How to treat a spike on the heel with a folk method. Spike on the heel symptoms and treatment photo

03.03.2020 -

A heel spur or spike is a pathological formation on the surface of the heel bone, which provokes an acute inflammatory process in a person and severe pain while walking.

Most often, this growth is not a separate disease, but a sign of a developing other disease, such as flat feet, a complication from arthritis, or a metabolic disorder in the body.

According to statistics, about 15% of adults suffer from the growth of spikes on the feet today, so the question of how to treat spikes on the heels folk remedies at home or pharmacy medicines, is very relevant.

Reasons for education

Before treating spikes on the heels, you should understand what exactly can provoke this disease.

Thus, doctors distinguish the following most common causes of the growth of bone osteophytes on the heels of the feet:

Overweight person. In this condition, there is a large load on the feet, which increases the risk of proliferation of heel spikes.
Serious chronic diseases that provoke metabolic disorders (gout and especially diabetes).
Flat feet.
Diseases of the spine, as well as progressive rheumatoid arthritis.
Excessive stress on the legs or previous foot injuries.
Wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

Folk remedies

It should be noted right away that before treating spikes on the heels with folk methods, it is important to first consult with your doctor. Practicing self-medication in this condition can be not only ineffective, but also dangerous. The most effective treatment for heel spikes is compresses. They will help relieve pain and relieve inflammation.

The best recipes for these compresses are:

Apply chopped garlic to the heel. Top with foil and cloth.
Mix honey and flour until the consistency of porridge. Apply to the sore spot.
Lubricate a fresh cabbage leaf with honey and apply to the spikes.
Mix salt and honey. Use for compresses at night.

A compress of black radish, boiled potatoes and aspirin with iodine also “works” very well. It is important to remember that practice folk therapy is possible only in the absence of purulent lesions of the heel. Otherwise, the patient may need long-term antibiotic treatment or even surgery.

Medical method

Drug treatment for spikes on the heels is aimed at eliminating inflammatory process, reducing pain and preventing complications. For this purpose, the patient may be prescribed local gels and ointments, as well as oral preparations. Anti-inflammatory drugs are very helpful in this condition. Movalis, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac and Naproxen are rightfully considered the best of them.

It is also important to note that these funds will only stop inflammation and eliminate pain.. They will not be able to influence the root cause of the disease, therefore, initially it is necessary to identify what exactly caused the disease in order to be able to prevent its further development. A compress with Dimexide also helps very well. To do this, the drug must be diluted with water in proportions of 1: 4.

Apply a compress for twenty minutes, then apply Diclofenac gel. The course of treatment should be at least seven days. One of the most enjoyable treatments for spiked heels is the use of a healing patch. It acts on the active points that are located on the patient's foot. With the regular use of such patches, a person's foot pain decreases. The course of treatment involves the use of at least 15 shepherds.

This medical patch may contain allergens, so it should not be used during the period of gestation, if skin lesions and allergies.

Also very effective method The treatment for spikes on the heels is a drug blockade. During such a procedure, which must be performed by an experienced doctor, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs are administered to the patient.

With repeated injections, a person's condition quickly normalizes. It should be noted that blockade should be practiced only with severe pain, when conventional analgesics no longer help, because an incorrectly performed procedure can further worsen a person’s condition.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is often prescribed to patients when spikes on the heels are detected. In the absence of contraindications, this therapy will help to significantly alleviate the patient's condition. Most often, with this diagnosis, phonophoresis is practiced. This procedure will help relieve soreness, improve conductivity from drugs, and also normalize blood circulation. The optimal course of treatment is

No less effective physiotherapy procedures for spikes on the heels are:

Electrophoresis. He delivers useful material to the affected areas of the skin by applying an electric current.
Laser therapy. Improves metabolism and promotes tissue repair due to exposure to concentrated radiation.
Shock wave therapy. Activates the metabolism and eliminates pain when exposed to the skin of sound waves.

It is contraindicated to perform most physiotherapy procedures in the presence of a pacemaker, atherosclerosis, oncological pathologies, hypertension, pregnancy and lactation. With caution, such treatment should be carried out with a tendency to allergies, a period of acute respiratory or infectious diseases.

Operation

How to treat spikes on the heels correctly, you can ask your doctor. At the same time, therapy will be selected for each patient separately, based on the cause and neglect of the condition. As for surgical treatment, it is practiced quite rarely, when conservative drug therapy does not cope with its tasks and the disease progresses. In this case, the patient can undergo a radical open intervention, during which the bone growths on the heel are removed from the person. The recovery period after such an operation is long.

At first, the patient may need to move with the help of additional support (canes or crutches). The stitches on the heel will be removed after ten days. Also, if the spike on the heel is festering, then after removing it, the patient may be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Fortunately, with timely access to a doctor, spikes on the heels respond well to drug treatment, so there is simply no need for an operation that is conceived.

Pain in the legs, lameness when walking, spikes - these symptoms indicate heel spurs. Often this disease affects older people. Incorrectly selected shoes, overweight are direct factors in the development of a spike on the foot. In our article, you will learn the causes, symptoms and treatment of heel spurs with folk remedies.

What is a heel spur?

Heel spur (plantar fasciitis) is a disease in which inflammation of the plantar connective tissue develops.

With very large daily loads, the tissues of the heel tubercle become inflamed, as a result of which bone growths (osteophytes) appear. With a long process, calcification can be observed - impregnation of the damaged area with calcium salts. The disease is accompanied by severe pain when walking in the legs.

Causes of the formation of spikes on the heel

Circulatory disorders, mineral metabolism - the reason for which pain occurs when walking
Foot injuries, fractures, sprains in the legs provoke spikes in the heels
Overweight, metabolic disorders
Big loads. Playing sports, hard work, wearing the wrong shoes - as a result, feet hurt
Flat feet, diseases of the joints and spine. Diseases in which gait is disturbed and the load in the legs increases
Another reason is infectious inflammation bone tissue
Spurs are most common in women over 40. In older people, depletion of the heel fat pad results in heel spikes.

Heel spur symptoms

The first signs are a sharp pain in the heel when walking. The leg hurts a lot after sleep, after the pain weakens and it becomes painful in the evening after a load on the leg for the whole day. The pain is severe, so many sufferers try not to step on the heel and limp.

Who has spurs on both legs relieve the condition by wearing socks.

With constant pressure on the heel by bone outgrowths, the skin becomes rough, red, and its suppuration may begin.
When examining the heel at the site of inflammation, there may be a callus. On palpation in the foot, tension, pain is felt

Diagnosis of a heel spur

Diagnosis is based on taking an anamnesis, asking for complaints, finding out concomitant or experienced diseases in order to find out what the cause is. Examine and palpate the area where it hurts to identify deviations from the norm in the foot.

X-ray helps to identify and localize bone neoplasms in the foot. If radiography does not give the expected result, you can use magnetic resonance imaging, which will help diagnose multiple diseases of bone and soft tissues in the early stages. Ultrasound is also widely used, which is a more affordable tool than MRI.

Heel spur treatment

Treat the disease immediately to get rid of pain and other symptoms. It is worth starting the treatment with eliminating the cause of the disease - pain. Choose the treatment that would help, depending on the cause of the disease. For example, if an athlete has a spike as a result heavy loads- it is necessary to reduce them, the spur has developed as a result of flat feet - to treat flat feet, etc.

To increase blood circulation and improve the nutrition of soft and bone tissues, massage is necessary. Someone likes the services of medicine, doing a massage on their own or with a Vitafon. Thanks to the vibrational properties of the Vitafon, you can get rid of inflammatory processes in the body due to improved blood circulation. Vitafon massage copes well with post-traumatic complications, inflammatory processes due to microvibrations and a change in the frequency range of these vibrations. In the modern world, the Vitafon has found application not only in medical institutions, but also at home.

Often, drug treatment is aimed at reducing pain and relieving inflammation, but this is not enough, traditional medicine offers effective methods for curing the disease at home.

"FitoHeel"- Cream for heel spurs, walking without pain!

Folk methods in the treatment of spurs

Warming agents helped to quickly cure the spikes in the leg. foot baths with various additives that relieve inflammation. For example, warm baths with the addition of sea salt for half an hour will warm your legs, reduce inflammation and give you great health. After the bath, the feet should be wiped with a dry towel and put on socks.
Cure a heel spur to get rid of her pain will help walking barefoot . Calm walking on the sand, pebbles and morning dew is a kind of massage. Moderate walking cures not only spurs, but also other ailments.
Vinegar with egg helped treat the spur. Vinegar ointment is an effective home remedy that has helped relieve symptoms and pain. We need an egg, vinegar and 200 grams butter. Place the egg in a glass, pour vinegar to completely cover it. The egg should stand for several days until the shell is completely dissolved. After we take out the egg, remove and discard the film, pour the vinegar. Melt the butter and pour it into a glass with an egg, then mix everything with a mixer - the ointment is ready. An ointment from eggs and honey must be used every night, spreading it on gauze and wrapping it on a sore spot. After a few applications, the vinegar helped cure the spur.
Pain when walking ointment containing egg, baby cream and vinegar helped treat the thorn and cure the disease. Squeeze out the baby cream into a suitable container, drive in the egg and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar, mix thoroughly. Apply the ointment after warm, warm foot baths. We smear the sore spot with ointment, put on a plastic bag and a sock. In the morning, wash off the ointment, which includes egg and vinegar. Vinegar is an effective remedy to get rid of spurs.
Ointment at home based on iodine, salt and honey will help treat the spur and its consequences. Mix a bottle of iodine, edible salt and honey. After warm foot baths, we apply such a compress to the affected area. Wrap with a plastic bag and put on a sock. We repeat the procedure for five days. Helped cure the disease.
Quickly relieve pain when walking a mixture with iodine, aspirin and analgin, which is easy to make at home, will help. Grind 4 tablets of aspirin and analgin and add a solution of iodine. Let the solution stand for a day. Apply iodine treatment once a week, the course of treatment is 5 weeks. Such a solution helped treat the spur.
Painful heel spur? Therapeutic will help massage with camphor oil and iodine. We carefully steam the legs in a salt bath, rub the legs with camphor oil and draw a mesh on the leg with iodine. Then put on warm socks. The procedure is repeated every day until the inflammation disappears. Iodine treatment reduces inflammation and has a warming effect throughout the night. A quick and effective way to cure a spur and relieve its symptoms.
Heel spikes can be treated with hot sand. Sand perfectly retains heat and warms up the affected area. The perfect place treatment is the sea coast, but you can also take ordinary river sand and warm it up in the oven and immerse your foot in it. The sand warms it up very well. Do the procedure before bed.
Application of honey and flour for the treatment of heel spike. An effective method will help get rid of the symptoms of the disease forever. Mix a spoonful of honey with a few tablespoons of flour until a cake is obtained, which we apply to the heel, after having previously steamed the legs. It is better to apply a cake to the heel spike at night, put on a warm sock.
Get rid of pain and treat its cause chalk and garlic in the folk treatment of a spike on the heel. Crush the chalk, grate the garlic and mix in proportions 1:1. Steam your feet in a warm bath and apply such a compress at night. Put on a sock.
Another method to get rid of the thorn is softening baths with soda and iodine. AT hot water dissolve soda and iodine, lower your legs and steam for 15 minutes. After the end of this procedure, we wipe our feet dry, put on warm socks and go to bed. Soda and iodine have an anti-inflammatory effect and will help cure the disease.
Pepper warmer will help improve blood circulation, and cure a spike on the heel. We mix a bottle of triple cologne, 2 bottles of valerian, iodine and add hot pepper. The mixture must be infused in a dark place for two days. We apply the product to the painful zones, wrap it with a plastic bag and put on warm socks. It is necessary to monitor your well-being, when burning, it is necessary to wash off the ointment.
splendid antiseptic has laundry soap . Pain in the leg - immediately treat with soap. Rub the linen fabric with laundry soap and wind it to the heel, wrapping it in a plastic bag and wearing warm socks. In summer, instead of a cloth, you can use a burdock leaf by rubbing the rough side with soap. This method will perfectly cure the spur and its discomfort.

