the day, especially after or during burdensome activities.

Some other heel spur symptoms are swelling and tenderness at the base of the foot. When you have big bone spurs, there will be an apparent protrusion where the spur has developed. Furthermore, most people lament a sharp pain that usually returns after prolonged standing or sitting.

Ways To Heal A Heel Spur

The following are some remedies and treatments for a healing heel spur.

Cold Compress

An ice pack covered in cloth on your heel aids in relieving an inflamed heel tissue and is typically applied by placing an ice pack wrapped in cloth on your heel. In addition, cold compression packs can aid in keeping the ice packs in position, and they are primarily found in pharmacies as gel packs. Gel packs should be refrigerated and wrapped around your ankle and foot for about ten minutes before unwrapping.

Footwear And Orthotics

Having comfy and well-fit footwear will help reduce the pressure on your heel spur that causes agony and discomfort. Consider the following when looking for shoes:

• Strong heel support: The back of the footwear must be strong to support your heel and avert your foot from rolling in and out of directions.
• Slight flexibility: footwear should not easily flex. However, it must bend gradually to create some resistance if your foot is bent.
• Lightly elevated heel: Having a slightly raised footwear heel will aid in taking pressure off your painful heel.

Over-The-Counter Medications

The following over-the-counter medications will aid you in relieving discomfort and agony in your heel.

• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen sodium/naproxen (Aleve)
• Aspirin

In addition, these medicines will help reduce inflammation, preventing further damage. However, you should not take this anti-inflammatory medication if you have kidney issues or a history of stomach ulcers.

Surgery

Several surgical methods and approaches exist. Most doctors recommend surgery after all non-invasive treatment methods to heal your heel spur have failed. The most commonly used surgical procedure is detaching the plantar fascia ligament from your heel bone while removing a heel spur using special equipment—this aids in reducing pressure from plantar fasciitis.

However, surgery can cause some risks, such as nerve damage and the possibility of heel spurs developing after surgery. When the surgery is done, it can take weeks before you can resume walking normally with minor heel pain.

Calf Stretches

When you stretch during several timeframes, such as in the morning, afternoon, and evening, your heel spur pain will reduce rapidly. Wearing special splints that will make your foot stretch your calf muscles and plantar fascia during the night will aid in reducing the pain in the morning.

Looking For An Experienced Podiatrist In Eagle Mountain, UT? Contact Us

Many people never realize they have developed a heel spur until they seek medical assistance to relieve the foot pain. Typically, heel spurs can develop independently or be caused by an underlying health problem. However, it is vital to seek immediate medical help when you have a heel spur for it to heal.

At Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute, we offer Heel Spur Treatment in Eagle Mountain, UT. Our doctors are friendly with years of experience and skills to help you get back to your feet. Our clinic is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date treatments and procedures available. Call 801-756-4200 to schedule an appointment with us today.