Dr. Dilip Kumar Naidu

Calcium is good for bones but it’s not so good when it displaces on the bone forming the underside of your heel, causing painful heel spurs. The pain caused by heel spurs can be either sharp or dull. It usually worsens after jogging or walking and is acute when people get out of bed in the morning.

Heel spurs may be in the form of small bony protrusions or irregular growths on the heel bone.

These are more often in men and women who are older. But that’s not all, anyone can get a heel spur and athletes especially runners are especially susceptible. When the heel is subjected to constant wear and tear, heel spurs can form.

How do heel spurs develop?

To protect the surrounding heel tissue from damage, cells that specialise in forming bone reach the spot and start depositing calcium. This leads to the formation of a heel spur over a period of months.

Heel spurs are painful, but not always. There are many cases where they go undiagnosed and are only detected by X-ray.

Causes

1. Lopsided walking leading to excessive strain on the heel bone, ligaments and nerves
2. Repeated running, jogging or jumping on hard surfaces
3. Wearing poorly fitted shoes that lack appropriate arch support
4. Obesity

7 Ways To Get Rid Of heel spurs

1. Rest- Avoiding movement of the affected foot is a good way to reduce heel pain and stiffness. Massaging linseed and coconut oil onto the painful heel and then relaxing is even better.
2. Baking soda- This is a good home remedy for heel spurs. Baking soda contains crystals that help reduce calcium deposits in the bottom of the heel bone. It also reduces pain and inflammation.
3. Icing- Ice packs help reduce heel pain and control inflammation and swelling associated with heel spurs and also relaxes muscles.
4. Anti-inflammatory medications- These medications relieve heel pain but they shouldn’t be used for longer periods as they can lead to gastrointestinal problems like leaky gut, bleeding and symptoms of an ulcer.
5. Steroid injection- This provides some relief from the pain but if the injection is given wrongly, there can be nerve damage and the symptoms can get worse.
6. Cryoultrasound- This is an innovative electro-medical device that uses cryotherapy and ultrasound therapy to treat pain. It reduces pain and spasms and improves blood circulation and cell renewal.
7. Surgery- Surgery can be effective but only when it’s done at the right time. It’s also an expensive procedure. Heel spurs can form again after surgery if the patient continues the lifestyle that led to the problem. There are several complications associated with surgery too like nerve damage, infection, permanent numbness etc.

Because of the limitations of conventional therapies, people with heel spurs look for natural remedies for heel pain like using Epsom salts and supplementing with magnesium and vitamin B for nerve and bone formation. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Orthopedist.

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Sciatica is pain in the lower back or hip that radiates down into the buttock and back of the leg along the sciatic nerve, often to the foot.

How to avoid Sciatica?

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Keep your back muscles strong.
• Stretch your muscles.
• Focus on good posture.
• Lift properly.
• Leave your purse at home.
• Practice stress relief for back pain relief.
• Sleep well.