How to avoid the appearance of a heel spur or spike, what preventive measures should be taken to never encounter this disease?

Thorn Prevention

Treat spinal diseases, treat flat feet, prevent joint diseases
Regular exercise of the muscles and joints of the foot
Wearing comfortable shoes with orthopedic insoles and arch supports
Rational nutrition and maintenance of normal body weight
Foot massage, exercise therapy, active lifestyle
Use the methods of traditional medicine

Due to the heavy loads during the working day, we often encounter the appearance of pain in the heels. Pain, burning sensation in the heel area, discomfort while walking - all these symptoms may indicate not only leg fatigue, but also various diseases. One of these is the formation of spikes.

Today, due to the incredible increase in the rhythm of activity, the work of people and the simultaneous tendency to reduce immunity, weaken the body, this disease is diagnosed quite often. Its victims can be not only the elderly, overweight people, athletes, but also ordinary young and middle-aged people.

Pain, burning in the heels, redness and swelling, discomfort while walking - symptoms of thorns formation

What are spikes on the heels, the reasons for their formation

Spikes are bony growths on the sole of the heel bone. They look like small hook-shaped protrusions, slightly raised towards the toes. Depending on the stage of the disease, their size varies from a few millimeters to a couple of centimeters. Spikes provoke pain by putting pressure on the fascia - the tissue that envelops the heel and connects it to the toes. The pain is felt most sharply when a person gets up in the morning, and also in the evening after exertion throughout the day.

Often, spikes provoke an inflammatory process in the foot, as they put pressure on soft tissues and irritate them, which can externally manifest itself in the form of edema, swelling of the affected area.

With normal palpation, growths are not always possible to detect. in the best way diagnosis will take x-ray.

The photo shows how the spikes look on x-ray

Reasons for education

The main causes of damage to the heels with bone growths are:

wearing uncomfortable shoes, with hard insoles and seams;

foot injury;

heavy loads when playing sports (running, jumping);

the presence of provoking diseases: flat feet, circulatory disorders in the foot, arthrosis, diseases of the spine;

anatomical features of the body.

Usually people are most susceptible to this disease after forty or forty-five years, especially those who are overweight. This happens due to age-related changes feet.

Treatment

Methods and duration of treatment largely depend on the stage of the disease and individual features organism.

There are four main approaches to how to treat bone growths:

folk remedies;
drug treatment;
physiotherapy;
surgery.

It should be noted that the build-up itself is unlikely to be removed by the first two methods. They will help relieve inflammation, pain, as a result of which, perhaps, a person will be able to live with the formed growth without any discomfort in the future, and the latter will not interfere with him in any way. Some types of physiotherapy procedures (laser therapy, shock wave therapy) in the first two stages of the development of the disease are able to dissolve the bone tissue of the spines. The cardinal method that allows you to completely remove the build-up is the operation, today this method is used as the last resort, if the previous methods cannot remove the build-up or neutralize it.

Folk remedies

With the help of traditional medicine in the early stages of the disease, you can effectively get rid of the inflammatory process and pain in the affected area, improve blood circulation, which can neutralize negative impact spikes on the soft tissues of the foot.

You can treat thorns with the following folk remedies:

potato pulp compress. It is necessary to grate one potato and wrap the contents with gauze, bandage, attach to the damaged area, secure with a bandage;
applying an iodine mesh to the heel;
mix 5 grams of mummy and 100 grams of honey, apply in the form of compresses at night;
Pour 250 grams of iris root crushed through a meat grinder with a glass of alcohol and leave for 14 days in a dark, cool place. Then apply with bandage or cotton swabs to the sore spot.
pulp black rare;
propolis compresses.

In the treatment of folk remedies, decoction baths help very well. medicinal herbs(chamomile, St. John's wort, thyme), wild rose, Jerusalem artichoke. To make such a bath, first prepare a decoction: two tablespoons of dry grass leaves must be poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for 10 minutes. in a water bath. Next, prepare a foot bath: pour 4 liters into a container warm water and add decoction to it.

Such folk preparations as: bee venom, comfrey root, calendula, arnica also have a very good anti-inflammatory effect.

It is advisable to always do a steaming bath before applying compresses and ointments, this contributes to better absorption of therapeutic agents by the skin.

Medical method

If folk remedies do not help, there is no time to prepare them, or the disease is already quite advanced, special ointments and creams will help get rid of inflammation and relieve pain.

In treatment medical method most effective:

Levomekol;
Voltaren;
Diclofenac;
Fastum gel;
Nimesulide;
Butadion.

Spikes can also be treated with medical bile. This is a very effective and popular drug in the fight against bone growths.

There is another method to get rid of the build-up with the help of medicines - blockade. The essence of this method is to chip the affected area with injections with anti-inflammatory drugs that improve blood circulation. This ensures that the drugs reach the target quickly. However, it should be noted that this is a rather painful process.

As already indicated earlier, it will not be possible to get rid of the spikes with the medicines themselves, therefore they are most often used in combination with physiotherapy procedures.

Physiotherapy

In the treatment of thorns are used the following types physiotherapy procedures:

electrophoresis;
Phonophoresis;
Magnetotherapy;
Laser therapy;
X-ray therapy;
Shock wave therapy.

The essence of these methods is to influence the affected area with impulses from different sources. These impulses, getting into the heel through a special sensor, have the following effect:

Eliminates inflammation;
Soothes pain;
Dissolves salt deposits;
Helps improve blood circulation;
Improves cell regeneration;
Weakens or completely dissolves the bone tissue of the spike.

The most popular in the treatment today are laser therapy and the shock wave method. In the early stages of the disease, they will help to completely get rid of the thorn.

Contraindications to the use of physiotherapy:

Pregnancy;
Lactation;
Children under 12;
Diabetes;
Hypertension;
The presence of open wounds on the foot;
Tumor processes of the foot.

You should also pay attention that before undergoing therapy, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with your diagnosis and the device that is offered in the clinic to treat spikes. Since different devices have different sources of impulses that affect the build-up. Some devices have the ability to influence damage from several sources at the same time, which greatly improves the effectiveness of the impact.

Also, the question often arises in patients whether the dose of radiation that is released during laser therapy, X-ray therapy, shock therapy will harm their health. wave therapy. It should be noted that there are no special reasons for excitement (if you have no contraindications to them), since this dose is very small to cause significant harm to the body.

The duration of therapy is determined by the doctor depending on the complexity and stage of the disease. Basically, it is necessary to treat the spikes for 7-10 procedures.

Operation

Surgical intervention is resorted to in the most extreme cases, if it was not possible to treat the growth with other methods.

The operation is designed not to treat the growth, but to get rid of it by removing it.

A large incision is made on the heel, through which the spikes are either removed or disconnected from the fascia, so that when the leg is loaded, the growth does not press on the soft tissues, does not cause inflammation and pain.

Then a cast or orthosis is applied to the foot. They must be worn for at least two weeks.

After removing the plaster, the patient undergoes rehabilitation, the main measures in which are:

Massage, physiotherapy, which contribute to the return of the foot to normal functioning, since during the wearing of a cast, the muscles atrophy, blood circulation worsens;
The use of ointments and creams that improve blood circulation (Actovegin, Indovazin).

Separately, it should be noted that the plaster, the sooner, the sooner it is desirable to change to an orthosis.

The orthosis allows you to massage the damaged foot a few days after the operation, the foot will be more mobile, which prevents muscle atrophy

The appearance of pain in the heel, as a result of a hard day's work, improper care behind the skin of the legs or a weakened state of the body, indicates the presence of ailments, and possibly diseases.

When a spike appears on the heel, only an experienced orthopedist can establish the causes and treatment

It is in such cases that there is a high probability of the formation of so-called spurs (or spikes) on the heels, which cause considerable pain and severe discomfort from the inability to fully walk. To cure disease and quick treatment, it is important to identify the causes of neoplasms and take a set of measures.

Experts are able to identify a large number of causes of spikes, but the most common are:

Excessive load on the legs. The cause of spikes on the heels may lie in excess weight and skeletal features. Treatment in this case can only be operational;
Uncomfortable, small shoes or poor hygiene;
Active footwork, most often faced by athletes;
Injuries of the legs, feet, spine. Any belt injury lower extremities entails the consequences in question;
The presence of any diseases of the belt of the lower extremities. These include flat feet or arthrosis.

According to studies, the last few years, the disease occurs not only in older and older people. Increasingly, the younger generation suffers from spikes on the heels.

One of the main reasons is the lack of activity, which affects the body after unexpected and long walks.

Symptoms of spikes on the heels

Symptoms that accompany the appearance of growths on the heels are as follows:

discomfort while walking, haunted by a feeling of compression of the limb;
pain that responds sharply when a step is taken;
swelling that is easy to notice because the foot does not fit into the shoe;
redness, it is often accompanied by swelling;
burning, it is easy to notice, even if you do not get up, causes discomfort.

Spikes on the heel. X-ray.

It is not always possible to detect an outgrowth on your own. Only an x-ray can give the correct answer, which clearly displays all bone formations. You can’t hesitate to go to the hospital: the spike irritates the soft tissue - the fascia, which makes the connection between the heel and toes.

How to treat spikes on the heels

There are 4 options for getting rid of spikes on the heels:

physiotherapy;
pharmaceutical preparations;
ethnoscience;
surgical intervention.

The first 3 options eliminate pain and discomfort, they are not able to completely rid the patient of thorns. Surgical intervention is used in severe cases and involves cutting the heel.

During treatment, it is worth observing some rules, giving preference to orthopedic insoles for shoes. They are often used to treat spikes on the heels, insoles are aimed at eliminating the cause.

Among other things, being engaged in treatment, it is allowed to use several funds at the same time. Traditional medicine products go well with pharmaceutical preparations. But pharmacists recommend, in any case, to familiarize yourself with the instructions and the compatibility of the means used.

External preparations for the treatment of heel spikes

Drug treatment has several goals:

cupping pain syndrome;
reducing and getting rid of inflammation of the fascia;
restoration of the volume of movement;
getting rid of puffiness.

Diclofenac-Acre

Means for treatment belong to different groups of drugs. Creams, ointments, gels or lotions are used. Among the most appointed such means:

Dexalgin;
Indomethacin;
Diclofenac;
Voltaren.

Spikes on the heels, the causes and treatment of which are established by the attending physician, these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, derivatives of indylacetic acid, heal well, relieving pain.

The dosage and course of treatment are set individually, in general it is recommended to use the selected medication 2-3 times a day.

Less effective, but also effective means are anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Dimexide, Hydrocortisone, or pharmacy decontaminating patches. They must be used during the working day. The patches are able to increase blood circulation, increasing the supply of oxygen to the affected area. They can easily relieve pain.

Treatment of spikes on the heels involves the use of such medicines as Kenalog, Diprospan, which also affect the main causes of the problem in question.

The chances of getting rid of the spur with medication are high if treated early.

