Heel Spur Symptoms Identifying Benifits
Considering the stress that feet experience on a daily basis, it is no wonder that complaints about foot pain are a common occurrence. However, for a person to learn the reason for the pain, a doctor would need to learn the symptoms, take x-rays, and perform an exam. After all, the feet are comprised of different parts and a variety of problems could develop. Therefore, the goal would be to get a firm diagnosis so proper treatment could begin.
Specific to the heel of the foot, the three most common problems include Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis, and Bone Spur, also referred to as a Heel Spur. Interestingly, of the three, up to 70% of people who experience pain and heel spur symptoms also have Plantar Fasciitis, which is simply swelling and irritation of the Plantar Fascia or connective tissue on the bottom of the feet.
Distinct Symptoms
Often, people provide a doctor with general symptoms, not fully realizing the value of detailed information. Sometimes, leaving out even the smallest piece of information could lead to misdiagnosis. For this reason, when a person begins to notice inflammation or has pain in one or both feet, especially in the morning or after being physical, it would be helpful to jot down every detail to be shared with the doctor.
A prime example of the value that comes from accurate information is seen with bone spur symptoms. If a person had inflammation of the Achilles tendon, located on the back of the ankle, the diagnosis would be Achilles Tendonitis. If any number of bursa found behind the heel bone serving as protection were to become irritated, the doctor would provide a diagnosis of Retrocalcaneal Bursitis. Now, if pain and inflammation were associated with Plantar fascia or connective tissue on the bottom of the foot, the diagnosis could be a Calcaneal Spur, otherwise referred to as a heel spur.
Now, it takes quite some time for a bone or heel spur to form at the point of the Achilles tendon. In addition, this small bone can begin to grow and as it becomes larger, it starts to cause irritation and swelling to surrounding tissue, leading to the development of Retrocalcaneal Bursitis. The bottom line is that knowing and sharing heel spur symptoms with the doctor provides the opportunity for an accurate diagnosis to be made immediately. Because of this, additional problems or further damage down the road would be prevented, meaning the individual would not end up dealing with two issues instead of one.
List of Common Symptoms
None of the heel spur symptoms provided should be avoided. Often, when a spur first develops, a person has no symptoms at all or very minor ones at best. This means the bone spur is provided time to grow without the person even knowing a problem exists. In fact, in the case of Plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the connective tissue (Plantar) on the bottom of the foot, up to 50% of people affected have no pain whatsoever. Obviously, this makes it difficult for a doctor to provide an accurate diagnosis.
For the person without pain, standard heel spur symptoms would include swelling, tightness, and varying degrees of immobility when first getting out of bed. Rather than discount the symptoms as sleeping in an awkward position, they should be noted. On the other hand, someone who has these symptoms along with some level of pain would have a much better idea of something being wrong.
As mentioned above, any heel spur symptoms, no matter how insignificant they may seem, should be reported to a doctor. If a bone spur were to start pressing down on tissue or bone, or even causing a tendon or muscle to rub, over time the affected tissue would be damaged and break down. With this, an individual would experience chronic bouts of inflammation, pain, and even tearing of the tissue. However, as the tissue heals, calluses and corns would likely develop. While these provide some cushion to the surface of the bone spur, they are unsightly and they can sometimes lead to other types of problems.
Seeking Help
After keeping track of suspected heel spur symptoms for a week or two, it would be advised to speak with a doctor. By taking a simple x-ray, a proper diagnosis could be made. From that point, the individual and doctor could discuss the most beneficial methods of treatment, along with proper steps that should be taken to prevent heel spurs from developing in the future.
For more information on Heel Spur Symptoms, view:
- Heel Spur Symptoms – Understanding, Treatment Methods
- Heel Spur Treatment Aids