The main reasons for the development of heel spurs are flat feet, physical overload, excess weight, improper shoes and joint diseases. There are several types of treatment for plantar fasciitis, but what about nutrition, is it necessary to adhere to some kind of diet while treating a heel spur?
Let's find out what nutrition is needed for heel spurs. What is the diet used for joint pain? Let's look at how proper nutrition affects the course of plantar fasciitis.
As such, there is no special diet for heel spurs, since there is no therapeutic nutrition for flat feet and excessive physical stress on the legs. But the diet must be followed in the treatment of underlying diseases that cause the formation of heel spurs - gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteochondrosis and arthrosis. It is not possible to defeat these diseases without a special diet.
All textbooks on joint diseases propose the classic diet No. 6. In a modern interpretation, this diet is presented by academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, rheumatologist P.V. Evdokimenko. The author has published more than 10 books on the treatment of diseases of the joints and spine together with consultant nutritionist Yu. O. Bastrigina.
Proper nutrition for heel spurs is aimed at treating the underlying disease. The purpose of the therapeutic effect of the diet:
The diet to achieve these goals includes the following ratio of nutrients:
Recommended! In addition to a proper diet, you need to drink 2-3 liters of water a day to preserve calcium in the bones and remove salts from the body. Tea and coffee are not a substitute for water.
This recommendation should be followed depending on the state of the cardiovascular and genitourinary systems. In case of hypertension, heart and kidney failure, salts are removed with a low water load. To do this, drink 0.5 liters of alkaline mineral water per day.
Now let’s look at what diet for heel spurs promotes the dissolution and removal of salts, and also replenishes the bones with calcium. Such nutrition will be useful if the heel spur is caused by gout, arthritis, osteochondrosis or due to excess weight.
The diet for heel spurs is varied, the menu consists of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Patients with plantar fasciitis, osteochondrosis and rheumatoid arthritis can include sweets, honey, preserves, jellies, preserves and all kinds of nuts in their diet.
First of all, you should limit dietary salt in your diet, because it overloads the kidneys and promotes the accumulation of uric acid in tissues. It is recommended to exclude the following foods from your diet if you have a heel spur.
It is not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages. Red wine, beer and cognac provoke gout attacks. The heel spur diet does not contain many restrictions, but you should not overeat. This leads to the deposition of salts of organic acids in the ligaments of the joints and the spine.
To dissolve uric acid salts, which are deposited in the joints, it is necessary to periodically alkalize the internal environment of the body by drinking mineral waters, such as Smirnovskaya, Slavyanovskaya and Borjomi. The diet recommends taking mineral water in courses of 1 month, 2 times a year. If the acidity of the gastric juice is low, mineral waters are taken warmed through a bottle 20–30 minutes before meals. For hypersecretion of the stomach, drink it an hour, and for normocidal gastritis, drink it 45 minutes before meals. A course of treatment with mineral waters maintains an alkaline environment in the body, and this dissolves urates in the urine and salts of organic acids in the joints and fascia.
To dissolve salts in the body, the diet includes drinking plenty of water - rosehip decoction, green tea with milk or chicory and coriander.
To prepare a drink from dry rosehip you need:
Honey is added to rosehip tea for taste and benefits. Such an enriched drink expels salts from the kidneys and joints, and also improves immunity, and this is very important for eliminating inflammation of the plantar fascia and joints. Take 1 glass of this tea throughout the day. In the diet, it is recommended to use a course of treatment with rose hips for 1 month, after which it is taken whenever your heart desires.
Natural freshly squeezed juices are of great benefit in nutrition for heel spurs. But it is recommended to take them immediately after spinning, because the vitamins are destroyed within 20 minutes. The only juice that can withstand storage in the refrigerator is beet juice. Juices increase immunity, accelerate metabolic processes, due to which inflammation of the plantar fascia resolves faster. In addition, they remove uric acid salts from the joints and spine.
