--- title: "Heel Spurs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment" description: "A heel spur is a foot problem that is associated with a bone-like growth, also known as a calcium deposit, extending between the heel bone." author: "Janet Catalano" published: 2020-02-13 updated: 2020-02-13 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/311313/heel-spurs-causes-symptoms-and-treatment category: "health care" tags: ["healthcare"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # Heel Spurs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment A heel spur is a foot problem that is associated with a bone-like growth, also known as a calcium deposit, extending between the heel bone and the arch. It usually starts underneath the heel, but their effects may eventually be experienced in other parts of the foot. They can grow up to half an inch long, but they are not necessarily visible to the naked eyes. In most cases, [detecting](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/161329/how-does-sys-stdin-isatty-help-in-detecting-interactive-mode) heel spurs can be quite difficult. This is because some heel spurs may not lead to pain and not all cases of heel pain are caused by heel spurs. The good [news](https://www.mindstick.com/developersection/news) is that with the assistance of a podiatrist such as Dr. Katherine Lai, diagnosing and treating heel spurs is possible. Below are some important things that you should know about heel spurs. ## Causes of Heel Spurs Heel spurs usually develop when there is a build-up of calcium deposits at the bottom of the heel bone. This usually happens as a result of issues such as plantar fascia stretching, ligament and muscle strains, and repeated tearing of the heel bone membrane. Some [risk factors](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/115076/what-are-the-key-dietary-changes-recommended-to-reduce-heart-disease-risk-factors) for heel spars include gait abnormalities, running on hard surfaces, being [overweight](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/195679/do-you-know-these-habits-are-making-you-overweight) or obese, and wearing poorly fitting shoes. ## Symptoms of Heel Spurs Some of the most common symptoms of heel spurs include [inflammation](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/300776/5-signs-of-cardinal-inflammation), pain, and swelling at the front of the heel. It is also common for the area affected by a heel spur to feel warm to touch. With time, these symptoms are likely to spread to other parts of the foot. At the most advanced stage of a heel spur, a tiny bony protrusion can become visible. In some cases, heels spurs do not cause any symptoms at all. It is also possible for them not to cause any visible changes to the soft tissues surrounding the heel. As such, heel spurs in such cases are only discovered during X-ray tests for other foot problems. ## Heel Spurs [Treatment](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/300815/treatment-for-jaundice) Once you have been diagnosed with a heel spur, there are several ways in which your [condition](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160913/writing-a-query-to-update-records-based-on-a-condition-in-sql-server) can be managed. For instance, you can start with ice packs to numb the area, orthotic shoe inserts, and even rest. You can also make use of over-the-counter pain medications to manage pain. In more severe cases, you can go for corticosteroid shots. However, these [solutions](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/82594/tmj-pain-relief-solutions) only offer temporary relief. If the symptoms keep coming back, your doctor may advise you for surgery and [physical therapy](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/328305/7-significant-benefits-of-physical-therapy) to get rid of the heel spur and even learn how you can prevent it from growing again. ## The Bottom Line Although heel spurs can at times have undesirable symptoms, they can be managed and even treated in a number of ways. If you are looking for a reliable podiatrist or [sports medicine](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/312198/what-is-the-importance-of-sports-medicine) specialist to help you with treating a heel spur in New York, NY, The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine is a great facility to consider. Feel free to contact them today for more information about the services that they offer. --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/311313/heel-spurs-causes-symptoms-and-treatment Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.