Heel spurs are bone growths in the form of a spike or beak on the sole of the heel bone or at the site of attachment of the Achilles tendon. Their treatment is a long process.
Excess weight, diseases of the spine and large joints of the lower extremities, flat feet - all this can provoke the appearance of heel spurs.
The best traditional medicine recipes for heel spurs:
Boil 6-8 potatoes in their jackets, drain the water, crush and dilute with kerosene to a thick, tender puree. Place your heels in this hot puree. Keep it until it cools down (15-20 minutes). Then wipe your feet with a warm, damp cloth, put on woolen socks and go to bed. For some, 3-4 procedures are enough. The largest number of procedures is 12.
For treatment you will need 10 teaspoons of honey, 10 teaspoons of oatmeal and a little patience. We do the procedure at night. Take 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of oatmeal, mix, you get a small cake. We first steam our feet, wipe them dry and apply them to the sore heel. We secure the cake with a bandage, polyethylene and put on socks. We do this 10 times. After the full course the pain will go away.
To prepare a compress, you first need to obtain aloe juice. A plant that is 5 years old is suitable for this purpose. Cut the leaves from the aloe and pass them through a meat grinder. Squeeze the resulting mass through a nylon stocking. For a dose of medicine you need 500 g of this juice. Pour half a liter of pure alcohol into the juice, 5 bottles of valerian infusion (sold at the pharmacy), 10 tablets of analgin and aspirin (tablets should be 0.5 g each, for a different weight, calculate a different dosage) and 2 tablespoons of ground red pepper. Crush the tablets first, otherwise it will be difficult to dissolve them. Mix everything, pour into a 2-liter jar and close the lid tightly. Place the jar in a dark place and let it stand for exactly 2 weeks. When the infusion is ready, apply wet compresses to the spur area at night. Soak the gauze well in the infusion and apply it to the spur, put cellophane on top and secure everything with a bandage, put a sock on top. With regular use of this remedy, the spur will soon resolve.
To get rid of growths, bumps, etc., crush 6 aspirin tablets into powder, dilute them in 50 mg of 5 percent iodine, and apply to sore areas morning and evening. The course of treatment is one month. In order for bumps, growths and spurs to completely resolve, you need to drink silicon-activated water. Use it for cooking, tea, etc. The salts will gradually begin to disappear and your legs will stop bothering you. Also apply lotions to sore areas with a gauze bandage soaked in flint water.
To get rid of this problem, use the following recipe. Spread the cone first with camphor oil and then with iodine (in no case vice versa!). This should be done after steaming and drying your feet. If you carry out this procedure regularly, the bumps will disappear after a while.
First, steam and dry your feet. Then you can make an iodine net on the cones. Then you need to start making compresses from fresh chicken bile; in extreme cases, you can buy medical chicken bile at the pharmacy. Apply compresses every night, moisten the cotton wool and apply to a large area. Wrap it in cellophane, and then with a warm rag, and in a sock. In 1.5-2 months the cones will completely disappear.
In the morning, make a mixture of eggs and honey. Take the yolk of a chicken egg (preferably from a domestic chicken), add 1 tbsp. l. natural honey, grind everything well. Place this mixture in the refrigerator. In the evening, steam your feet, then wipe them dry, make a compress on your heels from this mixture and wrap your feet warmly until the morning. In the morning, remove everything and continue the procedure until the spur resolves. Before applying, warm the mixture slightly in a water bath.
550 mg of distilled water, 0.75 g of salicylic acid, 50 grated baby soap, 500 g of purified turpentine, 100 g of alcohol (96%). The solution is prepared as follows. Distilled water in a container is brought to a boil. Then pour salicylic acid into it, stirring, add 50 g of crushed soap and stir until it is completely dissolved. The hot solution is poured into a bowl with turpentine and then alcohol is added. Mix everything thoroughly. Store the contents in a glass container with a tightly closed lid out of the reach of children. When preparing the solution and using it, avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes. For foot baths, place a basin filled with water in the bath 37
39°C, sometimes up to 40°C, add to it, after shaking well, the emulsion at the rate of 1 ml per 1 liter of water, if tolerated, adjust to 3-4 ml per 1 liter. Baths are done daily for 15 minutes, 12-15 procedures per course. If there are ulcers, abrasions, or irritation on the skin, baths are contraindicated. The use of baths relieves the inflammatory process, and along with it the pain goes away.
