A heel spur is basically a bony growth on a bone in the heel of the foot. The condition often is related to plantar fasciitis, MayoClinic.com reports. In fact, in many cases, the discomfort associated with a heel spur is actually caused by plantar fasciitis. This occurs because the heel spur makes contact with the plantar fascia, a band of tissue running through the foot, the Ohio State University Medical Center reports.
Symptoms
In many cases, you can have a bone spur on your heel and not even realize it. When you do start to notice it, though, it's likely because it's causing pain and inflammation in the joints of your feet. You may also notice that your range of motion is limited and you cannot move your foot as you once did, Mayo Clinic reports. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain in the heel that develops gradually. The pain can feel sharp and may be worse first thing in the morning or after long periods of standing or immediately after rising from a sitting position.
Risk Factors
You may well have a heel spur with no symptoms, but then the bothersome symptoms of plantar fasciitis make you aware of the condition. Heel spurs can affect anyone, but plantar fasciitis most often develops in men between the ages of 40 and 70 who are active, MedlinePlus reports. People who are obese, women who are pregnant and those with arch problems in the feet are more likely to notice heel spurs and the related plantar fasciitis. Among athletes, distance runners tend to develop the condition most often.
Walking and Other Activities
As long as the pain and discomfort are tolerable, you can safely walk and participate in other physical activities if you have a heel spur. To lessen the discomfort, though, you should wear properly fitting shoes and consider a shoe insert called an orthotic to help properly position your foot. You can buy inserts at department stores and shoe stores, but an orthopedic doctor can also specially cast your foot for a custom-fit orthotic. Inserts called heel cups can also help make you more comfortable when walking, the University of Alabama-Birmingham reports.
Treatment
In addition to wearing properly fitting shoes, you can try several techniques to lessen the discomfort of a heel spur. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen can help, as can ice packs or cold packs applied to the affected area, the Ohio State University Medical Center reports. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory medication or inject you with cortisone to help ease the swelling that causes the discomfort. When these treatment options are not effective or the heel spur is particularly large, the bone growth can be removed surgically.