Injections for the treatment of spikes on the heels

Injections are used after treatment with local medicines has not brought great results. They block the heel spur, relieve severe pain. In their composition, they represent an artificially derived adrenal hormone different period existence. So, "Diprospan" is considered the longest in terms of the period of action.

Diprospan

This treatment is side effects, one of the most serious is a violation of the functions of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is responsible for the hormonal level in the body, and the use of hormonal agents depresses it. This can lead to excessive production of hormones in the adrenal gland, which leads to serious diseases.

The use of injections breaks the heel fascia once and for all, so after the treatment is completed, there is a possibility of pain. Once this tissue is torn, the person will no longer be able to step on the foot. Therefore, hormonal drugs, although they can help get rid of spurs quickly, entail serious consequences.

Physiotherapy against spikes on the heels

In the presence of a heel spur, physiotherapy in the form of electrotherapy is applicable. This set of procedures is an electric field acting on the leg, intermittent or non-intermittent.

It is also possible to use the energy of a permanent magnet. Treatment in this case consists in eliminating the inflammation of the aponeurosis.

Shock Wave Heel Therapy

A new treatment option is shock wave therapy. This therapy includes complex treatment with the use of medicines and folk remedies. This treatment is the impact of ultrasonic waves on the heel.

Physiotherapy and SWT have a number of advantages:

increased blood circulation in the affected area;
analgesic effect;
relieve muscle tension;
remove inflammation;
do not allow edema to form.

According to the results of the survey, experts found that after full course treatment, patients feel significant relief and freedom of movement.

Exercises to get rid of heel spikes

Gymnastic exercises used for heel spurs can also serve as preventive measures for the disease.

Massage is mainly aimed at increasing blood circulation, dilating blood vessels. The treatment is effective and does not have a negative effect, and can be used in conjunction with other therapies.

Practicing exercises for the treatment of spikes on the heels:

Salt treatments. 1 kg of coarse salt is heated in an iron bowl and scattered on the floor. On this salt you need to walk for 15-20 minutes, the main thing is not to stand still. Salt warms the sole, also helps to remove slags. In the initial stages of heel spikes, 7 procedures are enough to get rid of the problem.
Washboard. The rough surface is in a good way for massage movements. It is important to fix the board and take a comfortable position on the chair. The movements should be intense for 10 minutes. You need to carry out the procedure 2 times a day until the result becomes noticeable.
Boiled potatoes. Boil small potatoes until half cooked. Pour into a bowl and start stirring with your feet. Do this until the vegetable cools down. Then wipe your feet dry and draw a grid with iodine. Wear socks to keep warm. The course is 7 days.

In the exercises used, there are no means that would be difficult to access. Besides, for such gymnastics, any solid round objects of small size are suitable.

Folk recipes in the treatment of spikes on the heels

Traditional medicine has been familiar with the problem of thorns much longer than modern medicine. That is why folk remedies are distinguished by their effectiveness and safety.

Effective treatments:

Raw potatoes. Cut the potatoes into large slices and attach to the heel, fix with a tight toe;
Onion. Finely chop the onion, the best option would be to grate. Put the onion in the bag, lower the leg there. It is good to fasten and put on warm socks. Perform the procedure in the evening, before going to bed. In the morning, remove the bag and dry your feet with a towel;
Honey cakes. Bee honey is mixed with flour until a tight dough is formed, which is rolled out like a cake. Wrap the heel with this cake and wrap the entire leg with cling film to secure. Create warmth - wear socks;
Burdock and laundry soap. Burdock leaves are washed and the rough side is gently rubbed with soap so as not to tear the leaf, but to create an even soapy foamy layer on it. Wrap the entire leg, wrap a scarf on top.

Traditional medicine involves several courses, the duration of each of which is 7-10 days.

Surgical treatment of heel spikes

Doctors say that they resort to surgical intervention only in difficult cases. Such cases include, for example, the anatomy of the skeleton, when the appearance of spikes cannot be avoided.

A more modern operation is the use of an endoscope. With this method, two incisions are made on the heel, one of which could fit the camera. Another cut for a working tool.

Gradually cut the layers of the skin and reach the process, remove it with a special tool. The operation and rehabilitation are quick, but all this requires frequent examinations by a specialist.

The traditional way is the same incision, but without using a camera. It is replaced by an x-ray machine. The main disadvantage of the procedure is that it is necessary to fix the leg after the operation and leave it in this position for 2 weeks.

Operation will not work:

elderly people due to bone fragility;
for women who care about their appearance, scars spoil the aesthetic appearance of their legs;
children, because the soft developing bones are easily deformed with this method of treatment.

Prevention of the appearance of spikes on the heels

Prevention of the disease is extremely simple - hygiene of the feet. In order not to suffer from spurs, it is worth buying shoes that are suitable in size, use insoles to soften the sole.

For a general improvement in the condition of the legs and the return of their tone after a working day, it is recommended to use relaxing and moisturizing creams. Then there will be no reason for the appearance of spikes on the heels, which means that treatment will not be needed.

If spikes appear on the heel, the so-called "spurs", they can be cured using traditional and folk medicine. In order for the therapy to be most effective, it is recommended to undergo an examination and consult a specialist.

Helpful videos about spiked heels, their causes and treatments

In this video, a practitioner will tell you all about heel disease - spurs:

Heel spurs are an unpleasant but common disease that occurs in athletes, fat people and women who like to wear beautiful but uncomfortable high heels. Doctors recommend using complex therapy to get rid of the disease. Treatment of heel spurs with folk remedies at home effectively helps to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and prevents its further development.

Symptoms and causes of the disease

A heel spur (plantar fasciitis) is a bony growth in the heel that brings pain and discomfort due to inflammation of the soft tissues of the foot surrounding the spike. The causes, symptoms and treatment of spurs on the heel with folk remedies will be considered below.

The main symptom of the disease is pain that appears when resting on the heel. It can be sharp or aching, often appears immediately after waking up, subsides during the day. The disease may be accompanied by swelling of the foot and ankle. To confirm the diagnosis, you must contact a surgeon or orthopedist, he will conduct an examination. Sometimes a referral is given for x-rays or ultrasound, with the help of which the doctor can confirm or refute the presence of a bone growth on the heel.

Heel spurs are present in most of the adult population over the age of 40, especially in women. The main causes of plantar fasciitis are:

Wearing uncomfortable and narrow shoes;
foot injury;
Metabolic disease;
Excess weight.

To eliminate the disease, you can use traditional, conservative methods and traditional medicine, in advanced cases, it is recommended to perform an operation to remove the thorn.

Folk recipes for the treatment of plantar fasciitis

Treatment of heel spurs with folk remedies has already been used long years. These techniques have long proven their effectiveness, therefore they are recommended to be used to relieve pain and inflammation, and on early stages diseases traditional medicine helps to eliminate the disease completely.

Compresses, tinctures, decoctions, applications, baths - you can choose any methods of therapy that are convenient for the patient, the components for them are inexpensive and are available in the public domain. But before the manipulations, you need to seek the advice of a doctor, he will help you choose medicines. Consider the most popular folk recipes.

Compresses

Treatment of folk remedies for spurs on the heels is carried out with the help of compresses. Consider some of the most famous applications of onions, garlic, horseradish, bischofite, nettles and potatoes.

Onion for getting rid of spurs on the heels is used because of its healing properties: it disinfects, reduces inflammation, and prevents the thorn from growing.

Cut the head of the bulb in half, put a drop of tar on the cut and tie it to the sore spot for 3-4 hours. This remedy can be used 2-3 times a week until the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
Grind the onion in a puree, put the mass in a bag, and then lower the leg there. Wrap the resulting compress with a cloth or towel. In the morning, do not wash your foot, but wipe it dry. The procedure is repeated 2-3 nights in a row.

Bischofite with a heel spur helps to completely eliminate bone growth, stops its growth and relieves swelling from the leg, due to its composition: it contains useful trace elements. Before use, it is necessary to warm up the leg, then apply the bischofite gel to gauze, bandage or napkin and attach it to the sore heel. Wrap the top with cellophane, put on a sock. The procedure is done before going to bed, in the morning remove the bandage and rinse with water. The treatment course should be at least 15 procedures carried out every other day.

Garlic also helps to get rid of an unpleasant disease, it treats pain, inflammation, and prevents infection.

You can use just chopped garlic in the form of an application on the leg. The maximum wearing time of the compress is 4 hours. With burning sensation and any discomfort, the garlic mass must be washed off.
Mix the laundry soap grated on a fine grater, chop the head of garlic and pour vodka. The medicine should be infused for 3 weeks. After that, a soft plastic mass can be applied to the sole in a thick layer all night, use this ointment for no more than 3 days. After the procedure, lubricate the foot with a nourishing or baby cream. This folk recipe with garlic helps not only to eliminate the spur, but also softens the skin.

Treatment of spurs with horseradish relieves pain and reduces the size of the thorn. Sometimes a single application of the application is enough for the bone growth to stop bothering. To prepare a compress, you will have to grind the root of the plant through a meat grinder. The resulting slurry is applied to the sore heel, wrapped in polyethylene, a sock is put on top and left overnight.
Fresh nettle reduces bone growth and relieves inflammation. In order to cure a spur with the help of this plant, it is necessary to scroll fresh nettle through a meat grinder and apply the resulting mass as a compress on the sole of the foot for a day. The course of therapy lasts 10 - 14 days.

Folk recipes with potatoes give a quick effect: swelling and inflammation disappear, pain decreases.

Propolis is softened and applied to the spur at night, wrapped in a warm towel or wearing a woolen sock. You can use propolis multiple times, but for faster results, it is advisable to apply a new one each time. The tool helps to remove salt and reduce pain. The duration of the course is 2 months.

Trays

Foot baths help eliminate pain, inflammation and swelling. It is best to do them before going to bed, they perfectly prepare the skin for the compress. The most common recipes are listed below.

Alternative treatment with sea salt is simple and accessible to everyone. Salt will relieve inflammation and swelling, soothe pain. It is best to use it at night, during an exacerbation of the disease. Warm up fine sea salt, dip your feet into it until it reaches room temperature.

Baths with sea salt eliminate inflammation and pain. To prepare it, you need to mix 1 liter of hot water and at least 2 tbsp. salt. Dip your feet into the solution and wait for the water to cool. The procedure can be repeated daily until the symptoms disappear.

Any clay will work for heel spurs. A few handfuls of clay need to be poured with boiling water and feet should be soared. After a few days, an exacerbation occurs and the pain increases significantly, but this indicates the release of salts.

The procedure is carried out until the water has completely cooled, the clay is used new each time. The duration of the course is 3 weeks.

Treatment of spurs on the heels with folk remedies is carried out using baths with alcohol and turpentine. They improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, destroy the bone spike. For cooking, you need half a liter of boiling clean water, 75 ml of salicylic acid and 50 g of crushed baby soap are added to them, which must be dissolved in water. Then the hot solution is mixed with 500 ml of turpentine and 100 g of alcohol, mixed thoroughly. The concentrate is diluted with water at the rate of 1-3 ml per 1 liter of hot water. Baths are carried out daily for 15 minutes, the entire course of treatment is 12-15 sessions.

Be sure to be careful when working with the resulting mixture, avoid contact with mucous membranes, it is forbidden to use in case of damage to the integrity of the skin, in the presence of ulcers and open wounds.

Turpentine is also used for rubbing on the affected area. It improves blood circulation, has a warming effect. It is advisable to apply the product on a sore leg before going to bed, then put on a warm sock or wrap it in a towel. The duration of therapy will be 7-14 days, then the same break and after that you can take a second course.

