Heel Spurs
By The Foot Care Aide | September 15, 2009
What Are Heel Spurs?
A spur is a calcified bone deposit that can occur on any bone of the body.
A spur on the heel, detected by X-ray or through physical examination, is actually a calcification on the calcaneus, sometimes referred to as the “heel bone”, which combines with the talus to form the back of the foot.
A spur may form on the bottom of the calcaneus, just above the ligament that supports the arch of the foot, known as the plantar fascia. Or, it may form on the back of the calcaneus, just below the spot where the Achilles tendon attaches to the bone.
What Are the Symptoms of Heel Spurs?
The spur itself is not painful, but the location of the deposit can cause pain in other portions of the foot.
Spurs on the bottom of the heel bone are commonly associated with a condition known as plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia), which affects several million Americans annually.
If the spur is accompanied by plantar fasciitis, pain is most severe during the first few steps of the day and occurs on the underside of the heel.
If the spike forms on the back of the calcaneus, it can cause pain in the Achilles tendon and lead to tendonitis. If the deposits are large, they can cause irritation of the skin, due to increased pressure against the shoe.
What Causes Heel Spurs?
A spur is a symptom of the body’s desire to repair itself. Extra bone is added over time, as long as we are healthy and well nourished.
In some cases, the extra bone forms in an isolated spot due to pressure, rubbing or stress that occurs over a long period of time.
Women that frequently wear high-heeled shoes and pumps are prone to have spurs on the back of the heel-bone due to the tightness and pressure. This is so common that the spurs are sometimes called “pump bumps”
Plantar fasciitis can cause the bony deposits. As the ligament becomes tight and pulls on the heel, the bone attempts to make repairs and the deposit forms.
How Are They Treated?
Heel spurs must sometimes be removed in order to treat severe or chronic Achilles tendonitis. Removal is not normally recommended for plantar fasciitis; instead, the plantar fasciitis is treated.
Avoiding shoes that are tight in the heel area is helpful, as is choosing styles that hit at a lower or higher point than the location of the spur.
Air or gelatin cushioned insoles provide pain relief and help to support the arch, which helps to heal plantar fasciitis, too.
Some of the products that are recommended include Foot Smart Plantar Fasciitis Support. The brace provides additional support for the arch of the foot and the ankle. The Plantar FXT helps to stretch the plantar fascia ligament, relieving the tightness that puts pressure on the heel.
Heel spurs will not go away, but they do not need to cause pain. Wearing appropriate shoes and cushiony insoles is the key to being pain-free.
Topics: Achilles Tendonitis, Foot & Heel Pain, Heel Spurs, Plantar Fasciitis | No Comments »
Heel Bursitis
By The Foot Care Aide | September 14, 2009
What is Heel Bursitis?
The bursas are small fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between the bones, tendons, muscles and joints of the body. There are many bursas throughout the body.
Bursitis is simply inflammation of the bursa. In heel bursitis, the bursa separating the Achilles tendon from the joints, bones or the muscles of the lower foot are inflamed.
What Are the Symptoms of Heel Bursitis?
The symptoms include localized pain and/or stiffness in the back of the foot or heel, which may make it difficult to move the ankle from side to side or simply to walk. As with other types of inflammation, there may be redness or swelling, which can make it difficult to wear shoes.
What Causes Heel Bursitis?
In most cases, the cause is repetitive movements or excessive pressure on the bursa, such as might occur during a sporting event. A traumatic injury, such as landing on the heel from a high jump can put too much pressure on the bursa, causing them to spread out.
As the inflammation and swelling continue, the muscles, joints and tendons can start to press on the bursa, causing further inflammation. So, the condition can worsen, without additional injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint deformities, can cause increased pressure on the bursa and lead to bursitis. But, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects other joints of the body first, such as those of the fingers and toes.
The term may also be used to refer to any non-specific pain in the heels of no known cause. So, if you receive a diagnosis of heel bursitis, the cause may be simply “unknown”.
How is Heel Bursitis Treated?
Rest, elevation and ice to reduce the swelling are the first steps. Acute cases should be treated in order to prevent the condition from becoming chronic. In other words, when you notice the pain, take it easy for a while. Continued stress and movement can make the problem worse.
DynaFreeze is a topically applied, all-natural pain-relieving ointment containing menthol and yerba mate. This is the recommended form of treatment for areas that are difficult to ice down.
As it may be impossible to cut out daily activities until the pain subsides, DynaFreeze can be used during the day to relieve pain that accompanies walking or other physical activities.
Heel pads and/or silicone insoles may be beneficial for heel bursitis, as well. There’s no need to suffer. Help is available.
Topics: Foot & Heel Pain, Heel Bursitis | No Comments »
Hammertoes
By The Foot Care Aide | September 13, 2009
What are Hammertoes?
A hammertoe is a deformity that can occur from a number of causes. It is so called, because the toe(s) resemble a hammer. They are permanently bent at the joints, rather than lying normally.
While this deformity can occur on any toe, it is most common on the second, third or fourth toe and affects the joint closest to the end of the toe.
A similar condition is mallet toe, which affects the upper joint, closest to the foot. If the joints of the pinky or big toe are affected, it is a different condition.
What are the Symptoms of Hammertoes?
Other than the deformity, there may be pain, chafing, blistering, corns, calluses or other forms of irritation caused by one toe leaning against the other or by the way the joints press against footwear. If the condition is allowed to worsen, walking can become painful and difficult.
What are the Causes of Hammertoes?
A muscle imbalance from an unnatural walk, painful conditions affecting the bottom of the foot, such as corns, plantar warts or calluses, poorly fitting shoes, flat feet and high arches are among the most common causes. In addition, the deformities may accompany arthritis, stroke, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and diabetes.
How Can Hammertoes Be Treated?
There are many suggestions for successfully treating hammertoes. Buying new shoes with soft, spacious toe boxes is the first order of business. Avoid high heels and other styles with unnatural narrow, pointed toes.
It is possible to be stylish without cramping your feet. Shoes by Aetrex, Beacon and Arcopedico are stylish and dressy, yet comfortable and foot-friendly.
Treating problems, such as corns and calluses, is the next order of business. If the toes are curling in order to take pressure off of a painful area on the bottom of the foot, addressing that issue will allow the toes to gradually straighten. Gel comfort insoles, corn pads, callus removers or a trip to the podiatrist to treat a wart could be beneficial.
If the problem is caused by a problem with the arch that puts too much pressure on the joints of the toes, arch supports may be beneficial. Shoe inserts, as well as custom orthotics are available from Foot Smart.
Once the cause of the issue is addressed, toe trainers and straighteners can be used at home to realign the joint, before the deformity becomes severe. Hammertoe straighteners from Foot smart are affordable, help to correct the problem and provide pain relief, in the meantime.
Toe exercises can be done at home, too, to stretch and strengthen the muscles. One simple exercise is to use the toes to pick up small objects off of the floor. If the muscles are not quite that strong, lay a towel flat on the floor and use your toes to crumple it. The muscles will get stronger as time goes by and that will help to straighten out the joint.
If physical therapy or at-home straighteners are ineffective, orthopedic surgery may be necessary to correct hammertoes. But, that’s a last resort.
Topics: Arch Pain & Flat Feet, Corns & Calluses, Hammertoes | 1 Comment »