It is recommended to include fasting days once a week in the diet for heel spurs. The watermelon diet is ideal for removing salts and shifting the pH of the blood to the alkaline side. Watermelon has a strong diuretic effect. Its life-giving moisture dissolves salts of organic acids and removes them along with toxins. The impact of the constituent elements of watermelon on the human body:
In addition to alkalizing the blood and removing salts, watermelon promotes weight loss. Let us remember that excess weight is a common cause of heel spurs. This diet is used with black bread to replenish calories. It should be taken into account that you can consume 1 kg of watermelon per 10 kg of human body weight per day. Due to the high water load, the watermelon diet is contraindicated for certain diseases:
To remove salts and shift the blood to the alkaline side, a cucumber fasting diet is also used. It is recommended to eat 2 kg of cucumbers between breakfast and dinner. This vegetable should be present in the diet of patients with musculoskeletal problems, not only on fasting days, but every day. Cucumber salads can be varied by adding crushed walnuts, dill and dry cilantro. Okroshka is made from cucumbers with kefir, adding fresh dill and mint. For fast food, cucumbers are used in the form of a salad with sour cream and herbs, or with butter, sprinkled with squeezed lemon juice. A cucumber fasting diet for heel spurs also promotes weight loss, but it is contraindicated in patients with the following diseases:
It is recommended to alternate food products on fasting days. Such a diet, even once a week, will free the ligaments of the joints from accumulated uric acid salts and dissolve urates in the kidneys. Between fasting days, it is recommended to drink alkaline or bottled water daily.
To summarize the topic of nutrition, let us emphasize the main thoughts. Without following a rational diet, it is impossible to eliminate the cause of the disease - gout, arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as excess weight, which cause heel spurs. In addition to proper nutrition, it is recommended to drink 2-3 liters of water daily. It is recommended to drink mineral alkaline water periodically in courses. Consume homemade juices and various types of tea in your diet every day. A rational diet for heel spurs will not only relieve excess weight, but will also promote recovery.
Vitafon is used to accelerate the resorption of heel spurs and prevent degradation of the tendon ligament. The biophysical effects used in the development of Vitafon help the body cope with the problem in 2-3 weeks. It is well known that all metabolic immune and regenerative processes require the movement of substances and cells into the interaction zone. This is a very energy-intensive biophysical process, which requires the energy of mechanical micro-oscillations. In the field of pathology, the need for such energy increases many times, and the body’s own generation of microvibration, on the contrary, weakens for a number of reasons. “Vitafon” acts on mechanical microvibrations that are natural and vital for the body, which ensures the high efficiency and safety of this method of therapy.
Why does a heel spur form?
A heel spur occurs in the area where the tendon ligament attaches. When the muscular system of the body weakens, a traumatic load occurs on the heel area. Depending on the nature of the gait, the shoes worn and lifestyle, most of the load may fall on the tendon ligament. Where the tendon ligament attaches to the bone, cells begin to die more frequently and accumulate, forming calcium deposits commonly called a “heel spur.” Since dead bone cells contain a lot of calcium, these accumulations are sometimes mistakenly called “calcium deposits.”
Why and when does pain occur?
When too many dead cells accumulate, the body begins a recovery process similar to immune inflammation. As the heel spur resolves through the surrounding soft tissue, the body increases interstitial pressure to increase the influx of immune cells and ensure their more active passage through the tissue. As a result, the pain intensifies even with light exertion. In this case, increased pain also leads to a reflex limitation of the traumatic load on the heel area, which helps to inhibit the development of pathology. For this reason, painkillers are not recommended.
How does Vitafon help the body?
Pain can be reduced, and the resorption of heel spurs can be accelerated by saturating the pathological area with biological microvibration. Thanks to the biophysical effects of microvibration, immune cells move through tissue faster and more actively with less tissue pressure. As a result, the pain decreases and the spur resolves faster. The procedure for saturating a pathological area with microvibration is called phonation and is performed independently at home. To reduce the traumatic load on the tendon and prevent the disease, the kidney area is additionally phonated. Thanks to the biophysical effects of mechanical microvibrations, phonation improves kidney function in eliminating uric acid and maintaining blood electrolyte composition (PH). This has a beneficial effect on the entire body: energy restoration of muscle cells occurs, neuromuscular damping of joints improves, smoothness of gait improves and the load on the tendon ligament ceases to be traumatic.
Could it happen that Vitafon will not help?
With a heel spur, Vitafon helps everyone, the difference is in the number of procedures that need to be performed until the pain disappears and the tissue is restored. Since we recommend having at least one Vitafon in your home medicine cabinet, the result will depend on the availability of time for the procedures, the amount of calcium formation and the degree of degradation of the tendon ligament.
Can Vitafon be used together with other treatments?
The use of Vitafon combines well with all methods of therapy, however, as a rule, there is no need for them in the treatment of heel spurs. It should be taken into account that the sum of methods is not the sum of results.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or ESWT, is widely used today. In this case, the calcium formation is rapidly destroyed, but the cause of the formation of the spur is not eliminated, and the crushed remains require subsequent removal through soft tissues. A powerful shock wave can cause not only the destruction of the “calcium deposit”, but also damage other bone cells and tendon ligament cells. Therefore, after ESWT, the use of Vitafon will speed up the process of final resorption of residues and tissue restoration. In addition, pain in the heel is not always associated with the formation of calcium deposits.