Decoction of horseradish leaves

Folk remedies for heel spurs recommend using not only the root, but also horseradish leaves. A decoction of them quickly relieves inflammation and pain, reduces the size of the spur, and prevents it from growing. 100 g of the leaves or root of the plant are boiled in 1 liter of water for 5 minutes. The sore leg is kept in tolerably hot water until it cools. The recipe is recommended to be used twice a week until the symptoms of spurs are eliminated.

Metals in the treatment of heel spurs

When wondering how to quickly cure a heel spur with folk remedies, most patients do not even think that pain and inflammation help to remove metals: copper and aluminum. Aluminum foil should be put on the sore heel for the whole day to eliminate the symptoms of the disease. The heated surface of copper utensils (basin or plate) is applied to the damaged area until the utensils cool completely. This method of treatment has no restrictions on duration. After such a warm-up, it is recommended to use applications and compresses.

Also popular methods of traditional medicine in the treatment of heel spurs are products based on iodine, medical bile and vinegar with an egg. These methods must be used with caution, because their constituent components can cause a burn. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, when the heel spur only appears, treatment with folk remedies is most effective.

Numerous homemade recipes allow you to get rid of plantar fasciitis with little financial cost, and the healing properties of plants and various chemical compounds are the basis for their effectiveness.

Treatment of heel spurs with folk remedies at home is available to everyone. You can use various familiar components to eliminate symptoms: lard, nettle, turpentine, iodine, etc. The main thing is regular therapy, which will speed up recovery. Traditional medicine can be combined with other methods of treatment, it is important to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.

The appearance of pain in the heel, as a result of a hard day's work, improper care of the skin of the legs or a weakened state of the body, indicates the presence of ailments, and possibly a disease.

When a spike appears on the heel, only an experienced orthopedist can establish the causes and treatment

It is in such cases that there is a high probability of the formation of so-called spurs (or spikes) on the heels, which cause considerable pain and severe discomfort from the inability to fully walk. To eliminate the disease and prompt treatment, it is important to identify the causes of neoplasms and take a set of measures.

Causes of spikes on the heels

Experts are able to identify a large number of causes of spikes, but the most common are:

Excessive load on the legs. The cause of spikes on the heels may lie in excess weight and skeletal features. Treatment in this case can only be operational;
Uncomfortable, small shoes or poor hygiene;
Active footwork, most often faced by athletes;
Injuries of the legs, feet, spine. Any injury to the girdle of the lower extremities entails the consequences under consideration;
The presence of any diseases of the belt of the lower extremities. These include flat feet or arthrosis.

According to studies, the last few years, the disease occurs not only in older and older people. Increasingly, the younger generation suffers from spikes on the heels.

One of the main reasons is the lack of activity, which affects the body after unexpected and long walks.

Symptoms of spikes on the heels

Symptoms that accompany the appearance of growths on the heels are as follows:

discomfort while walking, haunted by a feeling of compression of the limb;
pain that responds sharply when a step is taken;
swelling that is easy to notice because the foot does not fit into the shoe;
redness, it is often accompanied by swelling;
burning, it is easy to notice, even if you do not get up, causes discomfort.

Spikes on the heel. X-ray.

How to treat spikes on the heels

There are 4 options for getting rid of spikes on the heels:

physiotherapy;
pharmaceutical preparations;
ethnoscience;
surgical intervention.

The first 3 options eliminate pain and discomfort, they are not able to completely rid the patient of thorns. Surgical intervention is used in severe cases and involves cutting the heel.

During treatment, it is worth observing some rules, giving preference to orthopedic insoles for shoes. They are often used to treat spikes on the heels, insoles are aimed at eliminating the cause.

External preparations for the treatment of heel spikes

Drug treatment has several goals:

relief of pain syndrome;
reducing and getting rid of inflammation of the fascia;
restoration of the volume of movement;
getting rid of puffiness.

Diclofenac-Acre

Means for treatment belong to different groups of drugs. Creams, ointments, gels or lotions are used. Among the most appointed such means:

Dexalgin;
Indomethacin;
Diclofenac;
Voltaren.

The dosage and course of treatment are set individually, in general it is recommended to use the selected medication 2-3 times a day.

Treatment of spikes on the heels involves the use of such medicines as Kenalog, Diprospan, which also affect the main causes of the problem in question.

The chances of getting rid of the spur with medication are high if treated early.

Injections for the treatment of spikes on the heels

Injections are used after treatment with local medicines has not brought great results. They block the heel spur, relieve severe pain. In their composition, they represent an artificially derived adrenal hormone of a different period of existence. So, "Diprospan" is considered the longest in terms of the period of action.

Diprospan

This treatment carries side effects, one of the most serious is a violation of the functions of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is responsible for the hormonal level in the body, and the use of hormonal agents depresses it. This can lead to excessive production of hormones in the adrenal gland, which leads to serious diseases.

Physiotherapy against spikes on the heels

In the presence of a heel spur, physiotherapy in the form of electrotherapy is applicable. This set of procedures is an electric field acting on the leg, intermittent or non-intermittent.

It is also possible to use the energy of a permanent magnet. Treatment in this case consists in eliminating the inflammation of the aponeurosis.

Shock Wave Heel Therapy

A new treatment option is shock wave therapy. Such therapy is part of a complex treatment using medicines and folk remedies. This treatment is the impact of ultrasonic waves on the heel.

Physiotherapy and SWT have a number of advantages:

increased blood circulation in the affected area;
analgesic effect;
relieve muscle tension;
remove inflammation;
do not allow edema to form.

According to the survey, the experts found that after a full course of treatment, patients feel significant relief and freedom of movement.

Exercises to get rid of heel spikes

Gymnastic exercises used for heel spurs can also serve as preventive measures for the disease.

Massage is mainly aimed at increasing blood circulation, dilating blood vessels. The treatment is effective and does not have a negative effect, and can be used in conjunction with other therapies.

Practicing exercises for the treatment of spikes on the heels:

Salt treatments. 1 kg of coarse salt is heated in an iron bowl and scattered on the floor. On this salt you need to walk for 15-20 minutes, the main thing is not to stand still. Salt warms the sole, also helps to remove slags. In the initial stages of heel spikes, 7 procedures are enough to get rid of the problem.
Washboard. The rough surface is a good way for massage movements. It is important to fix the board and take a comfortable position on the chair. The movements should be intense for 10 minutes. You need to carry out the procedure 2 times a day until the result becomes noticeable.
Boiled potatoes. Boil small potatoes until half cooked. Pour into a bowl and start stirring with your feet. Do this until the vegetable cools down. Then wipe your feet dry and draw a grid with iodine. Wear socks to keep warm. The course is 7 days.

In the exercises used, there are no means that would be difficult to access. Besides, for such gymnastics, any solid round objects of small size are suitable.

Folk recipes in the treatment of spikes on the heels

Traditional medicine has been familiar with the problem of thorns much longer than modern medicine. That is why folk remedies are distinguished by their effectiveness and safety.

Effective treatments:

Raw potatoes. Cut the potatoes into large slices and attach to the heel, fix with a tight toe;
Onion. Finely chop the onion, the best option would be to grate. Put the onion in the bag, lower the leg there. It is good to fasten and put on warm socks. Perform the procedure in the evening, before going to bed. In the morning, remove the bag and dry your feet with a towel;
Honey cakes. Bee honey is mixed with flour until a tight dough is formed, which is rolled out like a cake. Wrap the heel with this cake and wrap the entire leg with cling film to secure. Create warmth - wear socks;
Burdock and laundry soap. Burdock leaves are washed and the rough side is gently rubbed with soap so as not to tear the leaf, but to create an even soapy foamy layer on it. Wrap the entire leg, wrap a scarf on top.

Traditional medicine involves several courses, the duration of each of which is 7-10 days.

Surgical treatment of heel spikes

Doctors say that surgical intervention is resorted to only in difficult cases. Such cases include, for example, the anatomy of the skeleton, when the appearance of spikes cannot be avoided.

A more modern operation is the use of an endoscope. With this method, two incisions are made on the heel, one of which could fit the camera. Another cut for a working tool.

Gradually cut the layers of the skin and reach the process, remove it with a special tool. The operation and rehabilitation are quick, but all this requires frequent examinations by a specialist.

Operation will not work:

elderly people due to bone fragility;
for women who care about their appearance, scars spoil the aesthetic appearance of their legs;
children, because the soft developing bones are easily deformed with this method of treatment.

Prevention of the appearance of spikes on the heels

Prevention of the disease is extremely simple - hygiene of the feet. In order not to suffer from spurs, it is worth buying shoes that are suitable in size, use insoles to soften the sole.

For a general improvement in the condition of the legs and the return of their tone after a working day, it is recommended to use relaxing and moisturizing creams. Then there will be no reason for the appearance of spikes on the heels, which means that treatment will not be needed.

Helpful videos about spiked heels, their causes and treatments

In this video, a practitioner will tell you all about heel disease - spurs:

Heel growths are a common cause of severe pain in the legs. In another way, this disease is called plantar fasciitis. The heel spikes protrude from the outside of the foot bone. They are formed as a result of frequent physical activity or due to certain diseases. Often, such a disease can be found in the elderly and those who are always on their feet. This may be related to a professional occupation or a specific job.

Causes and symptoms

The main reason is the activity of the papilloma virus. First, warts form. This is the incubation stage of development. Then a knot is formed in the form of a spur or growth on the bone. The main reasons for the growth of bone tissue:

increased sweating;
unsuitable climate;
weakened immunity;
fungus and dirt;
diseases associated with blood vessels;
injuries of various kinds (mental, physical, etc.);
old age;
circulatory disorders;
infectious disease of bone tissue;
inflammatory diseases such as: hyperostosis, arthritis.

In some cases, the appearance of a spur is the result of neglect of oneself:

Abnormal unilateral walking puts undue stress on the heel bones, ligaments, and nerves.
Jogging or jumping on a hard surface
Heavily worn shoes that do not have an appropriate arch support.
Overweight and obesity.

Spikes on the heels are very painful, a person cannot fully stand on his feet. Sharp and stabbing pain, formed as a result of the accumulation of calcium on the calcaneus. It begins to form incorrectly and appears in the form of a sharp spike. Such symptoms can be observed on an x-ray or tomography. Interestingly, many doctors have not yet come to the same opinion, and some believe that the spikes on the heels may also be a continuation of the calcaneus.

The spur itself is not painful, but pain occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed. It is especially enhanced when stepping on the heel along the front and bottom of the foot. Many people try to walk on their toes, thereby causing even more tension in the fascia.

Home Treatment Options

When a person has a spike in the heel, home treatment seems to be the most ideal option for him. Everyone can prepare their own medicine for spurs.

One of the most common treatments is iodine treatment:

Crush 10 aspirin tablets into powder and pour 250 ml of vodka. Leave to infuse for 2 days. Then take a piece of gauze and moisten it with this solution. Wrap the heel with a spur and close with a plastic bag. Leave it on the leg all night.
Mix one vial of iodine with salt and honey. We leave the compress overnight and continue to do it for five days.
Crush 6 aspirin tablets and add 50 mg of iodine solution. Treat the heels for a month with this solution.
The use of magnesium is simply necessary for the body to synthesize protein. Most magnesium is stored in human bones. This mineral is an essential element for bone formation.

