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The heel spur treatment helps to relieve symptoms of pain and difficulty walking caused by the spur friction on the plantar fascia, so it is recommended to use soft shoes with orthopedic insole to better support the foot and prevent the spur from causing pressure excessive, relieving pain.
The spur is the formation of a bone callus that happens due to the stiffness of the foot and fascia, which is also related to being overweight, and having to remain standing or standing in the same position for a long time. Treatment with exercises, stretching and physiotherapy are indicated and achieve excellent results bringing pain relief in most cases.
Treatment options for heel spurs
Check out everything you can do to relieve spur pain:
1. Stretches
Some plantar fascia stretching exercises can be used, such as pulling your toes upwards for 20 seconds or rolling your foot over a tennis ball, to improve the elasticity of the fascia and prevent it from causing too much pressure on the spur , relieving pain. You can also step on the end of the ladder step and force your heel down, keeping the sole of your foot and leg extended.
2. Remedies
When the pain takes time to pass, it is recommended to consult an orthopedist to prescribe anti-inflammatory remedies, such as acetaminophen or naproxen, which reduce inflammation at the spur site, facilitating walking and faster pain relief. Medicines should not be taken without a prescription and it should be remembered that the medicines only relieve pain and do not eliminate the cause of the spur, and this does not cure the spur, so it is important to follow other treatments.
3. Doing Massage
For foot massage, a good moisturizing foot cream or sweet almond oil can be used. The person himself can massage his foot, but it is more relaxing when another person performs the massage. Another type of massage that can be indicated is the transverse massage performed exactly over the pain site, rubbing the area.
Ointments such as Cataflan, Reumon Gel, Calminex or Voltaren can also be used to massage the sole of the foot daily after bathing or soak the foot in cold water, for example. In the handling pharmacy it is also possible to order an anti-inflammatory ointment that can heat up when applied daily.
Pressing while sliding your thumb over the sole of your foot is also a great form of treatment to heal the spur. See more tricks you can do at home in this video:
4. Use Insole
Using a silicone insole is a good strategy to reduce the pressure of your body weight on the painful area. Ideally, an insole should be used that has a 'hole' exactly where the spur is located, because that way the sole of the foot is well supported and the painful area is not in contact with the insole or the shoe. However, this insole should not be used for life, being necessary only for the duration of the treatment.
Another type of insole that can be used is the one that forces the curve of the foot, which is present in some walking or running shoes.
Foot stretching exercise
Foot massage
5. Do Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for heel spurs includes the use of electrotherapy and the application of ice, to reduce inflammation of the tissues around the spur, relieving pain when walking. Some examples of what can be done in physiotherapy are:
- Ultrasound with neutral gel or anti-inflammatory property;
- Laser to help deflame and heal inflamed tissues;
- Crochet or deep cross massage technique that can cause some discomfort, but releases the fascia;
- Use of a night splint on the foot, which immobilizes the ankle and lengthens the plantar fascia;
- Exercises to stimulate the ideal curvature of the foot and the mobilization of the fascia.
Physiotherapy can be performed 3 to 4 times a week, until symptoms are eliminated.
6. Acupuncture
The needles used in acupuncture are also a good form of alternative treatment. Each session can be done once a week and brings relief and pain control.
7. Shockwave therapy
This equipment can be used to fight spurs, bringing pain relief with minimal risks and side effects. The treatment lasts 5-10 minutes, and 2 to 4 treatments are necessary, carried out once a week. Understand how shockwave treatment is done.
8. Surgery
Heel spur surgery is used in the most severe cases to release the plantar fascia and remove the spur, definitely relieving pain. However, being a surgery, there are some side effects that can arise, especially tingling in the heel area.
After surgery, to avoid complications, it is recommended to rest for at least 2 weeks and keep your foot elevated with pillows so that it is above the level of the heart, preventing it from becoming swollen and delaying healing. Furthermore, one should only start putting weight on the heel after the doctor's recommendation, and one should start walking with the aid of crutches. Learn how to use crutches correctly.
Is there a cure for spurs?
Once the spur has been formed, no treatment will be able to eliminate it completely and that is why it is common for pain to arise from time to time, whenever the person is careless and wears very hard shoes or is very barefoot, spending many hours a day standing. The only way to eliminate this bone formation is through surgery, where the bone can be scraped by the surgeon. However, if the factors that led to the development of the spur are not resolved, it may reappear.
