About 50% of people who have plantar fasciitis also have heel spurs. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the long band of thick tissue that supports the bottom of your foot from your toes to your heel.
When the plantar fascia becomes irritated or torn, it enables a vulnerability to the development of heel spurs. This is because the heel is not being supported by enough cushion, so repetitive pressure is being placed on the heel every time you walk. This constant pounding pressure on the heel bone fosters bony growths called osteophytes, which are calcium deposits.
Plantar fasciitis is a type of repetitive strain injury, usually developing among young athletes and older adults. Let’s talk about what can happen if you do not treat your heel pain, and where you can go in the Cincinnati area for outstanding medical foot care.
Results of Untreated Heel Spur Pain
If you have a heel spur, it can easily cause the following issues:
Pain When Walking
If you let a heel spur go untreated, you will feel pain every time your heel hits the ground – even if you try to walk softly. Initially, the heel pain is intermittent; but as it progresses, it could become constant.
Pain from an untreated heel spur is usually worse after getting up out of bed in the morning or after a period of inactivity during the day. When it hurts just to walk, you will naturally move around less frequently and thereby develop a more sedentary lifestyle. This can lead to other health problems.
Gait Problems and Limping
Good posture helps to keep your body in proper alignment while you walk. If you feel pain while walking, it will affect your way of walking. You may start to walk with a limp in order to avoid causing foot pain.
With an abnormal gait, however, you are susceptible to developing additional foot and ankle issues, such as bunions, a sprained ankle, and a foot fracture. You could also develop pain in the lower back, hip, and knee, as your body is constantly out of alignment.
Poor Physical Health and Decreased Fitness
If walking causes pain, you may begin to avoid jogging, exercising, and engaging in other activities that involve the use of the feet. Physical activity and exercise are essential to overall health.
Heel Spur Relief in Cincinnati, OH
For being such tiny bony growths that nobody can see, heel spurs have a great impact. Painful heel spurs could severely limit you from living the lifestyle you love, so be sure to see a foot doctor or podiatrist get the expert care you need if you are experiencing heel pain.
The experienced podiatrists here at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care use a variety of non-surgical methods to treat heel spurs. If you have symptoms of plantar fasciitis or a heel spur, we recommend that you make an appointment with us immediately. We are also highly skilled and experienced in surgical procedures to treat foot problems as necessary.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our excellent foot surgeons, call our clinic nearest you or fill out our convenient appointment request form online now. It’s about time you saw an expert for the nagging pain in your foot, so you can get back to enjoying life!