A very simple remedy that is applicable only in summer. In the evenings, after soaking your feet, you need to trample on a bunch of stinging nettles thrown on the floor for 30 minutes. 5 sessions are enough.
Pour vinegar essence (70%) into a dark glass bottle halfway. Place 6 dark blades there, broken in half. Wait 1-1.5 months. During this time, the liquid in a tightly closed bottle will turn brown. Moisten a cotton swab with the solution and lubricate the spurs and spines several times a day. Do this until it disappears completely.
Heel spurs can be resolved by adding a pinch of red pepper to the sock, under the heel. Walk with him all day. Relief will soon come.
First, steam your feet in hot water with a small amount of soda added, then apply a small piece of kombucha or simply gauze soaked in kombucha. After 3-4 hours, the gauze dries out and needs to be moistened again. In 10 days you will completely get rid of the spur.
Collect pine shoots with pollen and cones, young spruce cones and forest heather. Dry, chop everything and mix in equal parts. 1 tbsp. pour 1 liter of water into the mixture, bring to a boil and keep on low heat for 10 minutes. Pour hot water into a large basin, add the broth and steam your feet for 20-30 minutes, adding hot water as necessary. Do this at night every other day, take about 10-15 procedures and get rid of heel spurs.
Beat the pulp with a hammer and apply to the problem area overnight. On top there is polyethylene and a bandage. For everything to go away, 3 procedures are often enough.
For heel spurs, compresses are made from lilac tincture. Dried lilac flowers are poured with vodka in a ratio of 1:10. Infuse for 8-10 days in a tightly closed container.
Do the procedure at night. Buy 6 sachets of magnesia at the pharmacy and dissolve in 1 liter of water. Heat the magnesia solution (to about 60°C), pour it into a basin and place your heels in it, steam for about 10 minutes. Then, after wiping your heels dry, apply a compress from the liquid valerian solution to them. Insulate thoroughly (wear warm socks) and do so for the whole night, remove the compress in the morning. 3a 10 procedures you will forget about heel pain, heel spurs will leave you
Spurs are a fairly common disease, especially plaguing older people. Try a proven recipe: take 100 ml of alcohol, 100 g of salt and 10 g of vinegar essence, add water to 3 liters. Heat the water and pour it into the basin. Temperature - so that your feet can tolerate it. Soar your feet until the water cools down. You can store the composition in a tightly sealed glass container. Reusing, reheat, add 1 tbsp. spoon of essence and 1 tbsp of alcohol. You will be cured of spurs in 2 weeks of daily treatments.
In the treatment of plantar fasciitis, several methods of conservative treatment are used, and one of them is the use of medications. Orthopedists recommend the modern drug “Dimexide” for the treatment of heel spurs. This drug is effective, but has several important application features.
Therefore, let's take a closer look at how to treat heel spurs with Dimexide and what are the special properties of the drug. Let's find out what you can combine with, how to properly dilute Dimexide when treating heel spurs, and how effective the use of this medicine is.
"Dimexide" is an extraordinary drug with special properties. It was created in 1867, but it began to be used in medicine 100 years later as a transporter for delivering medications directly to the area of inflammation. To this day, it is used to improve the absorption or “carrying” of drugs through the skin. But a distinctive and important feature of Dimexide is its ability not only to deliver, but also to enhance the effect of tolerated drugs.
When used in its pure form, Dimexide causes skin burns. Therefore, for the treatment of heel spurs, it is used only in dilution with water or other medicinal substances.
The principle of action of the drug is based on the inactivation of hydroxyl radicals and the enhancement of local metabolism in the area of inflammation in osteochondrosis, radiculitis, and thrombophlebitis.
“Dimexide” for heel spurs has multiple effects at the site of inflammation.
"Dimexide" has allergenic properties. When applied topically, it is absorbed into the blood within 8–15 minutes and has a general effect on the body.
When treating heel spurs, several types of compresses based on Dimexide are used. To do this, it is mixed with other medications in ampoules from the group of anesthetics, corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Novocaine or Lidocaine is used as an anesthetic. The hormonal agent “Hydrocortisone” is used in ampoules. These drugs do not penetrate independently to the site of inflammation through the skin, but Dimexide is their conductor.
