Heel spur treatment

The problems of heel spur and the plantar fasciitis are very similar and so the treatment used in both of them is the same. We will talk a bit more about the ways in which you can reduce the symptoms and problems caused by the heel spur, but we have to say now that you need to keep the inflammation in control and try to rest.

Treatment

First thing you should do is rest, since you can make the problem even greater than it is by doing some activity. If you avoid strenuous activities, like prolonged standing or jogging, you will start to decrease the inflammation and eliminate the experienced pain. Next thing you can do is use ice packs and apply them on the affected location. By using ice packs you can reduce the pain and other problems caused by the heel spur. The icing, which should particularly be used if the symptoms become acute, is also a good solution.

Next part of the treatment is associated with the exercises and stretching. You can perform some simple exercises that will help the heel bone tissue by relaxing it. They are very effective and they can be performed in any time of the day. Since, the pain and problems associated with heel spur tend to aggravate in the morning and evening, these exercises will surely reduce the pain during these periods of time. The treatment involves the use of some anti-inflammatory medicines. You can acquire over-the-counter medications or even prescription if you desire a stronger effect. These medications will reduce the inflammation and pain. You can use shoe inserts and night splints, which can prevent the contraction of foot arch and help it to be stretched during the night. The treatment will take a lot of time; even a year was needed in some cases.

One unpopular way of the treatment includes the use of cortisone injections, which can cause side effects such as plantar fascia rupture and fat pad atrophy. These side effects are rare but serious. One experimental treatment suggests that the tissue can be repaired by the administration of energy pulses, which causes micro trauma and initiate the repair. This treatment is called extracorporeal shockwave treatment.

Prevention

Do not stop with the exercises and stretches and you can use shoe inserts. Also be sure to wear only proper and fitting shoes and, since in some cases mechanical structure of the foot may be impaired, custom orthotics can help with this problem. There is a chance, approximately 5%, that these treatment methods are unsuccessful. But never do on with a surgery if you haven’t treated the problem in the way we have explained at least for one year. This is important since it may take even a year before the results show up.