The aluminum foil is rolled up in several layers and wrapped around the spike on the heel. Treatment with copper or silver prevents the growth of growths.
A warm bath with Epos salt has many beneficial properties. Ideal for pain and inflammation relief. Add Epsom salts to water and massage your heels. Magnesium sulfate, which is part of the salt, will relieve pressure and tension on the feet.

Pepper patch will help get rid of pain.
The Chinese plaster acts with herbs on the whole body and actively fights against bone growth.
A plaster containing a magnet and angelica will help remove the build-up.
Orthopedic plaster corrects the position of the heel.
Combined patches from aloe, propolis, sea buckthorn have a bactericidal function.

How to choose the right patch? In order to properly use the appropriate option, be sure to follow the advice of a doctor. Any remedy has a number of contraindications that should not be neglected.

It is enough to follow a few rules to prevent the occurrence of spurs. For example, walk with the correct gait, watch your shoes or remove excess weight. In this case, you can avoid the need to treat various diseases for a long time.

Ointments of own production

An unusual method of treating spurs with vinegar. Place a raw egg in a glass. Pour just enough vinegar essence so that the egg is completely closed and wait until the shell dissolves. Then remove the film and pour the egg. Combine 200 grams of melted butter with an egg. Beat everything thoroughly with a mixer. It turns out ointment. Apply every night as a compress. The effect comes in a few days.

Creams at home:

Tube baby cream squeeze into a bowl and combine with a raw egg and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar. Whisk all ingredients until smooth. With this cream, we smear the sore spot every night until it improves.
In calendula ointment, add vitamin A oil and 1 tbsp. spoon apple cider vinegar. The resulting cream should be used regularly for a long time.
Mix the crushed leaves of the Golden Mustache with any baby cream and smear several times a day. The inflammation activity of the spur will noticeably decrease.
mix egg and 100 grams lard, add 100 grams of vinegar essence. Beat everything and leave to infuse for 10 days. Apply this cream every day, but not more than 6 hours.

If one cream, within ten days, does not give any result, then feel free to try another cream. It is better to try a few creams than to do nothing at all.

Physiotherapy without leaving home

Procedures to help get rid of heel spurs:

Massage of the foot of the plantar surface, toes and ankle joint normalizes blood circulation.
Applying special mud will reduce pain and inflammation.
Mineral baths promote the process of resorption of bone formations.
Stretching exercises can help prevent flat feet.
Orthopedic pads will control excessive movement.
Orthopedic insoles. The mandatory list of complex treatment includes: adequate unloading of the foot, longitudinal and transverse arch. This can be achieved with ready-made orthopedic insoles, or custom insoles can be ordered individually. There are 2 types of insoles: corrective and made already on a deformed foot.
Wearing sports soft boots will be beneficial in reducing irritation of inflammatory tissues in the sole area.
Applying ice compresses to the legs. Ice helps relieve pain, as cold constricts blood vessels and slows blood flow. In order not to frostbite the leg, ice should be wrapped in a towel and applied to the sore spot. This is a temporary treatment until the cause of such pain is established.
Ankle soft orthosis with silicone inserts is effective in reducing acute pain when walking.
Ultraviolet rays effectively fight spurs (an ordinary blue lamp is enough).
All physiotherapy procedures are prescribed strictly by a doctor. The doctor will help reduce the duration of symptoms and select a comprehensive treatment together. Most orthopedists recommend surgery only if the patient does not improve after diligent treatment with non-invasive methods and the use of traditional medicine methods. Therefore, before seeking help from a surgeon, try therapy with the means described above. Often the result exceeds expectations.

Untreated heel spurs will lead to osteoporosis and further progression of the disease. The main thing for treatment is unloading the foot and massage. As soon as the pain is gone, you need to do therapeutic exercises.

A heel spur is a pathological process in the soft tissues (fascia) of the heel, caused by various reasons.

As a rule, the disease is characterized by persistent symptoms: acute pain and the presence of a bone spike in the heel area.

How to determine the heel spur on your own and distinguish it from corns, as well as the main methods of diagnosis and treatment, we will tell in the article.

The photo of a heel spur on the heel in the initial stage shows a normal foot with a small white speck in the center. This is the heel spur or spike.

As the disease develops, the spike grows, increases in size and can reach a diameter of 0.5-2 cm. late stages may be more than 2 cm.

Usually, with a large spur around it, keratinized areas of the skin and signs of inflammation can be distinguished: redness or cyanosis of the heel.

Where is the heel spur located? In most cases (90%) the spike is located in the center of the heel, and only in some cases on the side. The outgrowth has the form of a spike or wedge, less often - a hook-shaped form.

It should be noted that the calcaneal spike on the surface of the heel is approximately 30-50% of the total bone-salt growth, a significant part of the spur is located in the connective tissues of the heel.

Heel spur: foot anatomy and disease development

Considering anatomical structure foot, you can see that the calcaneal fascia performs a very important function - holding and shaping the arch of the foot. In the process of walking, the fascia of the heels and tendons are subjected to enormous loads, especially in overweight people.

Due to improper metabolism caused by a variety of reasons, salt crystals are formed inside the fascia, which damage the fascia. In most cases, such microtraumas heal quickly without special treatment.

Given the high regenerative abilities of the connective tissues of the heel, the question naturally arises: what causes a heel spur?

The fact is that when there are a lot of microtraumas, non-infectious inflammation begins. Connective tissues compacted, the deposition of salts intensifies. Bone tissue grows, forming bone-salt growths (osteophytes).

If the heel spur, the symptoms of which appear immediately, is not treated, then the inflamed area of \u200b\u200bthe fascia is saturated with salts and the growth rapidly grows in length and width.

At this stage, it is possible to attach an infection and inflammation of the bone tissue, and given the constant microtrauma of the fascia during exercise, we can say that plantar fasciitis is a rapidly progressive disease.

That is why it is necessary to carefully examine the feet for the appearance of spikes, as well as to remove calluses in a timely manner and walk in unloading orthopedic heel pads.

Causes and signs of heel spurs

To know how to recognize a heel spur at the initial stage, you need to familiarize yourself with the reasons for its appearance.

Medicine identifies the following causes of inflammation of the heel fascia:

Flat feet and other foot deformities. The build-up is formed due to excessive load on the heel. In this case, it is imperative to wear Strutz arch supports and / or orthopedic insoles that unload the feet and protect the heel from shock.
Heel injury. Usually injuries occur when jumping from a great height, mechanical shock.
Joint diseases: arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, sprains, etc.
Prolonged exposure to increased stress on the feet. This reason applies to people whose work involves standing or walking, women wearing high heel shoes, athletes involved in heavy sports.
Endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders.
Poor circulation in the lower extremities.
Infectious diseases affecting the water-salt balance.
Overweight, incl. during pregnancy.

In people over 40 years of age, the risk of developing plantar fasciitis is associated with a deterioration in blood circulation in the extremities and a slowdown in regenerative processes in tissues. That is why middle-aged and elderly people need to pay maximum attention to the restoration of the heel fascia.

During sleep, this will help to make such a Strasbourg sock that fixes the tissues of the foot in a stretched position, which contributes to the healing of microtraumas.

Pain symptoms of a heel spur

After the appearance of a white spot-thorn, the heel spur (see the photo above) causes severe pain.

Patients with inflamed fascia characterize pain as follows:

Pain symptoms are localized in the center of the heel. Pain spreads to neighboring tissues only in case of infection of the bone spike.
Describing the nature of the pain, patients use such expressions as “nail in the leg”, “acute twitching pain”, “pin in the heel”. Also, people note the appearance of tingling, drilling, numbness or burning in the heel area.

Most often, patients talk about the appearance of pain:

in the morning immediately after the first steps;
in the evening and at night;
after physical exertion on the feet;
constantly throughout the day.

By the time and how long the heel spur hurts, one can judge the development of the disease. As a rule, morning pain appears due to micro-tears in the fascia, which has shrunk overnight.

To reduce morning pain, you need to use a Strasbourg sock. This device fixes the fascia in a stretched position during sleep.

Pain during the day and in the evening, as well as those that occur after physical exertion, indicate damage to the connective tissues of the heel during movement.

To relieve pain and reduce static and shock effects, you can use heel pads for heel spurs or orthopedic insoles.

Other symptoms of a heel spur

What are the symptoms of a heel spur other than pain?

In addition to pain, fasciitis has the following symptoms:

change in gait, the patient develops chromate due to the inability to step on the heel;
the appearance of keratinization of the tissues of the foot;
dry corns, corns;
redness, blueness, or blackening of the fascia;
the heel gets hot.

As soon as you have a heel spur, the first symptoms of which are pain and white spots, you need to use a special cream to dissolve the bone-salt growth.

In this case, Pyatkashpor creams, which contain medical bile, will help perfectly. This substance promotes decalcification and removal of build-up.

At the initial stage of the disease, the Heel Spur Reinforced cream will help get rid of the heel spur without taking medication. In the future, it is recommended to use "Pyatkospor Regular" or "Pyatkospor Prophylactic" for foot care.

How to distinguish a heel spur from a callus?

Too often people don't start timely treatment fasciitis, thinking it's just a callus. How to identify a heel spur yourself and distinguish it from a callus?

A bone spike differs from a callus in the following ways:

Dry corn is easily removed by steaming and processing with a pumice stone or a special nail file. The spike cannot be removed in this way.
Corn does not cause discomfort and pain, allowing you to lead a normal life. The spur hurts and does not allow stepping on the heel.
Corns or corns have a large area and are characterized by keratinization of the skin. The bone growth has a clearer localization.
On palpation, the callus is felt only on the outside, while the calcaneal spine can be felt inside the fascia.

Self-diagnosis and professional diagnosis of heel spurs

What to do if, after examining the feet, you came to the conclusion that you do not have an ordinary dry callus, but a heel spur? First of all, you need to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and assess the neglect of the disease.

Be sure to find out which specialist treats heel spurs in your clinic and make an appointment. Spurs are usually treated by an orthopedic surgeon or surgeon. In the absence of these specialists, you can contact a therapist.

The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the following data:

Patient interview and history taking. The orthopedist specifies the frequency, localization and nature of pain, as well as the factors that provoke it.
Visual inspection and palpation. The doctor examines the foot, palpates the heel and determines the most painful area.

Analysis and research data:

general analysis and biochemistry of blood;
Ultrasound of the plantar fascia;
foot radiography.

According to how the heel spur looks on an x-ray, the doctor judges the development of the disease and prescribes treatment. Sometimes an MRI is prescribed to more accurately assess the degree of inflammation of the fascia.

Heel spur symptoms and treatment

After a comprehensive diagnosis of the heel spur, the orthopedist prescribes treatment. In 90% of cases, fasciitis can be overcome without surgery.

The standard course of treatment includes:

the use of anti-inflammatory ointments;
taking anti-inflammatory pills;
physiotherapy procedures;
orthopedic means for unloading the foot.

The last point is especially important for the non-surgical treatment of the calcaneal spike. Heel shock and fascia injury can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Conversely, special insoles for spurs will help to quickly get rid of the disease and prevent the recurrence of growth.

Consider what a heel spur is, why there is pain in the heel, how it occurs and what to do to reduce it or completely get rid of it, which heel spur treatment can be chosen. And also learn about whether this disease is one or two different ones (because they often write nonsense!):

heel spur
plantar fasciitis

We are starting to figure it out...
Heel spur in medicine - what is it? So called plantar fasciitis or plantar fasciitis- inflammation of the plantar aponeurosis, and is characterized by one striking sign - acute pain in the heel, which is especially strong in the morning, up to the impossibility of stepping on the foot.