Medicines used in the medical treatment of heel spurs can be in the form of tablets, gels and ointments. When rubbing in gels and ointments, there is no clear answer as to what is more effective, the fact of rubbing in or the active substance itself. After all, the penetration of substances through the skin is greatly limited. At the same time, proper rubbing creates microvibration in the tissues, which is very useful for resolving heel spurs.
Can Vitafon harm your health?
“Vitafon” cannot in principle harm health, since it affects the same microvibration as that formed in tissues at maximum muscle tension. By performing the procedure, we give the body a natural, pure biophysical resource of mechanical microvibrations. Over the 20 years of using Vitafon, there has not been a single case of harm to health.
Is there a risk of using Vitafon incorrectly?
The delivery package for each Vitafon model includes instructions for use and phonation techniques. They describe in detail the areas of exposure, exposure time and operating modes of the device. The devices are very easy to use; in fact, they are designed for independent use without special training. In addition, you can always get free advice on the use of the device by phone or email, which are listed in the “Contacts” section.
Are there any contraindications for using Vitafon?
Vitafon is not recommended for use in the area of malignant neoplasms, acute infectious diseases, or at body temperatures above 38.5 degrees. Since the microvibration from the vibraphone extends no more than 10 cm, the Vitafon can be used outside the area of contraindications, and this can be very beneficial for the body. All contraindications are described in detail in the instructions for use of the devices, as well as in the brochure “Basic principles of compiling phonation techniques” (PDF file at the end of the article).
Is it possible to reduce the time of procedures?
Typically, the procedure, called “phonation,” lasts about half an hour. Several areas are phonated during one procedure. “Vitafon” replenishes the deficiency of a vital resource of the body, and if the replenishment is insufficient, the effect will be reduced. However, the time of one procedure can be reduced by increasing the number of procedures per week or by using two devices. Typically, the vibraphones of one device are installed on the kidney area for the entire duration of the procedure, and the second device alternately vibrates the heel area, lymph nodes and, if necessary, other areas.
What if the attending physician does not know about the effectiveness of the phonation method?
From a commercial point of view, Vitafon is beneficial only for the patient; he buys the device once, uses it for many years, gets sick less, and visits the doctor less often. The high effectiveness of treatment at home and an affordable price, ease and safety of use, the absence of side and harmful effects make the device very attractive for a home medicine cabinet, but does not generate income for a medical institution. Therefore, Vitafon is usually prescribed only when other methods have not given the desired result. If the attending physician does not know about the effectiveness of the phonation method, then he can read the publications in the journal “Doctor” in issues No. 7, 10, 12 for 2014 and No. 1 for 2015.
How much does Vitafon cost and which model should I choose?
We produce 5 models of devices registered with Roszdravnadzor as medical devices. For the treatment of heel spurs, the following models are usually used: “Vitafon” or “Vitafon-T”. The price of the devices depends on the number of vibraphones with which phonation is performed. The minimum price of the simplest Vitafon device is about 4,000 rubles, and the most expensive is about 26 thousand rubles. as of 2017. When treating heel spurs, the Vitafon or Vitafon-T device is sufficient. If the device is used in a family, then the optimal option is Vitafon-T.
Note: The article summarizes data from 45 reports on clinical studies carried out at the Military Medical Academy, MAPO, MONIKI, MMA, MMSI, RosNIDOI, St. Petersburg State Medical Academy, TsNIRR, reports of 4 scientific and practical conferences “Vibroacoustics in Medicine”, publications in the journal “Doctor” No. 7 , 10, 12 for 2014 and No. 1 for 2015, materials of 4 dissertations, data from 20 summer observations of practicing doctors, as well as reviews of Vitafon users from the archive of mail and emails of the company.
The VITAFON company has been producing devices for replenishing microvibration energy deficits using the phonation method during vibroacoustic therapy for more than 20 years. The devices have a registration certificate for a medical device and are approved for circulation in the territory of the Customs Union. Medical product type code 324920 - vibroacoustic therapy devices, international code GMDN 61096. All models of Vitafon devices are intended for vibroacoustic therapy at home or on an outpatient basis and are not a medicinal product.
Greetings to all! Many people have experienced pain from heel spurs. A very unpleasant phenomenon, but you can get rid of it. Let's find out how to treat heel spurs. Using folk recipes and medical recommendations, you can get rid of this problem yourself.
A heel spur can be recognized by severe pain in the heel, especially in the morning. During the day the pain subsides, but in the evening it becomes even stronger. These symptoms are caused by inflammation or bone overgrowth in the plantar fascia. Pressing the foot in this area can also cause severe pain, although no changes are visible upon examination.
