A complex foot pain and discomfort cycle may involve bone spurs and plantar fasciitis. Calcium deposits occur because the plantar fascia constantly pulls on the heel bone. Visiting a podiatrist may show that these conditions are occurring together. Here are ways bone spurs and plantar fasciitis are connected:
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the thick band of tissue connecting your heel to your toes. Micro tears and inflammation occur at the area of attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel due to repetitive stress. This chronic irritation causes your body to put calcium down to protect the area. If untreated, these deposits, sometimes called heel spurs, can develop into a prominent bone spur beneath the heel over months or years. Recognizing this connection allows medical professionals to create more efficient patient treatment plans.
Learning Common Risk Factors
Many lifestyle and physical factors cause plantar fasciitis and bone spurs to co-occur. Both conditions may also develop when a person is overweight, which places excessive stress on the plantar fascia. These foot problems are mainly hazardous for people who stand or walk on hard surfaces for long hours. Conditions such as these are common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports because their feet receive repetitive stress. Those with high arches or flat feet may have a greater incidence of both conditions.
Identifying the Symptoms
Without professional medical evaluation, bone spurs and plantar fasciitis can be difficult to differentiate. The most common symptom is sharp, stabbing pain in the heel when a patient first puts weight on their feet in the morning. The discomfort is usually temporary and will disappear after walking, but if standing for an extended period or after excessive physical activity, the discomfort can return. To pinpoint the cause of your pain, specific tests and imaging studies can be performed by your podiatrist. Symptoms may be more severe if the patient has both conditions simultaneously.
Making a Treatment Plan
Diagnosis requires a professional podiatrist to do a physical exam, usually combined with other advanced imaging techniques. The plantar fascia inflammation can be identified by ultrasound, and the bone spurs can be seen on X-rays. Medical professionals often use pressure point testing to locate precisely where the pain is.
Both conditions are often handled with conservative treatment approaches, such as attempts to decrease pain and inflammation in the affected area. Doing physical therapy exercises will help stretch out the plantar fascia and the supporting muscles of your feet. Patients often find relief by utilizing a custom orthotic, which provides arch support and helps to distribute pressure properly. Your podiatrist may recommend corticosteroid injections to help reduce inflammation and relieve temporary pain when necessary.
In certain situations, conservative measures may not sufficiently treat bone spurs and plantar fasciitis. If your podiatrist feels that your pain is affecting your daily activities and quality of life, they may recommend surgery intervention. The bone spur may be removed, and the tight plantar fascia may be released through surgical procedures.
Learning About Preventive Care
Both plantar fasciitis and bone spurs can be prevented and managed, and where treatment succeeds, prevention of its recurrence is possible. Exercising by stretching your plantar fascia and surrounding soft tissue can help keep it flexible. The risk of obtaining these conditions decreases if you wear appropriate footwear with proper arch support. A healthy diet and exercise will help you maintain an appropirate weight and remove unnecessary stress from your feet.
Many patients can significantly improve with a combination of conservative therapies and lifestyle modifications. Follow-up visits with your podiatrist will help monitor progress and adjust your treatment plan. Knowing how these conditions are related is necessary for patients to make intelligent choices about their foot health. To prevent chronic pain from forming, you should maintain proper foot care habits and learn to recognize harmful symptoms early.
Contact a Reputable Podiatrist Today
With advanced imaging techniques, doctors can better understand the relationship between these two commonly seen foot conditions. Expert podiatrists understand the various ways to prevent and treat plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. Contact a podiatrist who will help you come up with a customized treatment plan for your foot issues today.