Attention! When mixed with other medications, Dimexide does not change their properties, but increases the concentration by 8–10 times. Therefore, always follow the dosage.
To treat heel spurs with Dimexide, several complex compress compositions based on it are used.
Procedures are done daily or every other day; the course of treatment requires 10–15 procedures. On the recommendation of orthopedic doctors, compresses are applied once a day. After treatment, patients feel a decrease in pain, increased mobility in the foot and an improvement in well-being. The therapeutic effect is due to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
Before the procedure, the feet are steamed to improve the absorption of medications. Then prepare a solution of Dimexide in a ratio of 1:3. For this, 1 tbsp. l. concentrate is mixed with 3 tbsp. l. chilled boiled water.
steam your feet before the compress
It is recommended to follow the following rules.
The compress is made as follows:
"Dimexide" has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. But in case of severe pain, non-steroidal gels or ointments are used together with it to achieve a more pronounced effect.
The procedure is performed as follows:
It is recommended to do 10–15 procedures per course of treatment. Before applying the compress, it is recommended to steam your leg to enhance the absorption of medicinal substances.
Some patients with heel spurs do not tolerate the liquid concentrate or its smell. An alternative dosage form is “Dimexide” gel, which is also effective in treating heel spurs. It is only important to know how to use it correctly.
The gel compress is performed as follows:
Simply rubbing in the Dimexide gel will also have a healing effect:
The procedure is done 2 times a day for 10–15 days. Although the drug does not accumulate, a repeated course of rubbing is recommended no earlier than after 10 days. Before using the gel, the foot should be steamed in hot water to improve absorption.
For all its advantages, Dimexide has disadvantages in the form of side effects:
burn from improper use of Dimexide
If the medication is used incorrectly or is overexposed, a chemical burn occurs at the site of exposure. But even when used correctly, Dimexide causes allergic reactions, and this property should be taken into account by sensitive people. Therefore, before use, it is recommended to test for individual tolerance. To do this, apply Dimexide gel to the inner surface of the shoulder and wait 15 minutes. If no rash, itching or redness appears, the product can be used. If a rash or difficulty breathing occurs, rinse immediately with cold running water without using your hands or a washcloth.
To avoid side effects, rheumatologist P.V. Evdokimenko, the author of several books and many articles in medical journals, gives the following recommendations when treating heel spurs with Dimexide at home.
For successful treatment, it is important to know how long you should keep the compress with Dimexide. Unlike other drugs, it is left on for 25–30 minutes. Longer exposure may cause a burn instead of the help that Dimexide actually provides when used wisely.
"Dimexide" has contraindications for external use. Not all patients can use this remedy. It cannot be used in the following cases:
So, the drug "Dimexide" justifies itself in the treatment of heel spurs. The drug concentrate is used diluted for compresses. In case of severe pain syndrome, Dimexide is mixed with anesthetics and antiseptics. To enhance the therapeutic effect, non-steroidal ointments and gels are used before the compress. The drug has allergenic properties, and after absorption it increases the concentration of nitroglycerin, insulin and a number of other drugs. Before using Dimexide, it is recommended to do a sensitivity test.
A heel spur is a bony outgrowth where a tendon attaches to the heel bone. The disease is characterized by painful sensations in the sole area, especially when walking.
A heel spur (ostiophyte) is a bony growth ( osteophyte ) on the plantar surface of the heel bone. This growth acts as a thorn and compresses the soft tissues of the foot - hence the characteristic excruciating pain .
The sizes of heel spurs can vary - from 3-4 to 12 millimeters. The sharp end of the spur is usually directed towards the fingers and slightly curved upward.
It is believed that a heel spur appears as a result of high load on the heel area (with flat feet), with age-related changes as a consequence of injury, rheumatism, vascular or neurodystrophic disorders. Often this is accompanied by inflammation of the mucous bursae (subcalcaneal bursitis, achylobursitis) and inflammation of the fascia - the muscle tissue of the sole (fasciitis).
The fascia is subjected to enormous stress every day, because every step affects it. When the fascia is damaged, an inflammatory process may occur. And the result of its development is a heel spur .