Causes of bone growth:
People over 40 years of age, especially women, as well as track and field athletes are at risk. When this disease appears, a person tries to stand on his heel less, his gait and posture change.
And if the disease affects both legs, then the person does not find a place for himself at all. The center of gravity is transferred from the heel to the front areas or to the outer edges of the foot, which can lead to the appearance of transverse flat feet.
To determine this disease, the patient is prescribed to undergo x-rays, since both rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter's syndrome can cause pain. Only from the image does the doctor determine whether there is a growth on the leg or not.
Now the question arises: how and with what to treat heel spurs? There are a lot of ways, but before starting treatment, the leg must be unloaded using special heels and insoles.
Often, the doctor prescribes physical procedures aimed at eliminating inflammation, softening bone growth, as well as laser therapy or radiotherapy.
If the growth has reached an impressive size, then wave therapy is used, with the help of which it is destroyed. If it is not possible to get rid of the growth, the patient is offered surgery. During surgery, not only the bone growth is removed, but also the altered tissue around it is excised.
The doctor suggests resorting to surgical intervention only as a last resort when treatment does not help.
Complications may occur after surgery:
Therefore, before proceeding with surgery, the doctor treats with various medications that reduce inflammation in the joint and in the tissues of the heel area.
Warning : if this disease is not treated, the person may partially lose mobility.
To instill confidence in you, let's see how to get rid of this disease using folk methods. It is possible to completely get rid of this disease, but you need to prepare for a very long process.
Treatment with folk remedies for heel spurs will take from 2 to 8 weeks, so be patient and get started.
Medical bile is suitable for getting rid of growths. Before going to bed, steam your feet, then lubricate the affected area with bile, and cover with a film on top. The course is until cure.
Potatoes are an excellent natural remedy for getting rid of various inflammations. So you can use this natural medicine for heel spurs.
How to prepare it:
Course - 7 days. You can tie fresh potato slices, cabbage leaves to your heels, and make honey compresses.
There is one generally accepted method that really helped. A friend of mine used it.
The x-ray showed that a spur had indeed formed on the heel, there was no doubt about it. The doctor suggested treatment, but I had to go for procedures every day, and with severe pain, this is a real problem.
A friend of mine grated garlic, applied it to her heel overnight, and covered it with plastic. I did the same on the second night. On the third night I could no longer touch my heels at all, they were so eaten away by the garlic.
Several days passed, the skin peeled off from the heels. They became smooth and pink, like a child's. My friend didn’t even notice how she began to freely stand on her foot - the pain was gone. So far - no problems!
Black radish has the same powerful properties. Grate the miracle vegetable directly with the skin, apply the pulp to the spur overnight, cover with plastic. At home, it is enough to do 3-4 procedures to forget about your problem forever.
In the old days they used this medicine: cut a small piece from OLD pork fat and apply it to the spur.
Secure as follows: put on a sock, wrap it with plastic on top, then put on another sock. With this fastening, the fat will not move even while walking.
A tincture of lilac flowers works well: pour dried flowers with vodka in a ratio of 1:10, let it brew for 8-10 days, then strain, rub the affected areas daily.
Apply a plantain leaf (no need to wash it) to the spur, inside out. As it dries, apply a new sheet. The first 3 or 4 days you will feel quite severe pain, you will have to be patient, after a couple of weeks, you will not even remember your illness.
Buy bischofite at the pharmacy, soak gauze, steam your feet, apply to the affected area, hold all night, wash your feet with warm water in the morning. Do this procedure for 12 days.
An excellent remedy for this disease is dimexide. The drug must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. Moisten a napkin with the diluted liquid, apply it to the area of inflammation, and hold for 30 minutes. Course - 2 weeks.
70% vinegar, vegetable oil and dry mustard will help get rid of the painful growth. Take 1 tbsp of each ingredient. spoon, mix, place on gauze, apply to the spur, hold for 30 minutes. During this time there will be no burn, but after 14 days your problem will remain only memories.
Take 3 tbsp. Spread spoons of cottage cheese on gauze folded in 4 layers, tie to the source of inflammation, hold until morning. Course - 4-5 procedures.
Treatment with salt. Pour 100 grams of salt onto a flat surface and walk on it with your bare feet for 15 minutes.
Chop 1 onion, place it on cellophane, tie it to the inflamed area, insulate it on top, hold it all night, wipe off the onion in the morning, do not wash your feet. After 3-4 nights, your pain will go away.
