What is a Heel Spur, Foot Spur or Calcaneal Spur?

A Heel Spur is a pointed bony outgrowth of the bone of the heel (the calcaneus bone). They are attributed to chronic local inflammation at the insertion of soft tissue tendons or fascia in the area. Heel spurs can be located at the back of the heel or under the heel, beneath the sole of the foot. Heel spurs can occur alone or be related to underlying diseases that cause arthritis.

Be aware heel spurs may cause no symptoms at all. You might not recall any heel injury or trauma, which would have caused a bruised heel, and may be incidentally discovered during X-ray exams taken for other purposes.

Heel spurs can also be called; foot spurs, bone spurs or a calcaneal spur, which in medical terms is a calcaneal exostosis, bone spurring of the heel or an osteophyte.

What are osteophytes?

Osteophytes take many months to years to form. You may feel no pain at all in the beginning and all of a sudden you wake up and say “OMG, my heel hurts”!

What are the symptoms of a heel spur?

Heel spurs start as a pain on the inside of the foot at the sole of the foot in the media aspect of the base of the heel. It usually starts in the morning as sharp pains in the heel with the first few steps, which feel like someone is stabbing your heel.

As the day goes on usually the pain eases up to be just a sore heel pain. They are associated with plantar fasciitis (plantar fascia is the connective tissue from the ball of the foot to the heel but can occur alone. They are found mostly in middle-aged women and men but are common in younger people as well. Few people get plantar fasciitis under 25 but more lately have been getting this condition. We feel the reason for this is because footwear design is towards softer materials, which lack support. People are carrying more weight on their feet (overweight or obese) and most do not get enough of the right exercises.

Don’t live with the discomfort and unyielding Heel Pain. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Sherman Nagler, board certified podiatrist and experienced Houston foot surgeon, to evaluate your treatment plan and surgical options. Get the relief you deserve for painful foot problems at the Nagler Foot Center.