Even at the beginning of the 20th century, the disease was much less common and in most cases was associated with injuries, and not with flat feet or excess weight. In the modern world, heel spurs are a very common disease. In 80% of cases it affects women, and three quarters of them are urban residents.
Heel spurs can appear on one or both heels. It can occur at any age; in older people, heel spurs are often caused by age-related changes. And at a young age, the disease is provoked by significant stress on the feet and playing sports with too intense training.
The first sign of a heel spur is pain in the heel when placing weight on it. The first steps in the morning after getting out of bed, after a long break in movement, are especially painful - the so-called “starting pain”. During the day, the pain when walking subsides a little, but in the evening it intensifies again.
The pain can be only on the inside of the heel or spread to its entire surface. The pain can be burning, sharp, and is often described as “a feeling of a nail in the heel.” Therefore, a person involuntarily tries to unload the heel, and this affects the gait. And if heel spurs on both feet, walking becomes especially difficult.
In 93% of cases with a heel spur, a disturbance in the nature of gait is noticeable. Shifting the center of gravity from the heel area to the forefoot and outer edge of the foot causes improper weight distribution and can lead to the development of transverse flatfoot. Upon visual examination, as a rule, pathological changes in the heel area are invisible. Pressing on the tubercle of the calcaneus from the side of the sole and squeezing the heel from the sides causes characteristic pain.
People who are overweight are predisposed to developing heel spurs Diseases of the spine and large joints of the lower extremities, flat feet shift the normal distribution of body weight over the surface of the foot and also increase the risk of developing heel spurs. Athletes involved in athletics and long running also experience significant stress on their feet and are susceptible to illness.
An additional factor that increases pain with a heel spur is the thinning of the layer of subcutaneous fat in the heel. This layer acts as a natural shock absorber when walking.
Typically, pain appears in the heel area, which intensifies when walking. Sometimes the pain becomes so sudden and sharp, as if a nail was driven into the heel. The pain is especially severe in the morning when getting out of bed.
At the same time, if your feet hurt in the heel area, this does not mean that you have a heel spur . To clarify the diagnosis, it is better to consult a surgeon or orthopedist. First of all, you need to exclude other diseases that also cause pain in the heel - rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter's syndrome and ankylosing spondylitis. These diseases are detected using a biochemical blood test - rheumatoid factors are detected in it.
The presence and size of a bone growth (actually a spur ) is determined on an x-ray. But the intensity of pain depends not only on the size of the spur, but also on the sensitivity of the tissue.
Often, large spurs do not cause significant discomfort, but those invisible on an x-ray cause excruciating pain . Therefore, to clarify the data, it is recommended to supplement x-rays with ultrasound.
In 25% of cases, a heel spur leads to partial loss of mobility. In case of severe pain, bed rest or gentle working conditions may be prescribed. But leading a normal life with a heel spur becomes difficult. Especially dramatic changes await those who played sports and led an active lifestyle. In conditions where every step is painful, it is difficult to maintain the same rhythm.
to prevent the appearance of heel spurs . To do this, you need to do everything possible to prevent wear and tear of the heel bone, flat feet and inflammation in the soft tissues of the feet.
For those who are overweight, it is better to take care of losing it - this will reduce the load on the feet. It is useful to do foot massage and leg exercises, and to walk barefoot on grass and sand more often - this improves blood supply to the feet and prevents the development of foot diseases.
Comfortable shoes that do not injure your feet also play an important role in preventing the disease. It is best to wear shoes with low (3-4 cm) heels that do not squeeze or injure the feet. High heels when worn regularly increase the risk of developing heel spurs. But the complete absence of a heel has a negative impact on the condition of the feet.
It is not recommended to wear sandals without a backdrop - in them the arch of the foot is constantly tense. These shoes are suitable for short-term wear, but for everyday use it is better to choose one that fits firmly on the foot. It is also not recommended to wear shoes with narrow toes.
Currently, the treatment of heel spurs consists of providing relief using various types of insoles and heel pads, physiotherapeutic complex treatment: mud applications, ultrasound therapy, mineral baths, local administration of corticosteroids, radiotherapy, and if there is no effect, surgical treatment - surgical removal of the bone outgrowth and excision changed tissues.
