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4 Causes of Heel Spurs

A heel spur is a bony bump on your heel that is often painless but it can also cause considerable pain and discomfort as it continues to grow and interact with the backs of your footwear. A large heel spur can make routine activities like standing and walking difficult and extremely painful.

Heel spurs form as your body’s response to pressure, which can come in the form of tightly fitting shoes like high heels and work boots. Calluses also form in response to pressure, and oftentimes a heel callus and heel spur will occur at the same time requiring expert treatment from your foot doctor.

The causes of heel spurs

4 of the problems that can cause or contribute to heel spur formation include the following:

  1. Shoes that are too tight—Shoes and footwear that create excessive pressure and rubbing should be avoided.
  2. Repetitive stress— High-stress impacts from sports that involve a lot of jumping and running can contribute to the pressure that creates heel spurs.
  3. Being overweight—The heavy pressure on the heel bone from carrying excess pounds can contribute to heel spur formation.
  4. Diabetes—Heel spurs are more likely to occur in patients who have diabetes and complications can include infection and possible amputation.

A small heel spur may not cause any serious complications and can be safely ignored. More severe cases require additional intervention. Custom orthotic inserts can be used to isolate the spur or you can wear backless shoes or sandals that don’t rub on your heel.

If conservative treatments aren’t effective, surgical removal of the bony protrusion by your podiatrist may be necessary. Call Syracuse Podiatry located in Central New York. Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Payel Ghosh and their staff will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.

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