What Are The Factors That Can Aggravate Heel Spur?

By Author: Dave Woods
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How can you be sure that you have a heel spur? Just because you have heel pain does not mean that it has to be heel spur. To be sure, you need to get an X-ray done. If the report shows that there is a bony protrusion in the underside of the heel bone, it means that you heel spur. It can be quiet painful and if left ignored can turn into plantar fasciitis. Some common ways to deal with it include exercise, anti-inflammatory medicines, and orthotics and cortisone injections. If all these fail, then the only solution is to undergo a surgery.



What are the Causes of Heel Spurs?


If there are calcium deposits on the underside of the heel bone, it means you are suffering from heel spur. This ailment is found mainly amongst sportsmen and athletes who are involved in jumping and running. The strains on the foot muscles may cause the ligament to tear and over a period of time the membrane that covers the heel bone gets shifted. That is when the pain increases and becomes unbearable.



What are the Factors ...
... that can Aggravate Heel Spur?

Wearing ill-fitted shoes that lack appropriate arch support can enhance the pain
Jogging and running can be dangerous if you have heel pain
Gaining weight suddenly or if you are obese
Abnormality in the walking technique can also enhance the condition

Other risk factors include:

Increasing age where the protective fad of the heel tends to thin out with the passage of time
If you have to stand for long hours daily due to professional requirements
Having a flat heel or high arches
Diabetes is another factor that can affect this ailment adversely

What are the Symptoms of Heel Spurs?


There is no specific symptom of heel spur. You may not be even aware that you have this ailment unless the pain starts to make an appearance. However, this ailment is often associated with chronic pain at intermittent hours. For example: when you get up in the morning and take your first steps, you will feel the pain piercing through your foot, as if someone has stabbed a knife. The pain then subsides as you go on carrying out the different activities through out the day. It again makes reappearance in case you were sitting for too long and suddenly got down from the chair. Prolonged absence of activity aggravates the pain.



How can You Heal Heel Spur?


There are many non-surgical treatments of heel spurs that you can r you at home. The best one amongst them is to take rest for a prolonged time. In addition to this, you need to take ice pack, opt for over the counter pain reliefs, mild exercises like stretching of legs and the feet so that calf muscles loosen up and do not become stiff. If the pain still persists after all these, you have to visit a doctor. Get yourself checked thoroughly and opt for all the tests that the doctor recommends if you really wish to get well.



Most of us forget but our feet carries the entire weight of the body. It is extremely important that you start taking proper care of it from early on. Make sure that you do not put on too much weight, opt for regular exercises, wear comfortable shoes and always take ample rest so as to heal and repair. If you have any queries, feel free to consult the doctor at any time. It is important to seek for medical intervention as and when required. When it comes to your health, you should not take any kind of chances.



About the Author: This contribution has been made by Dave Woods who has written a number of articles on heel spur and provides fruitful information. To know more, please visit www.theheelpainexpert.com.