They try to resort to surgery extremely rarely, in severe and advanced cases. It is important to understand that surgery does not eliminate the causes of the disease, but only makes it possible to get rid of its manifestations. Subsequently, the recurrence of heel spurs is very likely.
Treatment with folk remedies requires quite a long time - from 2 to 6 weeks.
Physiotherapeutic treatment methods play a major role in the treatment of heel spurs. Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to massage a heel spur and how effective it will be. Doctors recommend this treatment method with great confidence. To carry it out, you can contact a professional massage therapist, but you can also master the art of performing the procedure at home.
The question of how effective massage is for heel spurs is a matter of debate in the medical world. Some traumatologists are of the opinion that with such a disease the foot should be at rest. However, most experts agree that the use of massage is a mandatory procedure. Treatment of heel spurs with massage allows you to:
The procedure may include massage of just the heel or the entire foot and lower leg. A complex effect on pain points has a more effective effect and promotes rapid relief from the disease.
It is almost impossible to massage yourself, since the procedure requires certain manipulations with the foot. The first foot massage for heel spurs should be performed in a massage room. If for some reason the patient cannot regularly visit a specialist, you should remember the main techniques and carry them out at home.
Since the patient experiences severe pain during the massage, it is necessary to create in advance the most comfortable conditions for the procedure. The most comfortable position is to place the leg being massaged on the massage therapist’s knees. To make the procedure less painful, before starting it, it is recommended to relieve inflammation and warm the tissues with various drugs, for example, Fastum-gel. In order to relax the leg, take warm baths using essential oils or salt.
Heel massage for heel spurs is carried out with the thumbs. Pressing movements are applied until a characteristic crunch occurs. Simultaneous action on the ossified process is also necessary. The course consists of 10 sessions.
Massage for heel spurs at home involves the use of several techniques. The heel is massaged on both sides with fists, circular movements are made with the pads of the fingers, the heel is pinched, making movements from bottom to top. It is recommended to take breaks for several minutes between pressing the heel. During these periods, the patient is allowed to rest and relaxing stroking of the lower leg and foot is performed.
Then they move on to the second stage. This is a foot massage for heel spurs. When carrying out this procedure, you must follow the following scheme:
Sessions for massaging the lower leg and foot are carried out daily for 10 days.
To consolidate the positive results of the massage, after it is carried out, it is necessary to apply a compress to the sore spot. It is usually left for several hours or overnight. For a compress, use grated garlic, sea salt with honey, and raw grated potatoes. The mixture is applied to the heel, the leg is wrapped in cellophane and secured with a warm bandage.
To relieve the load on the foot, special insoles or heel pads are recommended.
For treatment and prevention, a heel spur massager is prescribed. One of the best devices is the OsisuPlato foot massager. With its help, you can not only eliminate the pain caused by a heel spur, but also prevent the occurrence of other orthopedic diseases: flat feet or varicose veins. Before using the massager, you must consult a doctor.
In some cases, a gentle massage is prescribed. Its main goal is to relax the tissues surrounding the ossified spine and relieve their inflammation. Massage movements increase blood circulation and make the sore foot more mobile and able to withstand stress. A gentle massage is practically not accompanied by pain, but also does not destroy the ossified spine. Therefore, it can only be considered as a temporary measure.
The effect of massage will be more effective if it is supplemented with therapeutic exercises. Exercises strengthen the muscles and arches of the feet. So, with a heel spur, it is recommended to roll a rolling pin or an ear of corn with your foot on the floor, walk barefoot on a massage mat or pebble beach, rearrange objects by grabbing them with your toes. Before rolling the rolling pin, you can intensively rub your foot on a woolen surface (for example, a felt boot). Under no circumstances should you hit your heels with a rolling pin. This can only increase pain and even damage the tendon.
There are a number of cases when heel massage can be not only ineffective, but even harmful. The procedure is undesirable if there are open wounds on the foot. In the presence of malignant tumors, massage is prohibited. Increased blood supply to tissues can lead to intensive proliferation of cancer cells.
Other contraindications are:
Massage of heels and feet for heel spurs will be an effective method of treatment in combination with drug therapy, feasible exercise therapy, and the use of therapeutic orthopedic insoles.
