Most things have a cause and an effect. For example, the cause of summer vacation ending means kids have to go back to school, and most aren’t very happy about it. Another example is the cause of too much pressure or strain on your feet can lead to plantar fasciitis and heel spurs; another thing that can make people feel unhappy.
Heel spurs develop as bony protrusions on the foot (usually underneath the heel bone). They are often painless and you might not even know that you have one. Unfortunately, heel spurs are also often found with plantar fasciitis. This inflammatory condition affects the plantar fascia, or the thick band of tissue that runs the length of the underside of your foot. Often the pain or discomfort you are feeling isn’t the result of the heel spur, but rather the plantar fasciitis. It’s also important to note that you can have plantar fasciitis without heel spurs and vice versa. One does not cause the other, they are just often partners in crime.
Since both heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are the result of too much strain on your feet it’s important to diminish the effects as quickly as you can. This means figuring out the underlying cause and fixing it. If you play sports or run make sure you are wearing supportive shoes, especially in the arch area. If you need to lose some weight consider eating a little bit healthier or upping your physical activity amount. If you have flatfeet make sure you are giving your arches the support they need. You can do stretches every day that can help strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles. If your condition is stubborn we can prescribe a custom orthotic or use extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to help heal the damaged tissue.
If you have more questions about how heel spurs and plantar fasciitis tie in together please call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel at (978) 794-8406 to schedule an appointment with us. We have three Massachusetts office lotions that make coming in to see us a breeze.