One of the most effective methods of treatment: take laundry soap (1 piece), dilute it in 5 liters of water, add 200 g of salt. For 7 days, at night, steam your feet in this solution, then dry your feet, put on warm socks and go to bed. The solution can be used until the end of treatment.
Mix 1 teaspoon of iodine, salt and honey, rub this mixture into the affected area at any time of the day. Course from 10 days to 1 month.
Hydrocortisone ointment has an anti-inflammatory effect. Lubricate your heel with this ointment every day, morning and evening, so that this product accumulates in the inflamed tissues.
Use indomethacin and ibuprofen ointments with caution, as they have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Chinese patches containing painkillers, magnetic compounds, and natural stones are in great demand to get rid of the problem.
The most valuable thing about the patch is its effect on the reflexogenic zones of the foot. Due to this, the bone, nervous system and internal organs are stimulated. By relieving inflammation, the patch normalizes blood supply to the damaged area of the foot.
If you use the Chinese patch correctly and for a long time, you will notice a change in its color. Its ability to draw out toxins directly affects its color. Lightening of the patch means that the amount of toxins in the body has decreased. Course - 12 days.
The patch has the following effect:
The miraculous patch can be used by those people who take medications for a long time, eat foods with flavors and preservatives.
If the pain is very severe, the doctor may prescribe injections in the heel area. Steroid hormonal substances are injected into the diseased area. The effect of the blockade occurs very quickly due to the effects of steroids.
Sometimes just one injection is enough to remove the inflammatory process. If the pain does not go away, the doctor prescribes one or two more injections.
A blockade using Kenalog allows you to remove inflammation in the shortest possible time, and the patient gets rid of the spur for a long time or the disease never returns.
At the same time, this medicine can cause some complications, therefore, trust only an experienced surgeon to perform the blockade, because the medicine must be injected exactly into the site of inflammation.
If there is an error when administering the medication, the drug will not reach the inflamed area and will spread inside the tissues of the foot, which is fraught with complications.
In parting, I would like to wish you not to let the disease get worse, do not let it get stronger, start treatment immediately. There are many folk remedies that effectively remove such inflammation.
Heel spur (plantar fasciitis, plantar fasciitis) is a foot disease that is manifested by inflammation of the aponeurosis that supports the longitudinal arch of the foot, and the resulting formation of a bony protrusion on the heel. Inflammation often affects the surrounding soft tissue, periosteum and mucous bursae.
The pain experienced by a person who has developed plantar fasciitis is often the reason to seek medical attention. Treatment is aimed at suppressing inflammation and can be done in a variety of ways. To determine how to treat a heel spur for each individual patient, the doctor takes into account the patient's age and general health, as well as individual needs.
The immediate cause of heel spurs is excessive stretching of the plantar fascia and its microtears at the point of attachment to the heel. As a result, aseptic inflammation, deposition of calcium salts and the formation of a growth develop here. This situation is caused by excess weight, relaxation of the ligamentous apparatus of the foot, increased tone of the calf muscles, diseases of the joints of the leg, long walking, running on a flat plane, uncomfortable (non-anatomical) shoes, etc. As a rule, a patient with a spur has signs of longitudinal flatfoot.
The leading symptom of a heel spur is pain in the heel, which manifests itself in the morning when first placing weight on the foot, after long walking, jumping, standing, or after wearing larger shoes.
These symptoms are the result of inflammation of the fascia and mucous bursae of the foot.
On palpation, pain occurs when pressing on the lateral surfaces of the heel, on the arch of the foot, and less often on the ankle.
X-ray symptom: bone growth on the heel in the form of a spur.
Treatment is conservative and long-term. If you have heel pain, consult a surgeon. Today, the following treatment methods exist:
Due to the physiological softening of ligaments during pregnancy and a significant increase in body weight, pregnant women become susceptible to heel spurs. Therefore, during this period, special attention should be paid to prevention: do a daily foot massage, stand in one place less (especially in the third trimester), and eat well. It is important that during pregnancy a woman has comfortable shoes with a heel lift of 2-4 cm. It is advisable to use a prophylactic insole-support. It is not advisable to treat heel spurs during pregnancy, as this may affect the course of pregnancy. You should limit yourself to pain-relieving measures, foot massage, changing your motor mode, and using custom-made orthopedic insoles with a soft cushion under the heel.
Children who are overweight, grow quickly, or play sports have a high risk of developing heel spurs. The ligaments of a child's foot are not strong enough to withstand increased stress for a long time. In addition, until the age of 16-18, the foot is very plastic and easily deformed, so flat feet occur more easily. With an increased need for nutrients (during intensive growth of the child), the bones and joint-ligamentous apparatus may suffer, which leads to the development of diseases of the foot and spine.
