Heel Spurs
Persistent heel pain can signal heel spurs, bony growths that develop on the heel bone as the body's response to continuous physical stress on the foot. If conservative treatment options are not enough to relieve pain, heel spur removal through surgery may be recommended. Your healthcare team will help you determine whether surgery may be right for your condition, ensuring you get appropriate treatment.
What Are Heel Spurs?
Heel bone spurs are bony outgrowths on the heel bone (calcaneus) that can develop over many months. Typically, they are caused by chronic muscle strain, ligament strain or inflammation from arthritis and lead to repetitive trauma on the heel bone. These spurs are often associated with plantar fasciitis, a condition involving pain and inflammation of the band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot. While they can be invisible from the outside, heel spurs can range from a quarter of an inch to half an inch in length, and they may not always cause pain. However, when pain is present, it can be pretty severe and affect your mobility.
What Causes Heel Spurs?
The formation of heel spurs is closely tied to strain on foot muscles and ligaments, as well as significant changes in the anatomy of your feet. This strain can come from:
- The way some people walk can place excessive stress on certain areas of the foot, heel and ankle, contributing to the development of a spur.
- Wearing shoes that do not adequately cushion or support the heel and arch can increase the risk of heel spur development.
- Increased body weight can place greater pressure on the feet, leading to additional strain on the heel.
- As we age, the pad of fat in our heel naturally thins, diminishing its ability to absorb shock and increasing the risk of spur formation.
The factors mentioned above can add stress to your feet. In response, the body builds extra bone to cope with this stress, resulting in heel spurs. Mild cases of pain due to heel spurs may be relieved through rest, anti-inflammatory medications, cold packs, proper footwear or proper activities. For more severe, chronic heel spurs, surgery may be recommended.
How Is Heel Spur Surgery Performed?
If your heel pain is not relieved with conservative treatment like physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications or orthotic devices, your doctor may recommend heel spur surgery. This treatment approach aims to alleviate pain by removing the heel spur and releasing tension in the plantar fascia, helping ease the pain and potentially leading to a significant improvement in your quality of life. This is how surgery is generally performed:
- Preparation: Heel bone spur surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia with optional sedation to ensure comfort throughout the procedure.
- Making the incision: The surgeon makes a small incision near the heel. This allows access to the problematic area without the need for larger, more invasive cuts.
- Removing the spur: Specialized instruments are used to remove the heel spur carefully. This part of the procedure aims to cleanly detach the bony outgrowth from the heel bone.
- Plantar fascia release: Some patients may need a plantar fascia release to decrease tension in the area, which helps reduce pain and prevent future complications related to plantar fasciitis. Plantar fascia release involves cutting part of this ligament to release tension and help relieve inflammation.
- Closure: Finally, the incision is stitched and covered with a sterile dressing to promote healing and prevent infection.
Recovery and Follow-up Care
Post-surgery, the foot is bandaged and elevated to reduce swelling. Your surgeon may advise you to wear non-weight-bearing medical boots and use crutches for a period of time to avoid placing stress on the healing heel. Physical therapy, including ice compressions and gradual retraining to wear normal, full-weight-bearing shoes, is part of the recovery process, typically starting four to six weeks after surgery. Heel spur surgery recovery time varies for each patient, so follow your healthcare team’s instructions to help you recover properly.
Insurances Accepted
Let's help put your mind at ease. We're prepared to care for you and your loved ones at every stage of life. We accept various medical insurance plans at our Baptist Medical Network locations in San Antonio so you can get the care you need for your condition. For questions about your coverage, please contact your insurance provider directly or visit our patient resources page for your billing and insurance questions. If you have specific questions regarding insurance coverage at any Baptist Medical Network location, call us at 210-606-9071.
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