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In some cases, constant throbbing pain in the heel may leave you unable to walk. Very often the cause of such pain is the so-called heel spur - a degenerative disease from which more and more people suffer. What are its reasons? How is a heel spur treated? What should be done so that the heel does not hurt when walking in the future?
1. What is a heel spur?
The disease, widely known as a heel spur, from a medical point of view, which can be easily diagnosed by an experienced person Orthopedic surgeon is determined by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a fibrous structure that resembles a stretched tape on the sole of the foot. Every time when the toes are bent, when walking or jumping, the tendon is compressed. Despite the loud name, the cause of this ailment is not inflammation at all, although such a version has existed for a long time. Many factors can contribute to the occurrence of the disease. In the case of a heel spur, X-rays show degenerative changes that occur specifically in the structures of the heel bone and are the cause of the symptoms experienced by a person.
2. What are the causes of a heel spur?
Degenerative changes can occur as a result of constant irritation of the heel area. Patients with an unhealed or improperly healed injury, which affects the incorrect position of the foot when walking, can expect inflammation of the heel fascia in the future. They say that sport is health, but not every discipline has a good effect on health. Professional sports that stress the feet can contribute to the formation of a heel spur. Standing work and wearing uncomfortable shoes or high-heeled shoes can also cause the formation of heel fascia. The second factors contributing to the formation of a heel spur are excess weight, flat feet and old age.
3. What are the symptoms of a heel spur?
The first symptom that prompts a person to consult an orthopedist is pain in the heel. It pulsates and intensifies at the beginning of the movement. The longer a person walks and loads the foot, the more the pain goes away. It can be so strong that it does not allow a person to walk. With such symptoms, you should consult an orthopedist.
4. Diagnosis of heel spur
The orthopedic doctor who visits the patient usually makes a diagnosis based on the symptoms described by the patient. If the characteristics of the perceived pain coincide with the characteristics of the heel fascia, the patient feels pain when palpating the foot, and the doctor has ruled out other possible causes of the symptoms — the orthopedic surgeon may detect a heel spur. As a rule, x-rays are not required to diagnose the disease.
5. Heel spur treatment
Unfortunately, there is no single drug that would eliminate the cause and symptoms of the disease. It is necessary to constantly do prevention and fight the symptoms of a heel spur. With severe and persistent pain, you can use anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving agents, preferably in the form of an ointment for local application. Applying ice to sore spots is also a good way to reduce pain. If a person knows for sure that he has a heel spur, he should consult a doctor. The specialist will select a suitable set of exercises and tell you how to perform them correctly. Exercises to strengthen muscle strength will be very useful, you can try special orthopedic insoles or shoes that reduce the load on the heel, as well as taping the arch of the foot. Many patients also feel relief after ultrasound therapy. For more severe symptoms, injections of anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the painful area (usually glucocorticosteroids).
6. Prevention of heel spur
People who complain of pain in the heel should often knead their feet. You should also avoid any type of activity that can lead to overloading of the foot. It is important to choose the right shoes - they should be soft and comfortable, and girls should refrain from wearing high heels. In the prevention of plantar fasciitis, it is very important to maintain proper body weight, so people suffering from excess weight should lose extra pounds.