It is important that children's shoes are selected taking into account the anatomical characteristics of each age. So, for the first steps, when the child still has a fatty pad in the arch of the foot, you should buy shoes with a regular, flat insole and a heel level raised by 2 cm. Provided that the child was born with a healthy foot. In the future, depending on the individual needs and condition of the child’s feet, you can select shoes that will have a preventive function, or select orthopedic insoles.
All these decisions need to be made in conjunction with your orthopedic surgeon. The sole of any shoe should not be flat, as, for example, in sneakers or ballet shoes, the heel should not be higher than 3cm. Accustom your child's feet to quality shoes from early childhood. Do not accept worn shoes and sandals: each child’s foot wears down the insole individually. As a last resort, the insole should be replaced.
If a child has already developed a heel spur, it should be treated as soon as possible. Due to a constrained gait, which occurs as a result of painful sensations in the foot, the child may develop poor posture, scoliosis, and inflammation of the joints of the legs. The treatment program for heel spurs in children is the same as for adults.
Recipe 1. Treatment of heel spurs with chicken bile.
Mix 40g of chicken bile with 20g of vodka, add 5g of any shampoo. Steam your feet in a basin with hot water for 15 minutes, then apply a linen napkin soaked in the medicinal mixture to the sole of your foot, cover it with cellophane, and put on socks. Leave the compress on for eight hours (preferably overnight).
Recipe 2. Treatment of fasciitis with onion tincture.
Pour vinegar on the onion peel (1:1 ratio) and leave under a tight lid for two weeks. Use the resulting medicinal mass for compresses: apply a 1cm thick layer to the sore foot, cover with oilcloth and put on warm socks. Keep the compress on for eight hours. Carry out the procedures daily until recovery (but no more than six times in a row). In between procedures, lubricate your feet with nourishing foot cream or special oil.
Recipe 3. Remedy for heel spurs from garden iris.
Grind 300g of garden iris root in a blender (or meat grinder), pour in 300ml of medical alcohol, tightly close the lid in a glass container and leave for 15 days in a dark place.
Use the tincture for compresses: soak a gauze cloth in the tincture and apply it to the foot, protecting the compress with cellophane and insulating it with a warm sock. Do this procedure every other day, in between applying Vaseline applications to this foot. The course of treatment is 10 compresses (20 days).
Recipe 4. Treatment of fasciitis with nuts.
Prepare a paste of ripe walnuts every day and apply it to the sore heel and foot in the form of an application, protecting it with parchment paper on top and securing it with a band-aid. Leave the medicine on overnight.
Continue treatment until recovery. At home, treatment of heel spurs with nuts can be combined with recipe No. 3, on each day following the use of iris tincture.
Take care of your feet before you develop problems with their health. Once a week, take relaxing baths, baths with sea salt and essential oils. Massage your feet at least twice a week, using any massage oil or cream. Wear comfortable shoes. Do not wear high-heeled shoes for too long: this increases the tone of the calf muscles and deformation of the foot. Make sure that the load on your feet is uniform and measured.
If you have flat feet, periodically put orthopedic insoles into your shoes, do not walk or stand for long periods of time; don't carry heavy things. Perform a foot massage daily. Visit your podiatrist regularly for preventative checkups.
Don’t know how to find a clinic or doctor at reasonable prices? Single registration center by phone +7 (499) 519-32-84.
Heel spur (plantar fasciitis) is a chronic disease resulting from microtrauma of the plantar ligament (fascia). Excruciating pain is caused by the resulting bone growth (osteophyte) - a pointed spike up to 12 mm long, compressing the surrounding soft tissue. The neoplasm may not be noticeable externally, but its location can be determined simply by applying regular pressure to the heel areas.
The plantar fascia is a fibrous tissue, a ligament that connects the heel bone to the heads of the metatarsal bones. It supports the longitudinal arch of the foot. During walking and running, the tissues of the plantar fascia experience the greatest tension precisely at the site of its attachment to the heel tubercle. Normally, microtraumas of the plantar ligament heal and recover on their own. But constant injury to the fascia often causes restructuring of the periosteum, the bone tissue itself.
The mechanism of planar fasciitis may be due to:
Calcium salts are deposited in areas of inflammation, forming an osteophyte (heel spur). According to X-ray studies and magnetic resonance imaging studies, doctors have found that 40% of the “spikes” are located in the plane of the fascia, and 50% are located above it. The “culprit” structures for their formation are the toe flexor muscles.
Spurs can form on one or both heels.
