Please Post if you have any Info!

Originally posted by murph550:
Please Post if you have any Info!

They are very painful which makes walking uncomfortable to say the least.
I got some foam heel pads to put in my shoe from the drug store that were cut out where the spur was and that helped some.
They went away on there own...I wore GOOD UGLY Walking shoes instead of my cheap canvas sneakers or dress shoes.
My Dr. told me they are caused by the stretching of the structure of the sole of the foot.

Sorry I cannot be more helpful, but if you are patient they will disappear , mine did.


------------------
Annabelle

I recommend NO surgery for heel spurs. As annabelle stated the pain will go away. I had the surgery to remove the spur on one foot, the other foot I waited and it did go away. Why put yourself thru a knife if you don't have to. Good luck!

I don't no if any one believes this or not.

I had a bone spur, I took the quertizone shot in the heel. Oh my G--. It hurt so bad. I said never again.

I'm now taking coral calcium. My bone spur was gone after four months.

OR, it just went away by itself.
BUT, I also had acid reflux disease it was gone after three days of taking the coral calcium.

The only downfall is you have to keep taking it, all the time.



------------------
Fancy

You can home treat heel spurs by purchasing some gel heel inserts and placing them in your shoes (forget the heels - I'll tell you why in a moment), sleeping with your feet bent in the 'standing position' (use a board or brace) and giving them a good soak prior to bed time.

A heel spur is generally formed when the plantar muscle (that long muscle at the bottom of your foot that goes from the heel to the toes) has either been damaged or has begun to separate from the heel. The spur is created when the bone attempts to 'retrieve' the plantar muscle by diverting calcium to the area to create new bone material as a 'patch' of sorts.

The intense pain that you feel is from the bone spur tearing into the muscle. If you sleep or rest with your feet pointed down then the plantar muscle will heal up in its shortened state. Then the first thing you notice when you get up is that it's darn near impossible to remain on your feet! Sleeping with your feet in the extended position (feet positioned as if you're standing on them) causes the muscle to heal while it's in the stretched position and keeps it from tearing again when you get up and try to stand.

You can either purchase a foot brace on the internet (expensive - about 75.00), place a board at the foot of your bed to brace your feet on or purchase a simple figure eight ace bandage specifically for weak ankles. While the ace bandage will not work as well in keeping your feet in the proper position they still are very helpful in reminding you that you need to quit pointing your feet.

The gel heel cups or inserts place in a good flat shoe (I've even worn mine with loafers) helps to cushion your step while the healing process continues. Wearing heels over 1/2 inch are counterproductive as this will flex your foot into the toes down position and encourage the muscle to heal in its shortened state, thereby aggravating your pain even more.

Expect it to take about 4 - 6 weeks for the pain to fully go away - remember, you've got a damaged muscle and a bit of extra bone to heal and it will take time. However, I noticed that my pain started to subside after three days - I still staggered to the bathroom while hanging on to the wall when I first woke up, but the walking pain subsided considerably. You should be able to take an over the counter anti-inflammatory or aspirin to ease any remaining pain those first weeks. After the pain goes away continue to wear the gel cup inserts in your shoes as a preventive measure and for comfort.

Believe it or not - this treatment is even more effective than the cortisone shots and preferable to other treatments. I had the cortisone shots the first time I got a spur on my right foot and it took much longer to heal and for the pain to go away than my left foot, which I treated in the manner described above. However, if this treatment doesn't work well for you, you'll want to consult your doctor to see about having special orthopedic cups made ($$$$$) and explore the other alternatives with him.

I diasagree if the Dr says have surgery than have it because i became permantly disabled because I didn't
the surgery soon enough. I waited 6 years to long.

I disagree if the Dr says have the surgery than have it because I became permantly disabled because I didn't have the surgery soon enough. I waited 6 years to long.
Now I'm paying dearly for it. Just think about it.

[This message has been edited by trevs (edited 07-15-2003).]