Heel Spurs

About 15% of Americans will develop heel spurs at some point in life. When you can’t manage the pain and inflammation heel spurs cause, you can find help at Mayfair Foot Care. Skilled podiatrists Edward Buro, DPM, Christine Peterson, DPM, and Rosario Saccomanno, DPM, use advanced imaging technologies to confirm you have heel spurs. They also customize a treatment plan using nonsurgical treatments to relieve heel pain and restore mobility. Call the Commack, New York, office to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for heel spurs or book an appointment online today.

What are heel spurs?

Heel spurs are overgrowths of bone that stick out from your heel. Spurs develop when there’s too much stress on the ligaments (plantar fascia) that connect your heel and the ball of your foot.

The excess bone can irritate or inflame surrounding nerves, leading to pain and difficulty walking. Typically, heel spurs develop gradually, and you may not know you have them until you experience persistent pain in your heel.

Stress can occur from running, playing sports, or other high-impact activities. You can also develop heel spurs because of traumatic injuries.

Mayfair Foot Care offers diagnostic evaluations and treatment services for heel spurs. The providers customize a care plan to alleviate your symptoms, so you can stay pain-free and physically active.

When should I seek medical attention for heel spurs?

You should schedule an evaluation at Mayfair Foot Care if you have heel pain that doesn’t get better with rest, ice therapy, and over-the-counter pain relievers. You should also seek medical attention if your heel pain worsens, even with home care.

In addition to the pain from heel spurs, you can also develop heel pain if you stretch or tear the plantar fascia, a condition known as plantar fasciitis. The providers perform a physical exam and may request X-rays of your foot to determine the source of your heel pain.

Based on the results of your tests, the Mayfair Foot Care specialists customize a care plan to help you feel better.

How are heel supports treated?

Whether you have heel pain from heel spurs or plantar fasciitis, the Mayfield Foot Care providers use the same treatment strategies to ease your pain. They focus on nonsurgical strategies to reduce pain and inflammation around your heel, such as:

• Icing
• Night splints
• Physical therapy 
• Stretching exercises
• Anti-inflammatories
• Shoe inserts and other orthotics
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

If oral medications aren’t working well, the providers can inject medications directly into your heel.

If nonsurgical treatments aren’t enough to relieve persistent heel pain, you may need surgery to repair weakened and torn ligaments or remove bone fragments that press on nearby nerves.

Call Mayfair Foot Care to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for heel spurs or book an appointment online today.