Every year, more than 2 million people are forced to seek treatment for heel spurs, and 70-80% of them are women, often city residents over the age of 40. Doctors identify several main causes of the disease:
In young people, heel spurs can be caused by intense sports training or wearing the “wrong” shoes, for example, high-heeled shoes or flip-flops.
The formation and development of osteophyte can be asymptomatic, for example, if the cause is not permanent. In some cases, a heel spur is discovered by chance during an X-ray examination for other indications.
The first symptom is a feeling of discomfort or a “nail” in the heel when walking. This symptom is associated with the pressure of bone formation (osteophyte) on soft tissue. Although “nail”-shaped growths are almost never found. At one time, there was an opinion in medicine that the neoplasm was a “continuation” of the heel bone.
The intensity of pain depends more on the location of the growth than on its size. The pain is stronger if the “spur” forms close to the nerve endings. At the initial stage of formation of a growth, pain may disappear for some time, then resume again.
At first, pain may only occur during the first “starting” steps—when getting up in the morning or after any other long break in movement. But after the first 5-6 steps the pain disappears. In the future, on the contrary, the pain increases with increasing loads.
Without treatment, pain occurs even at rest. Gradually, insoluble calcium compounds accumulate in the area of injury. By irritating the mucous membranes of the joint capsules surrounding the soft tissues, they also cause pain. The pain is sharp, cramping or aching in nature. It can also intensify and go away gradually or suddenly.
The period from the first symptom to severe pain can range from 2 weeks to several months.
The second symptom is a consequence of the first - a change in gait. When discomfort appears in the heel area, the patient involuntarily tries to relieve it. According to medical statistics, gait disturbances are observed in 93% of cases of the disease. Incorrect distribution of body weight on the forefoot and outer edge of the foot not only changes gait, but also provokes the development of transverse flatfoot. It is especially difficult for people with heel spurs on both feet.
Athletes identify warning signs of plantar fascia inflammation using the “singing string” test. In the athlete's standing position, the doctor bends the thumb as much as possible (up) and with jerking movements runs along the “tight string” (fascia) lengthwise and crosswise. When it becomes inflamed, the athlete feels pain and pulls his leg away. The appearance of the heels may remain unchanged.
It is impossible to make a diagnosis based solely on external examination and descriptions of pain. Pain in the heel area may also indicate other diseases:
In addition to collecting anamnesis, the doctor prescribes a number of laboratory and instrumental studies:
The purpose of the measures is not just to make a diagnosis, but also to identify the cause of the disease and its severity. If there are concomitant diseases, the doctor may recommend consultations with other specialists.
The treatment method for heel spurs is selected individually. Attempts at self-treatment can only worsen the situation - burns, soft tissue damage, partial loss of mobility (moving with crutches).
Modern medicine offers several methods of treating the disease:
Conservative treatment methods are primarily aimed at relieving inflammation in the affected tissues of the foot. The selection of the drug is carried out individually by an orthopedist.
These are various gels, ointments, creams, infusions - more effective at the initial stage of the disease.
Another method is injection of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs into the heel joint. The effectiveness of injections is higher, but it is a rather painful and painful procedure. In addition, one injection is not enough. Injections are carried out only by a surgeon. What matters is the dosage of the chosen drug, the depth and accuracy of its administration. Mistakes are fraught with the development of inflammation, osteoporosis, and the formation of suppuration. Frequent injections can damage or destroy fascial tissue.
Patches containing painkillers, antiseptics, and natural ingredients are most convenient to use.
Analgesics are not a cure - they are just one way to relieve pain. The disadvantage of painkillers is the likelihood of addiction and dependence on them.
Contraindications - individual intolerance to the components included in the medications.
A set of gymnastic exercises, massage, mud and mineral baths, and ultrasound therapy can reduce exacerbation.
To improve the medicinal effect on areas of affected tissue, the following are used:
Physiotherapy may also include corticosteroid injections - anti-inflammatory steroid drugs mixed with an anesthetic are injected into the plantar area or heel.
A wide range of activities allows you to choose funds for almost any patient
Under the influence of ultrasonic pulses, calcium deposits are “broken” into tiny particles, which are removed from the patient’s body through the bloodstream.
At the same time, shock wave therapy activates the process of soft tissue regeneration, reducing inflammation and swelling.
The use of shock wave therapy at the initial stage allows you to completely remove the heel spur. Using the technique in advanced cases relieves inflammation, inhibits or completely stops the growth process of calcium buildup.
The technique has contraindications:
The method is also contraindicated in the presence of acute infections of any nature.
Ultrasound waves relieve pain and reduce inflammation due to deep tissue heating. Penetrating inside the damaged fascia, ultrasound accelerates its healing at the cellular level. Muscles relax, blood flow to ligaments and tendons increases, and swelling decreases.