Many readers are confused by this image, which you see below, and hence the misconception that heel spur and plantar fasciitis are different diseases.

What is plantar fascia? Plantalis is the sole of the foot. And on it is a huge and thick ligament along the entire length of the foot - from the heel to the phalanges of the toes (this is not a muscle, but a tendon). On the one hand, it is attached from below to the calcaneus, and near the fingers - to the terminal phalanges.

What causes severe pain in the foot. Aneurysm functions

For various reasons (see below) overstretching of the plantar fascia up to microscopic tears in the place of its attachment to the calcaneus. The fascia itself is made up of a large number fibers - it is on them that microfractures occur, causing inflammation fascia and as a result - sharp pain.

What are the functions of this thick and long ligament - foot aneurysms:

it helps the foot to bend, helping the muscles to work
it forms the arch of the foot (spring-like bend of the foot), which provides us with comfortable walking

Fasciitis is inflammation and the expression "heel spur" is incorrect, but it arose because a hook on the heel is often visible in the picture. But the problem is not in the hook, it does not hurt and does not press on anything (yes, yes!). It is formed as a result of inflammation, which proceeded with acute pain.

On the heel, closer to the attachment of the ligament, at the site of inflammation, a round area appears, which ossifies due to calcium deposits - fibrotizes. He just doesn't hurt. The area hurts before the hook formed. But due to the formation of a hook, we can talk about the occurrence of an X-ray positive heel spur.

And a similar image that divides this one disease into two (I found it on the Internet) is absolutely wrong - I myself have already added on it that this is the same disease. Rather, the spur is the result of ossification of the fascia at the point of attachment to the bone due to its inflammation.

There is no relationship between the size of this bony growth and the intensity of heel pain.. Quite often, pain occurs in the absence of a build-up as such, and in some cases, an x-ray shows the presence of a build-up, and the person does not experience pain.

The mechanism (stages) of the formation of a bone hook - spur. Common misconception

A little lower, see the correct image of the formation of a spur, which clearly shows stages and mechanism of hook formation as a result of increased mechanical stress. Here they are:

first there are tears of the plantar aponeurosis
due to tears of the fascia of the aneurosis, an inflammatory process occurs
the inflammatory process leads to ossification of the plantar tendon (aponeurosis) at the point of attachment to the heel and the formation of a hook

I emphasize again that the heel spur and plantar fasciitis - these are the names of the same disease. It is popularly called a heel spur because of the obvious hook on an x-ray on the heel, and the medical name is plantar (plantar) fasciitis.

It is almost invisible on the x-ray that the hook (spur) has a continuation in the form of a plantar ligament and this is its ossified area, and not the growth of the bone tissue of the heel as a result of a violation of salt metabolism. We figured out the main delusion of many sick people - the bone tissue of the heel does not grow during the formation of a spur.

In most cases, plantar fasciitis is a female disease, men rarely get sick of it. It depends on fluctuations in hormones at the beginning of menopause - and as a result, tissues lose their elastic ability. In this case, this is the tendon tissue and the place of its attachment to the bone is the most vulnerable place, which is why plantar fasciitis develops here. Up to 15-17% of the female population has this problem, and after 50 years, every fourth woman is sick, after 75 years, plantar fasciitis affects up to 85% of the population (both men and women)

Heel spur: photo, what it looks like

Most readers probably froze in anticipation of seeing human legs with spurs like a rooster in the photo, right? I hasten to disappoint you: outwardly, the presence of a spur in the heel is almost not manifested, except for those rare cases when it is not the lower, but the upper spur. However, judge for yourself by looking at the photo - the maximum that can be seen in the picture is a bruise at the site of a large rupture of the fascia, and in most cases this is not even there.
The spur is visible only on an x-ray (see above).

See what the heel spur looks like externally, view from the side of the foot (all pictures refer to the lower heel spur:

As you can see, there are various photos of the foot with plantar fasciitis - from absolutely not changing its appearance - to a foot with bruises or discoloration of the skin at the site of compaction (spurs). But the process is not visually displayed anywhere.

Photo of the upper heel spur (side view):

Why does it hurt so much to step on my foot in the morning

Everyone who has had inflammation of the plantar fascia knows that in the morning, when you try to step on your heel, you get the feeling that a nail was hammered into it - such a sharp pain. Because during the night the tissue destroyed by inflammation begins to recover, and when you try to stand on your feet with all your weight body tissue micro-ruptures again occur and inflammation occurs with pain.

During the period of illness, walking on an average heel helps. Heels play the role of arch support in this situation, they form the arch of the foot and support it. Sometimes the disease does not require treatment - there is a form of plantar fasciitis that goes away on its own.

Remember:

it is the inflammatory process of the tendon tissue, and not some kind of growth of the bone tissue of the heel, that causes pain, which is called plantar fasciitis or heel spur.

Also the occurrence of a heel spur or plantar fasciitis occurs only as a result of an increase in the load on the fascia and its inflammation. The spur does not press on the tissues, and it does not cause pain. It is caused by ruptures of the fascia and inflammation.

What can cause plantar fasciitis. Causes and symptoms

The causes of heel spurs are numerous. Fasciitis occurs under a combination of various circumstances:

flat feet
calcaneus injury
knee injury and valgus formation (X-shaped knees)
metabolic disorder (gout)
circulatory disorders of the legs
overweight
hormonal changes
uncomfortable shoes
chronic diseases (Bekhterev's disease, arthritis, polyarthritis)
long standing work
intense sports loads in athletes (runners)

As you can see risk factors for the occurrence of pain in the heel - this is age after 50 years, female gender, overweight, flat feet, shoes with very high heels or lack of it, as well as foot injuries.

Symptoms of the onset of the disease:

severe heel pain
inability to walk in flat shoes

Which doctor should I contact for heel pain:

orthopedist
surgeon
neurologist-vertebrologist

If your clinic does not have such a doctor, you will have to contact your family doctor or therapist, he will send you for an x-ray.

How to treat. Treatment with conservative and folk methods

Before treating heel fasciitis, you need to make sure that it is a heel spur, as there is a wide range of diseases that cause heel pain. It is the orthopedist or traumatologist who will be able to correctly establish the diagnosis.

When we made sure that it was really a heel spur (heel fascia inflammation), and not systemic disease or injury, it is necessary to understand that there are many treatment options, it is multifaceted and multicomponent, and quite long. Each sick person can choose a cure for spurs and a method of treatment individually - with the help of a doctor, or find traditional medicine recipes and test their effectiveness on their own heels.

Since the disease is caused by tension on the fascia, an increased load on it, then all efforts should be aimed at reducing the load on the plantar fascia, as well as helping it to become more elastic (plantar fascia is not an elastic formation) by stretching. The main task of the doctor is to correct the existing deformity of the foot by selecting insoles, instep supports, which will make it possible to unload the middle and front arch of the foot and prescribe conservative treatment.

How to cure a heel spur? It is necessary to undertake a complex treatment: cold, exercise therapy (physiotherapy exercises), insoles and a month or two we are engaged in these procedures. If there is no result, then shock wave therapy, injections are prescribed. But, it is important to remember that none of the following methods will work in the mono version.

I hasten to please you: even if a person decides to do nothing at all, then the heel will hurt for about a year, and then everything will pass - the fascia will stretch due to breaks, but a relapse is possible over time.

Pick the right shoes

The first thing to do when inflammation of the plantar fascia is to choose the right shoes. Without this, there is no point in starting treatment at all. Shoes at plantar fasciitis should be on a small heel - up to 5 cm (for women) and internal insoles or inserts under the heel with a hole for the painful area. A heel higher or lower than 5 centimeters is a factor in increasing pain with improper loading on the foot and stretching the fascia. Best of all - orthopedic shoes that support the arch of the foot, correct the wrong position.

Anesthetize. Relieve or reduce pain

Taping. Taping is the first way to reduce heel pain, which literally means the application of special adhesive patches. With plantar fasciitis, an unusual patch is used - kenesio tape, which stretches and has a number of useful properties. It improves blood circulation and anesthetizes, fixing the foot in a certain position. We measure the tape, round the edge for better fixation and start gluing on the foot, starting from the heel bend. Then the kinesia tape can be stretched a little and pasted over the entire foot, carefully smoothing and pressing the tape. Now we rub it so that it warms up better and fixes on the foot.

Kinesio tape is enough for 3-4 days. With it you can walk in the shower and swim in the pool. The only recommendation is not to dry it with a hair dryer, otherwise it will stick to the foot too much. You can use an ordinary patch instead of tape, but the effect will be less pronounced. The tape will relax the fascia, reduce swelling and relieve pain. A single application gives a positive effect after two hours.

We use night orthoses. At night we put on orthoses - special devices. They fix the plantar fascia in a certain position with straps and it will be a little taut all night. In this position, there is a night fusion of ruptures of the fascia and in the morning, when stepping on the heel, there will be no sharp change in the position of the plantar fascia and micro-ruptures. In the morning there will be no this painful stretching with sharp pain. It is recommended to sleep in an orthosis from one to three months, but rarely does anyone endure so much time to sleep in an orthosis with a stretched foot - this is uncomfortable and insomnia often occurs from an uncomfortable position of the foot.

The role of the night orthosis is to avoid muscle tears in the morning. Statistics show that regular use of only this one method often gives a cure after 46 days.

If it is not possible to buy orthoses, you can use elastic bandage or bandage. Having bandaged the leg in the ankle for the night, we fix the heel with plasters or an elastic bandage in a taut position (instead of an orthosis). This will partially relieve morning pain. Also, felt boots can play the role of a night orthosis - they cut off the top and make a small window for the fingers. They put on and sleep in felt boots.

Medical plasters. Exist Chinese medical patches based on aconite root, gentian and angelica - for example, a patch for the treatment of heel spurs (Bone Spur Plaster) 8 pieces per package, which are glued to a painful place to relieve pain and inflammation. For treatment, 15-20 patches are needed.

Not the worst effect is given by our pepper patches, which stimulate blood flow, which means inflammation and pain are reduced. it is recommended to stick on the entire fascia and keep it on the foot for 2 days (if the burning sensation is too strong, immediately remove the patch and grease the foot with a fat cream).

Also, a good result of warming up the foot and relieving pain gives salipod patch for calluses, which, according to some participants in the women's forum, was used for heel spurs.

Orthopedic insoles. During the day, it is important to distribute the load of the body on the entire foot. In order to properly distribute the pressure on the entire foot, an orthopedic insole is needed. But not the insole that is made of hard plastic, but an individual soft insole.

When meeting with a hard insole, the pain does not decrease, but intensifies! Incorrectly selected insoles can exacerbate the disease. Another thing is an individual soft insole. An orthopedist has a blank that heats up and a person, as it were, tramples the imprint of his foot in it, and due to this imprint, the pressure is correctly distributed over the entire foot. The insole has a shoe for unloading under the heel.
Also, arched heel pads can be purchased separately and inserted as inserts into shoes.
Individual insoles and heel pads with a spur in the heel are made by orthopedists themselves, but there are also mass-produced insoles and heel pads.

The price in Moscow of a similar heel pad (one) orthopedic with a central heel spur is 400 rubles (the prices provided were valid at the time of writing the article), gel heel pads (pair) - 1,490 rubles. There are more expensive ones - up to 2000 rubles, there are the cheapest ones - just unloading - 250 rubles, as you can see - a choice for any wallet.