The first thing you need to do is decide to see a doctor.
When heel pain occurs, we often do not pay attention to it at first, attributing it to fatigue or increased physical activity. However, such pain can be a sign of a heel spur, which, in turn, can be a symptom of other dangerous diseases:
While you can still judge for yourself whether you are obese, other diseases often do not have other symptoms. Therefore, seeing a doctor for a heel spur is the first and mandatory stage of treatment.
In the case of a heel spur, self-medication and treatment with traditional methods will not only be useless, but even harmful. Only a poorly educated person would believe that treatment with burdock leaves or, worse, burning the heels with vinegar, or even hitting the heel with a heavy object can crush the spur. As long as you make baths with herbs or compresses with soda, the heel spur will only grow and injure the plantar fascia more and more, the pain will only grow, and inflammation will develop. Today, the level of development of medicine makes it possible to quickly and for not very much money cure a spur on the heel, avoiding injuries and the terrible consequences of self-treatment.
Since the main cause of heel spurs is plantar fasciitis, i.e. inflammation, then you need to contact a rheumatologist, he is the one who deals with inflammatory diseases of the joints, bones, and connective fluids. In the absence of a rheumatologist in the clinic, a surgeon will do.
Choosing a clinic is a separate item in the “plan”. Today, many private medical institutions have appeared where they promise to cure heel spurs in 1-2 sessions of physical therapy or, on the contrary, immediately insist on surgical intervention. Such clinics should be immediately crossed off the list: treatment will take at least a month, and in most cases, patients with heel spurs benefit from conservative treatment - without surgery. It is also necessary to carefully check the clinic for a license, study reviews of real patients, make sure that the clinic did not open yesterday and that the doctors have experience in this medical field.
A consultation with a rheumatologist will help diagnose your heel spur - usually a verbal description of the symptoms and a contact examination is sufficient for the doctor. However, sometimes to exclude other diseases and clearly localize the inflammation, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the heel or an x-ray. Please note that examination and consultation with a doctor are required for physiotherapeutic treatment! Without them, you cannot start such types of therapy as shock wave or electrophoresis: you need to make sure that there are no contraindications.
If during the examination it turns out that a heel spur is a symptom of some other disease, then you need to consult another doctor in a specific specialization: an endocrinologist, nutritionist, orthopedist, chiropractor. It is possible that before prescribing treatment you will need to consult a neurologist, immunologist, cardiologist, or gynecologist (as some treatment methods have a number of contraindications and side effects).
Your doctor should prescribe treatment for you, depending on the nature of your disease and the characteristics of your body. Of course, to relieve pain, you can buy pain-relieving cream or ointment or tablets yourself, or go to an orthopedic salon and choose insoles, heel pads or shoes there. But nothing more. In addition, overusing painkillers is very dangerous: they negatively affect the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system. However, they still do not eliminate the cause of the heel spur, but only temporarily relieve the pain syndrome. Orthopedic shoes and insoles will also be more beneficial if your doctor prescribes them for you.
Any doctor will most likely advise you on home methods such as massage, baths and heating. They really should be done regularly at home; they will give their effect in complex treatment.
In addition, the doctor will definitely give you recommendations on following a special diet to remove salts from the body and restore the acid-base balance (drink more fluids, especially water, eat more vegetables and fruits, exclude salty, fried, smoked, sweet foods).
Depending on the severity of the inflammation, the doctor may prescribe you a night orthosis (brace) - a brace that holds your leg at night in a 90-degree position - as when walking. Due to this, the plantar fascia does not contract, heals properly, and you do not re-injure it every time you get out of bed.
Methods of hardware therapy are usually offered to choose from (or those that can be performed by the clinic):
If complex therapy methods do not have the desired effect and the patient still suffers from unbearable pain, the doctor may prescribe glucocorticosteroid blockades. These heel injections are very painful in themselves, but they effectively block the pain.
The rarest option is when complex therapy, despite following all the doctor’s recommendations, does not have an effect. In this case, the doctor may prescribe surgical removal of the spur. However, if the cause of its occurrence is not eliminated, the spur may grow again.
