A heel spur refers to the medical condition in which there is an abnormal growth in the heel bone of the body. This occurs when the calcium deposits form in the heel bone leading to a bony protrusion on the heel bone or as it is commonly called - a heel spur. It often occurs in people who have a history of plantar fasciitis. It is caused primarily by a deficit of calcium which in turn causes the bones to leach calcium and form the offending protrusion. This condition also affects people with either flat feet or extremely arched feet. This is why women who constantly wear high heels or footwear that does not support the arch of their foot properly often suffer from this condition. Since the heel bone is the biggest bone in the body it absorbs the maximum pressure and shock and bears the full brunt of your weight. Because of this, the condition can cause extreme pain in the rear foot, especially while walking and even while standing. It is extremely important to treat heel spurs in time to prevent excruciating pain.
If you are suffering from a heel spur, some simple measures can help to reduce the pain and treat the condition. Firstly you should avoid walking bare-foot if you have a heel spur since this forces the ligament on the bottom surface of your foot to stretch even further, aggravating the condition. The best footwear if you have heel spurs is sturdy shoes with a slight heel that take the weight off the heel and shift it towards the toes, without arching the foot too much. You can also insert a sponge or rubber support in your shoes to cushion the heel from the pressure of the body and any sudden shocks. Heel cups can also help to support the arch, restricting sudden movements which might jerk the heel causing pain. They also help to elevate the heel, easing pressure off the heel towards the front of the foot. Of course it goes without saying that you should avoid any kind of activity that will exert pressure on your heel, and thus restrict your movement and keep your foot elevated to ease the pain and also improve the circulation of blood in that area. In order to soothe the pain and inflammation you can apply a warm compress or heat pad on the heel for 15 to 20 minutes, following it with an ice pack. A gentle massage of the foot and heel using your thumb to relax the aching muscles is also beneficial in soothing the pain. You can also use some gentle stretching exercises, rotating your ankle clock-wise and anti-clockwise to relax the muscles in your foot. If you are over-weight, then you should also focus on reducing your weight so that there is reduced pressure on the heel. Since the primary cause of heel spurs is a calcium deficit, you can supplement your diet with calcium to stop the leaching. In many cases, once the leaching has stopped, the spur will dissolve and the pain and inflammation will subside. If all these methods fail, then the doctor might suggest medications or in certain cases even surgery to fix the condition.
answered by G M