Cure for Heal Spurs

A heel spur is a nail-like growth of calcium around the foot's ligaments and tendons (fascia) where they attach to the heel bone. When a spur causes the plantar fascia to pull away form the heel, it's called plantar fasciitis. Spurs are a very painful condition that feels like a "toothache in the foot," but can be treated with self-care most of the time, requiring surgery only in rare cases.

Short-Term Treatments

• Rest your feet as much as possible during an acute attack of heel spurs, elevating them and applying ice for 20 minutes at a time, three times a day for the first day or two, then alternating ice and heat therapy. Take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or aspirin. Wear a night splint while you sleep, and before you get out of bed, stretch the feet and heels and massage them gently with your hands. During the day, stretch the calf muscles several times by lying on the floor and using a towel behind the foot to pull it toward you, or standing 2 to 3 feet from a wall with your hands on the wall, and with one leg bent, straighten the other leg behind you.

Long-Term Care

• Make an appointment with a podiatrist to assess whether you have arthritis, flat feet or high arches, or if you pronate (foot rolls out at the ankle) or supinate (foot rolls inward toward the foot). In these cases, you may require custom orthotics or other shoe inserts like wedges, deep heel cups and stabilizers. If you have a more difficult case, you might be given a cortisone injection or Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, which uses an acoustic energy wave that is focused at the area of pain. As a last resort, surgery can remove calcium deposits or even part of the heal, but there are often side effects and complications.

Prevention

• Start a weight loss program that enables you to get down to a healthy weight, since obesity is one of the main causes of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. Invest in a good pair or two of well-designed shoes that provide extra support. Consult with a podiatrist or sporting-shoe store assistant who can recommend the best shoes, orthotics and/or shoe inserts for you. Avoid flip flops, sandals and other flimsy shoes, as well as high heels. Practice gentle, daily stretching of the feet and calves, and eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants that reduce overall body inflammation.