Home Remedies and Herbs for Heel Spur

Bone spurs are a medical condition characterized by bony growths that usually occur on or near joints.¹ It’s when a bone spur grows in the heel that it’s called a heel spur.¹ Bone spurs can cause pain, but in some cases, patients may never know without an X-ray that they have a heel spur.² Because there are many causes of heel pain, bone spurs in the heel are often confused for other conditions or vice versa. For example, it’s often confused with plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation of the tissue that forms the arch of the foot.¹ That said, about half of people with plantar fasciitis also have heel spurs.³

What Causes Heel Spurs?

Heel spurs, like any type of bone spur, is an abnormal bony growth that often forms due to joint damage. Among heel spurs causes, osteoarthritis is a culprit.⁴ As your body breaks down cartilage due to osteoarthritis, it tries to make up for it by repairing bone tissue and inadvertently creates bony growths that shouldn’t be there.² Heel spurs can also form due to repeated trauma, such as in people who play sports. The body repairs the bone and forms a sort of “bone scar” and tissue buildup.¹ Heel spurs are more common in middle-aged men and women, and playing sports like volleyball, tennis, or running can increase your chance of developing heel spurs due to repeated trauma on the feet.¹ Individuals who are obese, have diabetes, or wear poorly fitted shoes are also at higher risk of developing heel spurs.¹

Heel Spurs Symptoms

All types of bone spurs can come with or without symptoms.² In many cases, people may not know they have heel spurs until an X-ray is taken for another condition and the doctors find it by accident.² In other cases, bone spurs can cause joint pain and loss of motion.² Swelling, pain, and callouses are among heel spurs symptoms.¹ Heel spur treatments focus on easing the symptoms through stretching or taking anti-inflammatory medications or herbal remedies. Proper shoes can also help ease symptoms, and in rare cases, surgery may be performed to remove the bone spur.¹ Talk to your doctor if you suspect you have heel spurs to receive proper diagnosis and recommendations on course of treatment. In the meantime, you can use heel spur home remedies to ease the pain and swelling associated with the condition.

References

1. https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/feet/treating-heel-spurs/
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bone-spurs/basics/symptoms/con-20024478
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bone-spurs/expert-answers/heel-spurs/faq-20057821
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bone-spurs/basics/causes/con-20024478