Even if the spur no longer hurts, you must continue to wear orthopedic shoes and insoles, follow the recommended diet, and limit physical activity. Flat feet and metabolic disorders are the main causes of heel spurs. To prevent it from growing back, you need to monitor your general health.
A heel spur is a spike-shaped bone growth on the foot that causes pain and discomfort. Its formation is caused by the occurrence of inflammatory and degenerative processes at the junction of the fascia with the heel bone or the deposition of salts.
There can be several reasons for the development of heel spurs, the most common of which are:
The main symptom of the formation of a heel spur is acute, burning pain in the heel area, which is especially acute in the morning or after a long stay on your feet in motion. The pain is especially acute when pressing on the heel. As a result of deformation and pain, the gait changes, which can provoke the development of problems with posture or curvature of the spine, so you should not delay the treatment of the disease.
In order to make sure that it is the heel spur that is bothering you, you should contact a medical institution, where an x-ray will be taken, and, if necessary, an ultrasound examination of the foot. Treatment is prescribed by the doctor, based on the complexity of the particular case and the individual characteristics of the patient. Often, along with traditional medicine methods, folk medicine is used, but it is extremely important to coordinate this with the doctor in order to avoid complications, quickly get rid of pain and regain the opportunity to live a full life.
In order to get rid of heel spurs, you must first of all change your life habits a little and eliminate the reasons that led to such a serious condition. Doctors recommend starting small and first of all following the following recommendations:
Having contacted a medical institution and undergone all the necessary diagnostic procedures and tests, the doctor will prescribe treatment that is aimed at reducing pain, relieving inflammation, restoring elasticity and normal condition of the fascia. The main medications for treating heel spurs include:
Along with the use of medications, physiotherapeutic procedures are actively used, which are very effective in combating heel spurs and helping to get rid of them. The most common procedures include:
Shock radiation therapy is a medical procedure that helps get rid of painful sensations by exposing bone growths to ultrasonic waves of different frequencies. This procedure is very effective, virtually painless and can be performed without hospitalization. Shock radiation therapy should be abandoned if at least one of the following factors is present: pregnancy; the presence of infectious diseases or diseases of the central nervous system; disruption of the cardiovascular system.
Despite the active development of medicine and the emergence of various kinds of drugs that help get rid of a number of diseases, traditional methods are still actively used to treat various ailments, including to get rid of heel spurs. The following effective means are especially popular:
Regardless of the chosen method of traditional medicine, before starting self-medication, you should first consult with your doctor. If after several procedures there is no relief, you should contact a medical facility and begin drug treatment and physiotherapeutic procedures. You can achieve a complete recovery in a short time using all the methods in combination and following the doctors’ instructions as accurately as possible.
In order to prevent a relapse of the disease or never experience the pain and all the troubles associated with a heel spur in the future, you should follow some safety measures:
A heel spur always causes a lot of pain, discomfort and inconvenience, so it is important to start treatment on time, which will help get rid of the disease and return to a normal, fulfilling life. Which option to choose, traditional or traditional medicine, is a subjective question and everyone decides for themselves, based on the individual sensation and reaction of the body to this or that therapy.
A diet for heel spurs is an important component of the course of treatment, aimed at reducing the inflammatory process in bone tissue that occurs when there is increased acidity in the body. Also, treating spurs involves getting rid of excess salts.
It is known about the benefits of vitamins for the functioning of internal organs, but only a few know about helping in the fight against heel spurs. Vitamins are necessary to maintain normal connective tissues, bones, and muscles that support the skeleton of the foot. They regulate metabolism, which is important for getting rid of excess acidity and salts.
Let us highlight which vitamins should be given special attention:
B1 improves the condition of nerve fibers, increasing metabolism in nerves and cartilage, speeds up protein metabolism, and strengthens the immune system. Contained in soybeans, yeast, oatmeal, animal liver and kidneys, and green peas.
B2 makes cartilage more elastic, promotes their healing after injury, and relieves inflammation. Contained in pine nuts, liver, almonds, champignons, forest mushrooms. The vitamin is destroyed by cooking in an open container with adding water, prolonged exposure to light (about half a day) - put the food in the refrigerator, or taking medications if the composition contains boric acid.
