1. Treatment in its Simplest Form
Bone spurs in the foot are nothing more than calcium growths and are usually harmless and painless. Most bone spurs in the foot occur in the heel. Unless they create pressure on soft tissue, muscles, tendons or ligaments, no treatment is necessary. For some, rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or cortisone injections are all that is needed, until the inflammation in the surrounding tissue has receded. If overweight, patients may be advised to lose weight to take some pressure off the feet.
2. Supporting Your Foot in its Time of Need
Not everyone gets lucky enough to never have pain associated with bone spurs, and treatment becomes necessary. One of the most common ways to treat bone spurs in the foot is to provide support that will take pressure off the affected area. Padding and shoe inserts (orthodics) are used to this end. Inserts and heel pads provide support, reduce tension on ligaments and tendons, cushion the heel and arches and absorb shock to the foot as you walk, run or jump. Special footwear can be designed that offer such support, or removable inserts can be worn with your existing footwear.
3. Stretch Away the Pain of Bone Spurs
Physical therapy can play a key role in treating bone spurs in the foot. Stretching the muscles of the lower leg and the arch of the foot can relieve symptoms of bone spurs. Sit upright and stretch your legs out in front of you. Loop a towel around your foot and gently pull your foot toward you as you keep your back and leg straight. Or place your toes on a stair step and lower your body until your arch and calves are stretched. Rolling the foot over a frozen can provides both a stretching activity with ice application.
4. Treating Bone Spurs While You Sleep
Not all stretches need to be done with a towel or frozen can, or even while you're awake for that matter. Night splints, worn while you sleep, keep the heel stretched to avoid contraction of the arch. This will prevent muscles and ligaments from tightening up and takes the pressure off the area most affected by the bone spur. Night splints come in a variety of types, but are mostly soft boot-like devices that use Velcro straps to hold the foot in a rigid but comfortable position.
5. Cutting to the Bone
When all else fails, there's always surgery for those chronic, recurrent cases. Surgery is usually an option only after all other treatments have been tried for at least a year. Surgery for bone spurs in the foot can be done either arthroscopically, or by cutting open the area to gain direct access to the spur. Besides removal of the spur, surgical repair of the plantar fascia (connective tissue supporting the arch) is usually advocated due to the possible link between spur formation and inflammation due to problems with the plantar fascia.
