heel spur
Heel spurs are extremely painful and are caused by excessive wear and tear to the muscles, ligaments and bones that support the arches of the foot. This excessive wear manipulates the heel bone to take on a hooked shape and is directly related with plantar fasciitis.
Generally, pain is the most severe in the morning when you take your first few steps of the day. The most common reasons that heel spurs occur are excessive gain in weight, working a job that requires you remain on your feet a lot and new shoes that have little arch support.
Shockwave Therapy
One of the more promising new treatments being developed is called extracorporeal shockwave therapy. This treatment involves sending high intensity radiation to the heel, which then inflames the tissue. The inflamed tissue is then more likely to pump blood through the heel, which, of course, promotes healing.
At this point, only patients that have suffered through the pain for six months or more are candidates for the treatment. They also must have already tried three or more other treatments before they're a candidate for shockwave therapy. Because of the severe pain that the treatment causes, patients who are subjected to this treatment must use some form of anesthesia, though further progression with this treatment will allow patients to get the treatment without any. It can take up to six months to feel the positive effects of the shockwave therapy.
Determining Whether Treatment is Necessary
It is possible for heel spurs to fix themselves on their own, but it could take up to a year for them to fully heal. There are many treatments available, and they range from basic stretching to intensive foot surgery. Like every surgery, there are risks of infection, nerve injury and failure to improve pain, so it should be the last resort. As of right now, shockwave therapy is the only new treatment being tested for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, but with its continued success, it might become the preferred treatment for most patients.
Tags: shockwave therapy, heel spurs, excessive wear, heel which, plantar fasciitis, that have
