Six Ways to Treat Heel Spurs

If you have a bony growth on the underside of your foot near your heel, you may have a heel spur, which requires medical attention. Heel spurs can be extremely painful, affecting a person’s mobility and quality of life in some cases. Fortunately, heel spurs can be treated, and there are many home remedies you can use to relieve painful symptoms.

In this article, we’ll detail the ways in which you can alleviate the pain that comes with walking with a heel spur as well as discuss some of the most common treatments available.

1. Cold Compress

Heel spurs often cause or arise from the inflammation of tissue in your heel, which is why cold therapy can help relieve painful symptoms. Applying a cloth-covered ice pack to your heel can help numb the area. Alternatively, you can use a cold compression pack, which are designed to keep ice packs in the correction position. Leave your ice pack on your heel for around ten minutes per hour or as and when required.

2. Shoes and Orthotics

If you have a heel spur, it’s important to wear shoes that fit you correctly, but that might not be enough to relieve the pain. You can purchase an orthotic insole for your shoes to provide heel support. In fact, orthotic insoles are a highly effective heel spur treatment with regards to alleviating pain until you undergo further treatment.

3. Stretches

You can reduce the stress placed on your heel spur by stretching the muscles surrounding your calf and plantar fascia, which is the ligament that stretches from your heel to your toe underneath your foot. Some stretches may exacerbate your painful symptoms, making it a good idea to seek medical advice before trying them out.

4. Over the Counter Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications that are available at many chemists can provide temporary pain relief for people with heel spurs. The most common of such medications are aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. Because these medications also reduce tissue inflammation, they can prevent your heel spur from worsening. However, be wary of such medications if you have a history of stomach ulcers or kidney problems.

5. Cryoultrasound

This relatively new treatment combines cold therapy and electromagnetic energy to relieve pain. Research shows that Cyroultrasound is an effective pain relief treatment for people who have heel spurs as well as plantar fasciitis, which are two medical conditions that often go hand in hand.

6. Surgery

If any of the above treatments fail to either relieve the pain you feel or eliminate your heel spur altogether, you may need to undergo surgery. Because this is an invasive procedure, it’s usually a last resort, and there are risks associated with it.

You don’t need to let painful heel spurs ruin your quality of life thanks to the treatments detailed above. If in doubt, visit a medical professional for advice regarding which treatment will work best for you. They may recommend a combination of the treatments detailed above, but they’ll certainly suggest trying treatments such as orthotics and cold therapy before surgery.