Pills or medication. For severe pain, take non-steroidal painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs. The list of such drugs is long. The most effective drugs for relieving pain are Ketorolac, Ketoprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, for relieving inflammation - Indomethacin, Flurbiprofen, Diclofenac and Piroxicam. They are taken three times a day.
Consider Dimexide treatment with inflammation of the heel spur, namely, a compress from dimexide. It is used only externally and diluted with water. If everything is done correctly, then after 15 minutes a demixid compress will relieve pain. Before applying the compress, it is recommended to rub the heel with diclofenac or ketoprofen ointment, which will help relieve inflammation faster.
Recipe for the preparation and use of dimexide:

In the instructions for use of the drug read contraindications carefully(cataract and glaucoma, myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, atherosclerosis, stroke, pregnancy and breastfeeding).

With not crushed inflammation of the fascia, it is quite quick result gives daily rubbing (three times a day) ointments: hydrocartisone, "Diclofenac" and indomethacin on the steamed skin of the foot.

So briefly about the treatment of heel spurs with medication.

Alternation of cold and heat. Special gel insoles from the freezer (relieve pain with cold) alternate with putting on slippers with heated soles. The change of cold and heat also gives good relief.

Physiotherapy. Warm-up exercises

Exercises with a spur in the heel can be done by yourself, without a doctor - to stretch the plantar ligament and calf muscles. They can be done in the morning, afternoon, and even at work.

What is important to know about physical therapy? It must be performed correctly, preferably for the first time under the supervision of a rehabilitation doctor. If this is not possible, then you should know the main thing: when exercising, you need to feel the tension of the Achilles tendon. If there is no tension in the Achilles tendon, then the exercises will not bring any benefit.

The question often arises as to why it is necessary to do an Achilles tendon stretch exercise. The Achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneus from above, and the plantar fascia attaches to the calcaneus from below. Accordingly, if you stretch the Achilles tendon and pull it up, it will pull up the heel and stretch the plantar fascia. Exactly on rupture of the Achilles tendon and directed the first group of exercises. The second group of exercises stretches the fascia by bending the toes and thus it becomes more elastic.

How long do the exercises need to be done? Stretching exercises for the plantar fascia should be done regularly, for at least a month three times a day for 10-15 minutes.

Consider what exercises you can do in the morning, get out of bed.

First exercise. For the first exercise, you need to stand against the wall, put the sore leg behind the healthy one and rest your hands on the wall, semi-squat until you feel the tension of the back muscle group of the lower leg. Thus, a smooth tension of the muscles occurs. Do not take your heels off the floor.

Second exercise- stand on two books with your feet and sag from them with your heels. Rock up and down with your heels. This will help stretch the plantar fascia.

Third exercise. It strengthens the ligament of the foot and calf muscles well by picking up small objects scattered on the floor with your toes or rolling a bottle with your foot. If doing the exercise hurts, take a bottle of water from the refrigerator. The cold will greatly reduce the pain.

How to relieve acute pain during exercise?

Acute heel spur pain can be relieved with cold therapy- attach a piece of ice to the place of localization of pain - exactly to the point that hurts for 10-15 minutes. Then a break is made for half an hour and cold is again applied to the heel for 10-15 minutes.

Similarly, cold therapy is used not only during therapeutic exercises, but also after a long load on the foot, at the end of the working day or in the morning, when the pain is most acute.

I suggest you watch the video therapeutic gymnastics for plantar fasciitis:

As an addition to the first video, see more recommendations and advice from Dr. Demchenko on relieving morning pain with a heel spur for those who run. I especially liked the passive exercise, where you sit on your heels, bending your toes under you, while the feet are parallel to each other:

Modern treatment with the introduction of Botox into the heel

Interesting scientific research on the treatment of heel spurs conducted in Mexico, where they used the treatment of plantar fasciitis with botox (botulinum toxin). When Botox is injected into the heel, the fascia is relaxed and pain and inflammation are relieved. When comparing the duration of treatment of two groups, of which one underwent traditional treatment, others - with Botox, then with the help of Botox, the recovery took place in 10 days, with standard treatment - up to two months.

Physiotherapy procedures

X-ray therapy. In fact, x-rays relieve inflammation, namely pain. They do not greatly affect the resorption of the inflamed area, calcification decreases slightly, but not so significantly that it does not significantly affect the x-ray. X-rays kill nerve endings. It is recommended to repeat the procedure after two months to consolidate the effect. Considered the most in a safe way spur treatment, which is used after exercise therapy, applying cold, using insoles did not give the expected relief.

Ultrasound. Heel spur treatment with ultrasound is the process of heating tissues in a certain place with ultrasonic waves. Unlike shock wave therapy, the process of heating the heel (by 2 degrees) is a completely painless procedure that causes an increased rate of metabolic reactions at the site of impact. Gives results only in a complex of procedures.

Shock Wave Therapy (SWT). Shock wave therapy is now very popular and successful in the treatment of heel spurs. It is based on the fact that shock ultrasonic waves block the impulse from pain receptors. Accordingly, they reduce pain and inflammation. The effectiveness of such procedures is 50 to 50 - that is, it helps someone, but does not help someone.

The meaning of shock wave therapy is that a certain wavelength affects soft tissues and activates regeneration processes, which improves healing and scar formation. They add it after a month has passed with exercise therapy, applying cold, using insoles, but there is no result in reducing heel pain. Then 5 sessions of shock wave therapy are prescribed - as an additional procedure for exercise therapy, cold and insoles. We continue to do everything previously assigned, since shock wave procedures are effective only in combination.

Some doctors consider shock wave therapy a controversial method, which gives relief for a while, and after a year and a half there is a relapse, which cannot be removed by anything other than the introduction of hormonal drugs.

Shock wave therapy, reviews What do SWT patients say?

1) positive feedback:

As you can see, the procedure is painful!

2) negative feedback about shock wave therapy:

Another very negative review - not only there is no positive result, but there has been a strong deterioration:

3. reviews of doctors - physiotherapist and orthopedic traumatologist:

and second:

As you can see, there are different opinions and results on the use of shock wave therapy for heel inflammation. Reviews taken from the site's forum:

Vitafon drug. This physiotherapy drug will help you massage your feet at home and replace a professional massage therapist. Massage is done by vibroacoustics. It improves blood flow and lymph movement, which relieves any inflammation or irritation.

Due to the constant change in the frequency of sound, tissue and organs are affected by microvibrations. The frequency change varies in two ranges:

from 20Hz to 4.5kHz;
from 200Hz to 18kHz.

There are several types of apparatus. The most popular Vitafon microvibrator looks like this:

Creating a certain sound background - phonation - makes it possible to dispose of damaged and dead cells at the site of inflammation, which significantly reduces the time of treatment of fasciitis.

Corticosteroid injection (blockade)

This method is used when no treatment for inflamed heel fascia helps. An injection of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid drug will definitely relieve the pain. A glucocorticosteroid drug is injected into the place where it hurts the most. The injection is unpleasant, painful, but they say that it often lasts for the rest of your life. Sometimes - only for three months - it happens differently, there may be a relapse.

This is how heel spur treatment looks like with a heel injection:

Many qualified orthopedists against corticosteroid blockade of fascia inflammation. Why doctors do not recommend injections of painkillers, despite the fact that the prolonged action of drugs relieves pain and swelling:

corticosteroid blockade does not increase fascia stretch, after a certain time, in most cases, the pain returns with renewed vigor, because the fibers were torn, but we did not feel the pain syndrome
repeated use of injections increases the likelihood of a complete rupture of the entire fascia, which will disrupt the maintenance of the arch of the foot
corticosteroids, when used frequently as an injection, cause atrophy of the subcutaneous fat in the heel area, thereby reducing heel cushioning

Cream Tiger's eye ortho heel spur

At the initial stages of the disease, you can use a cream (75 ml), which refers to biologically active additives based on juniper and lemon aromatic oils with herbal extracts.

We smear the cream on the heel twice a day, after taking a salt bath on the feet, wiping and drying the feet. Apply with light movements, massaging the heel with Tiger's Eye Heel Spur cream. During the period of treatment with cream, salt baths and massage, it is advisable to use orthopedic liners, insoles or heel pads to unload the foot.

The massage is very simple - a few movements with the fingertips - watch a short video:

The cream is designed to relieve pain and discomfort in plantar fasciitis. Effective only in complex application.

Reviews from the use of the cream are different, I give two: positive and negative:

negative feedback:

From the above, it follows that the cream should only be used as an additional remedy.

Heel spur removal

Removal of heel fasciitis is possible different ways. Some types have already been discussed above - shock wave therapy, x-ray therapy. But the most popular and modern way to remove a spur is laser therapy and laser surgery.

laser therapy relieves the inflammatory process without removing the build-up. The spur does not dissolve, but due to the beam, pain and swelling are removed. The main effect of the laser is to stimulate blood circulation in the inflamed fascia, which leads to a rapid cure for fasciitis by relieving swelling and pain.

Laser heel treatment compares favorably with other procedures in that it is absolutely painless, has no side effects, does not require hospitalization, cannot cause allergies, and most importantly - the action laser beams significantly increase the effectiveness of the use of medications prescribed to the patient.

The therapy takes place in several stages. 10 days with a two-week break in between. The first stage is irradiation with a frequency of 50 Hz, a power of 80 mW, the second is the use of a frequency of 80 Hz, a power of 80 mW, and, if necessary, the third with an irradiation frequency of about 600 Hz and a power of 90 mW. The cost of one session is around 900-1000 rubles, which means that one stage of 10 sessions will cost about 10 thousand rubles, all three stages - about 30 thousand rubles.

Laser surgery involves the removal of a bone growth, that is, it is a laser that crushes the bone growth of the heel spur. using anesthesia by perforating the growth with a needle. With this method, the process is removed, but the cause of its occurrence is not removed - an increased load on the arch of the foot, which can again lead to a relapse if all measures are not taken to reduce the mechanical load on the foot.

Now you know how to treat a heel spur and there are ways conservative treatment heel fasciitis. Not only that - many of the treatments are easy to perform at home.

The surgeon briefly about the methods of treating heel spurs:

Question answer

1. Frequently asked question: How to get rid of heel spurs permanently?

There is only one answer here - to relieve the load on the arch of the foot in any of the ways listed above, which will relieve inflammation of the fascia. If someone recommends a miracle cure to you, which help get rid of spurs in one / three days and forever- do not believe! Either the person did not have a spur, but a thorn (plantar wart), or he is prone to cheating. During treatment plantar wart well helps celandine from papillomas.

Even a blockade with injections in the heel can eventually (often after 3 months) remind of itself with heel pain.

2. Q: what is calcaneal spur, microbial code 10?

This is International classification diseases of the 10th revision(ICD-10), where plantar fascial fibromatosis goes under the number M72.2. (source).

Question: Can a heel spur be cured?

The heel spur cannot be cured by 100% until then, and a relapse is always possible until the causes of its occurrence are eliminated - an increased mechanical effect on the arch of the foot. And it doesn’t matter how you are being treated and what you are promised a complete and quick deliverance from the spur. You may need to cope with increased weight, standing work, flat feet.

4. Question: Why should I refuse to perform surgery spur removal?

This question is answered by the chief physician of the center V.I. Dikul Losiny Ostrov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Mutin Igor Nikolaevich in the video:

There is another, as an extreme way - surgery , but I will not describe it - there is a 50% probability complete cure and 50% - turning into a disabled person. The risk is too high... Yes, and the operation is done when there is a large area of fascia hardening.
But on some folk methods of treating spurs, you can stop.