B6 has a general strengthening effect on the human body. Keeps muscles toned, relieves inflammation, fatigue, and prevents you from over-relaxing. Contained in pine nuts. Found in regular first-grade flour, beans, animal livers, and sunflower seeds.
B12 normalizes the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the human body. Prevents the development of inflammatory processes. Contained in the liver and meat of animals, seafood (especially fish), eggs, sour cream.
To maintain normal bone tissue, not to provoke the development of inflammatory processes, problems with motor activity, enrich the body with vitamins.
In addition to vitamins, minerals play an important role in the formation and maintenance of the human skeleton. A diet for heel spurs involves their consumption.
Zinc is responsible for the development of bone tissue and has an immunostimulating effect, which is important when fighting spurs that develop against the background of infection and inflammation. Pumpkin seeds, seafood, beef, rabbit, chicken, eggs, nuts, and legumes are rich in zinc.
Magnesium controls calcium levels in the body and is responsible for its distribution throughout the body. Promotes bone growth and strength; in case of excess calcium, it prevents its accumulation in the kidneys and gall bladder. Various types of nuts, buckwheat, seaweed, barley, beans, and peas are rich in it.
Phosphorus, like magnesium, is responsible for the absorption of calcium and saturation of bone tissue with it. Present in legumes, milk, cottage cheese, meat, fish, nuts, eggs.
Calcium is important for bones and is their basis. Strong bones are less susceptible to deformation and the risk of heel spurs is reduced. Calcium must be supplied in a volume twice as large as magnesium and phosphorus in order to be well absorbed. The mineral is found in dairy products, eggs, fish, buckwheat, greens, fruits and dried fruits. Coffee, alcohol, tea, sugar, simple carbohydrates, fatty foods interfere with the absorption of calcium - limit their consumption.
Minerals play no less a role in the fight against heel spurs and in preventing its development than vitamins.
Muscles play an important role in maintaining the normal condition of the feet and preventing their deformation. If a large load is placed on the legs, the muscles protect the bone tissue. The basis of muscle structure is considered to be protein, consisting of amino acids. Saturation of the body with them allows you to strengthen muscles, build them up if necessary, and burn unnecessary fat mass, which creates a load on the lower extremities.
Amino acids play an important role:
The nutrition of a person suffering from heel spurs is aimed at reducing salts in the joints. They accumulate due to excessive consumption of protein foods, especially of animal origin. You need to eat it in small quantities, maintaining normal muscle condition. Food preparation must be correct: do not fry, do not add sauces, do not add too much salt and sugar.
Food products are divided into three groups:
Buckwheat is used to remove salts from the body. For five days, use it in the morning, start preparing it in the evening: you need to pour two tablespoons of cereal into a glass of kefir, let it brew overnight.
There is a delicious recipe for getting rid of salts: mix a glass of orange juice with half a glass of lemon juice. This cocktail should be drunk at night. Drinking pumpkin juice daily helps get rid of salts.
Clears joints of accumulated salts. A glass of rice (unpeeled) is poured with water and allowed to soak for three days. Then filter, boil in two glasses of water (without adding salt, sugar, spices, fat). Cook until the water boils away.
Divide the resulting portion into four equal parts and eat at equal intervals. There's nothing else to eat all day. In addition to rice, drink rosehip decoction (1 glass). Before eating rice, drink half a glass of water. The next day, eat half a kilo of beets and apples.
Take a break for 3-4 days. Then eat rice all day again. Eat this way until you feel an improvement in the functioning of your joints, ease when bending, the crunching when doing exercises goes away, and the pain when walking decreases.
It is important not only what we eat, but also how we do it. In order for protein foods to be better digested without causing an accumulation of salts in the body, you need to chew them thoroughly and slowly. Do not drink water, tea or other liquid immediately after eating. It is better to do this within 20 minutes. before meals or an hour and a half after. The intake of animal proteins should fall at lunchtime, when the body requires strength and energy; you should not eat such food at night. A person should eat at least five times a day (as required by the body) in small portions, the main thing is not to overeat.
Nutrition plays an important role in the fight against bone diseases, including heel spurs. There are nuances: on the one hand, you cannot refuse foods that are a storehouse of vitamins, microelements, amino acids, on the other hand, they retain salts in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to create an individual diet, depending on the causes of the spur.