Spurs

Foot and Ankle Center of Fort Lee, LLC

Podiatry & Foot & Ankle Surgery located in Fort Lee, NJ, Queens, Forest Hills, NY, Gramercy, New York, NY, & Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Heel spurs can begin as harmless and painless conditions in your feet, but it’s important to visit a podiatrist before the heel spur develops any further. If your heels spurs become unbearably painful, the team at the Foot and Ankle Center of Fort Lee, LLC can help eliminate heel spur symptoms at their offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Forest Hills, New York, Gramercy, New York, New York, & East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. To help identify and treat your heel spur, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online.

Spurs Q & A

What causes heel spurs?

Heel spurs stem from calcium deposits that create a bony protrusion on the underside of your heel bone. These spurs can develop as a result of:

  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Muscle and ligament strains
  • Excess body weight
  • Sports involving running and jumping

You could even develop a heel spur if you tear the protective membrane that covers your heel bone. 

How can I tell if I have bone spurs?

In most cases, heel spurs don’t cause any symptoms, but for some, they lead to extreme pain. Usually, the pain occurs while you’re running, jogging, or walking. The pain and discomfort you feel is typically a related soft tissue injury, rather than the spur itself. 

Most heel pain sufferers describe feeling a stabbing pain, almost like a pin is stuck in the bottom of their foot, especially upon taking their first steps in the morning. Generally, this sharp pain turns into a dull ache as your day progresses, but heel spur pain can keep coming back throughout the day, particularly after you’ve been sitting for an extended period of time. 

Your provider can usually see a heel spur, which can stick forward by as much as a half-inch, through an X-ray. Not all heel spurs show up on imaging though. If you’re displaying symptoms, but a spur isn’t showing up on an X-ray, you could be diagnosed with heel spur syndrome. 

How are heel spurs treated?

The team at the Foot and Ankle Center of Fort Lee, LLC offer a multitude of conservative treatments to minimize heel spur pain. Your treatment plan may begin with:

  • Night splints
  • Custom orthotics
  • Taping or strapping
  • Physical therapy
  • Stretching exercises

Most men and women find relief by combining a variety of conservative treatments. If you don’t improve or if your symptoms worsen, you may need surgery. 

Heel spur surgery involves either the removal of the spur itself or the release of your plantar fascia. In some cases, you may need a combination of both. The team at the Foot and Ankle Center of Fort Lee, LLC, specialize in minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures, so you can recover as quickly as possible from heel spur surgery.

To help relieve your heel spur pain, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online.