Folk methods of treatment at home

There are a huge number of recipes and all kinds of ways to treat spurs with folk remedies at home. But their effectiveness in treating plantar fasciitis is often in question.

Very conflicting reviews of those who used alternative treatment at home: some are simply delighted with the quick relief of pain, others say that, apart from shock wave therapy, nothing helped them. As recipes are provided, I will add reviews on them. Any procedure is done on a steamed heel.

Heel spur treatment with iodine

For the treatment of heel fasciitis, we use a 3% iodine solution, since 5% can cause a burn. Iodine will warm up, anesthetize and improve blood circulation in the heel.

How can I use iodine:

mesh application on the heel - effective in the initial stage of inflammation
baths with iodine and soda - soar for 15 minutes and wrap the feet (2 tablespoons of iodine + 1 tablespoon of soda per 3 liters of water). you can just lower your heel for 10 minutes in a saucer with iodine (we do a week)
applications on the heel - we take honey, iodine and salt in equal proportions, mix and apply to the steamed heel at night (we do a week)

The effectiveness of iodine treatment was noted only at the beginning of inflammation. Although I tested the effectiveness of the iodine mesh at the beginning of the formation of a bone on the big toe, the redness and bulge disappeared very quickly. You can learn how to get rid of a bone on your leg by clicking on the link.

Bile medical use, reviews

The bile of cattle (cows and bulls) is used. Treatment of medical bile spurs on the heel has several recipes.

The simplest of them is to soak gauze folded in several layers with medical bile from a pharmacy and apply it as an anesthetic and warming compress at night, wrapping the foot with compress paper and fixing it with a narrow toe, over which we put on a woolen one. You can fix it with adhesive tape, but do not completely cover the heel with it. With a strong burning sensation, bile can be diluted (alcohol, vodka, shampoo).

Any prescription requires the use of at least 20 days, even if the effect has already been obtained - otherwise a relapse is possible.

Contraindications: Do not apply to pregnant women, breastfeeding women and small children (tender skin), as well as inflammation of the lymph nodes.

There is recipes with various additives in the form of hot pepper, camphor alcohol, glycerin, honey, vodka, shampoo. Let's take a look at the most common:

Recipe 1. Medical bile + red hot pepper + camphor alcohol
Recipe 2. Medical bile + iodine + ammonia + glycerin + honey
Recipe 3. Medical bile + vodka + shampoo

Reviews after treatment with medical bile confirm that getting rid of heel spurs with pure bile or supplements is absolutely possible:

There is even a video in the form of a review in the treatment of bile pain in the heel, telling about a positive experience that supposedly made it possible to quickly cure the spur - relief came after 4 days (I doubt this, since the recommended time for treatment with bile is 20 days):

There are recommendations from traditional healers that can speed up the process of treating spurs with bile - before applying compresses at night, put knotweed grass in shoes during the day and walk with it all day. So alternate - at night a bile compress, during the day - knotweed in shoes under the foot (every day fresh knotweed).

Remember, bile has not only healing properties, but also the ability to cause allergies, so watch out for redness on the heel. It is not very pleasant to work with it because of the sharp and persistent smell, and also the bile is very easily soiled.

To prevent possible allergies, with a spur on the heel, it is recommended to lubricate it with a thick layer of Viprosal ointment and massage the heel with light finger movements until the ointment is completely absorbed, and only then apply a bile compress.

Treatment of heel pain with vinegar and egg

Adherents of the method claim that it is effective. For each person - it is individual. But why not check it out?

The raw egg in this recipe is poured with vinegar essence and insisted. We look in more detail at the recipe for treating spur inflammation with egg shells dissolved in vinegar and mixed with butter:

I want to clarify that Malakhov in his program recommended replacing vinegar essence with 9% vinegar in order to avoid burns. Then the shell will dissolve longer, but as a result, the ointment will not cause peeling of the skin on the heel as a result of its burn. Apply an ointment based on eggshell and oil in the form of a compress for the night, periodically changing it to a fresh one until the pain is completely relieved - about 14 days. Sometimes it can come after several sessions.

Foot pain is a fairly common occurrence. Most often they occur in the elderly, athletes and people who spend a long time on their feet. One of the most common causes the appearance of such pains are spikes on the heels. This is the name of an acute growth on the bone, which appeared due to increased loads or metabolic disorders. The spikes cause severe pain when walking. In advanced cases, a person cannot step on the heel at all. But timely treatment of pathology can restore the ability to move normally.

What it is

Spines are commonly referred to as a sharp growth on the calcaneus due to its external shape. It is slightly pointed at the end, so when stepping on the heel, it injures soft tissues. This leads to severe pain and inflammation. The growth, which in medicine is called an osteophyte, is formed because the periosteum has bone-forming properties. Under the influence of negative factors, it reacts with the growth of the inner layer. Because of this, osteophyte is formed. In addition, sometimes a spike is a deposition of calcium salts in the periosteum, which occurs as a result of metabolic disorders.

Most often, an osteophyte grows in the area of the calcaneal tubercle at the site of attachment of the plantar fascia. This ligament is constantly working, as it participates in every movement of the foot. Under increased loads, microcracks form on it. If the loads continue constantly, they do not have time to heal, and the fascia becomes inflamed. Inflammation often passes to the periosteum, which forms an osteophyte as a defensive reaction.

Sometimes thorns are called special warts - thorns. Few people know what they look like, since this pathology is rare. Spikes are dense formations on the skin. It looks like a corn, but there are black dots in the middle. Such a spike can be localized not only on the heel, but anywhere on the sole. When pressed, it also causes sharp pain.

Prolonged wearing of high heeled shoes leads to inflammation of the plantar fascia, due to which a spike may begin to grow.

Causes

A spike is formed most often under the influence of increased physical exertion on the foot. Therefore, pathology occurs in people who are overweight, in athletes or those whose professional activities are associated with long stay on foot. In addition, older people are prone to the appearance of such growths, as well as women who prefer to wear high heels.

In addition, there are other reasons for the formation of spikes on the heels:

uncomfortable shoes: too thin soles, lack of arch support, high heels;
flat feet;
metabolic pathologies, diabetes mellitus;
rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis;
inflammatory processes in the periosteum and its surrounding soft tissues;
thinning of the fat pad in the heel area, leading to chronic trauma to the periosteum;
gout;
circulatory disorders in the legs;
endocrine pathologies;
tumors.

Symptoms

It is believed that every tenth person suffers from such a pathology. But not everyone goes to the doctor with this problem. After all, the symptoms of a thorn are not always pronounced. Sometimes, especially in the early stages, the pathology goes unnoticed. It depends on the size of the growth, its localization, and also on the presence or absence of the inflammatory process.

If pain occurs, they usually appear on the sole in the area of the heel tubercle. At first, they are observed only during exercise - standing or walking. In the presence of inflammation of the plantar fascia, starting pains are characteristic - they occur in the morning after rest, and then subside a little. With the progression of the pathology, pain can disturb the patient constantly.

In addition to pain, the appearance of spikes on the heels can be suspected by external signs. The skin on the heel becomes rough, may become red. In one place, a corn or corns appears. If the skin is damaged by a spike, a purulent process may develop.

The main symptom of pathology is severe pain when walking.

Diagnostics

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. After all, similar symptoms can be with plantar fasciitis, sprains, fractures and other pathologies. A disease can be cured only when its cause is precisely determined.

For this, the patient is assigned an X-ray examination. In the presence of an osteophyte, it will be clearly visible in the picture. Sometimes, to clarify the diagnosis and assess the condition of the soft tissues, it is necessary to do an ultrasound or MRI.

Treatment

Only a doctor, after examining and determining the cause of the pathology, can tell how to treat spikes on the heels. Self-medication, which many women do with pain in the foot, can lead to the progression of the pathology and the development of complications. And in advanced cases, an overgrown osteophyte can be removed only by surgery.

It is easiest to get rid of spikes on the heels in the initial stage of their appearance. With the right choice therapeutic methods you can stop the process of their growth, relieve inflammation and pain. Moreover, it is not always necessary to remove the osteophyte itself. If it is small, located away from the nerve endings or blood vessels, and there is no inflammation of the soft tissues, the patient just needs to wear orthopedic shoes or use special insoles.

Most often, the treatment of spikes on the heel is aimed at relieving inflammation and pain. For this, drug therapy, physiotherapy, massage, therapeutic exercises, folk methods can be used. In addition, it is very important to limit the load on the affected area, especially during acute stage. To do this, either complete rest is needed, or wearing special heel pads.

Wearing special heel pads will help reduce pain

Medications

Most often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended to relieve pain and inflammation. Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ketanov, Ibuprofen are especially effective in this case. These preparations can be used in the form of tablets or ointments for external use.

Physiotherapy methods

Home treatment of thorns with drugs will be ineffective without the use of additional methods. Most often, physiotherapy is recommended, which will help relieve pain and inflammation by improving blood circulation and metabolic processes.

Foot massage is effective, especially with special ointments. Often doctors also prescribe mud applications or mineral baths. Laser, magnet, UVI are also used.

But these methods only relieve the symptoms without removing the thorn itself. And the method of shock wave therapy has recently been considered more effective for the treatment of pathology. Doctors have proven that these waves break up the bone growth, preventing its increase. At the initial stages, this method allows you to completely get rid of the pathology.

Shock wave therapy is now considered the most effective treatment for thorns.

Orthopedic appliances

No medications or physiotherapy will help reduce pain if, when walking, the place where the spike is formed is constantly subjected to stress. Therefore, it is imperative that the complex treatment includes wearing orthopedic soft shoes. It prevents irritation of the periosteum and protects soft tissues from inflammation.

But most often people still use not shoes, but orthopedic insoles. They will be effective only if they are made to order, taking into account the location of the spike. Insoles help to properly distribute the load on the foot. In addition, they have a special indentation under the heel, which helps prevent soft tissue injury from the spike.

Sometimes it is also recommended to use night orthoses - braces. They stretch the plantar fascia, allowing it to heal without shortening. This helps to avoid starting pain in the morning and reduces inflammation. And recently, taping has become popular, which fixes the foot in the correct position.

Surgical removal

With inefficiency conservative methods or if the thorn causes severe pain, surgery may be indicated. Recently, it has been done without a large incision. Therefore, healing is faster and there is less risk of infection.

The removal of the spike is carried out through two punctures: an endoscope is inserted into one, and instruments are used to cut off the growth in the other. The operation is done under local anesthesia. Recovery after it lasts only a few days.

Hot baths with sea salt or soda, and then lubricating the heels with iodine will help reduce inflammation and reduce pain.

Folk methods

In addition to the main therapy prescribed by the doctor, you can try to relieve pain and inflammation with folk remedies. Moreover, for these purposes there are many recipes and you can choose any:

make a compress for the night from a mixture of iodine, salt and honey;
dissolve 10 crushed Aspirin tablets in a glass of vodka, use for warming compresses;
if you mix Aspirin with iodine, you need to treat the spike projection site with this solution several times a day;
do warm baths with Epsom salts;
stick pepper plaster or special Chinese herbal patches on the heel;
mix Calendula ointment, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of vitamin A;
crush the leaves of the golden mustache and mix with baby cream;
for a compress, you can use grated raw potatoes or radishes;
if there is no damage to the skin, you can lower the heel into iodine for several minutes.

No one is immune from the development of this pathology. But you can still prevent the formation of spikes. To do this, you need to wear only comfortable shoes, avoid increased stress and eat right. And if you experience the slightest discomfort, immediately consult a doctor. After all, at the initial stage, getting rid of the problem will be easier.