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    What Are Heel Spurs?

    Published on April 20th, 2016

    Of the causes of heel pain, heel spurs are a common one. Heel spurs deal with the bone and how it grows over the wrong area of the foot. Eventually, this does hurt the tissue rather than just the bone because the tissue that surrounds the heel spur becomes painful. This condition can occur by itself or with other foot problems.

    Symptoms

    Clearly, the main symptom of heel spurs is heel pain, whether under the heel or at the back of it. However, as this condition is caused by chronic local inflammation, symptoms also include tenderness and pain. Considering the bone and plantar fascia are affected, if you notice heel pain or inflammation in your foot, you should see a podiatrist right away. Heel spurs can often be treated effectively, but it is important to seek treatment when the pain begins.

    Treatment

    Oftentimes, heel spurs are treated conservatively and non-surgically. The first step is to reduce inflammation with ice, medication such as ibuprofen, or cortisone shots have proven to be helpful. You also may need to wear custom orthotics to help cushion the affected area. If the heel spur is left untreated, surgery may be necessary to correct the condition. Though there is no specific key to prevention, wearing properly fitting shoes, avoiding repetitive trauma, and treating any existing inflammatory problems can help.

    Whenever you are experiencing foot pain, you ought to see a podiatrist. Here at Alpine Foot Specialists, we strive to make sure all of our patients end their treatment with a good outcome. Whether you are experiencing heel pain from heel spurs or need to treat another foot-related issue, schedule an appointment with us today!

    Courtesy of: Medicine Net

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