A beam of light is directed onto the damaged area. A positive effect is observed after 2-6 sessions, depending on the characteristics of the disease and the characteristics of the patient’s body. Penetrating to great depths, the laser stimulates metabolic processes in damaged tissues and accelerates their regeneration.
The goal of the previous methods is to relieve inflammation, prevent and inhibit the growth of bone tumors, and regenerate soft tissues. Surgical intervention allows you to completely get rid of the growth, but does not guarantee its reappearance, so doctors turn to this method only in extreme cases.
The extent of surgical intervention depends on the nature of the disease. During the operation, the plantar fascia is partially or completely cut with the simultaneous removal of the spur itself and damaged tissue. But with a complete (disconnecting) fasciotomy, the anatomy of the foot is disrupted. As a result, changes in gait cause disability.
Radiofrequency microtenomia (burning) is characterized by minimal invasiveness. Under the influence of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, damaged tissues and nerve fibers are destroyed, which allows the pain syndrome to be completely removed.
The effectiveness of any technique depends on the timely diagnosis of the disease and the implementation of a set of preventive measures to prevent its development. You should not use numerous “folk” remedies, even if they have helped your friends. At best, they will simply be ineffective.
Preventive measures to prevent and develop the disease can be summarized by the abbreviation - healthy lifestyle (healthy lifestyle). There are several areas for preventing heel spurs:
Calluses, ingrown toenails, and bruises often cause changes in the position of the foot and create conditions for injury to the plantar ligaments. If you experience discomfort or pain in the heel area, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment.
Excess body weight not only increases the load on the longitudinal arch of the foot. At the same time, high weight may be evidence of metabolic disorders and various diseases that can directly or indirectly affect the condition of the plantar fascia and stimulate the formation of heel spurs.
An active lifestyle, proper nutrition, and control over your health will help you avoid premature aging of joints and bones. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of bone tissue in women over 40 - there is a risk of osteoporosis. Medicine offers many mineral and vitamin complexes to support the health of the musculoskeletal system.
Wearing the wrong shoes and intense exercise during sports training are also common causes of heel spurs.
High-heeled shoes should be worn no more than 3-4 hours a day. Orthopedists do not recommend flip-flops, sandals and other types of shoes without backs for constant wearing. Shoes should have a small heel - 3-4 cm and fit firmly on your feet.
If you have flat feet, you need to purchase orthopedic shoes or use corrective insoles.
According to medical statistics, almost 25% of people who run experience heel pain. The reason is an unprofessional approach to training. Playing sports is only beneficial if the exercises are performed correctly. When running, jumping, or race walking, you need to monitor the position of the foot and gradually increase the load. In case of injuries or sprains, professionals advise reducing the intensity of training or abandoning it until complete recovery. Interrupted activities should be resumed gradually.
The effectiveness of treatment measures largely depends on the timely diagnosis of the disease. Seeing a doctor at the first sign of a heel spur will help avoid its complications. People included in the “risk group” - with flat feet, pathologies and diseases of the joint-skeletal system - should undergo regular medical examinations. Self-medication with medications and folk remedies is unacceptable! The use of medical equipment should only be carried out on the recommendation of a doctor and under his supervision.
One of the most important places in the treatment of heel spurs is diet. Osteophyte is formed from uric acid salts. Therefore, the main goal of the diet is to normalize the acid-base balance, remove salts and reduce the risk of inflammatory processes in the body. Fasting can provoke an exacerbation of the disease, so it is completely excluded.
The exact diet is selected by the attending physician based on the patient’s health condition. Following such a diet helps improve overall health.
You can get rid of heel spurs using the effective traditional medicine methods given below.
Method No. 1. Pour alcohol into a frying pan and heat over low heat. You need to be extremely careful here, as alcohol is a flammable substance. Then pour the hot alcohol into a basin and keep your heels in it for at least 10 minutes. After an alcohol procedure, traditional medicine does not recommend wiping your feet; the alcohol will dry out on its own.
Method No. 2. You need to take 50 grams of animal bile (except fish and poultry) and mix it with 30 grams of shampoo. Before going to bed, steam your heels and apply this mixture, wrap your feet in a scarf. To enhance the effectiveness of this method, you can wear warm wool socks.
Method No. 3. If the spur has a diameter of more than 2 cm, it can cause discomfort for many years, and the person will have excruciating pain. The pain can be relieved in the following way. It is necessary to collect nettles in May and grind them through a meat grinder. You can make a compress from the resulting mixture and wrap your leg with a burdock leaf. A regular bandage is used for fixation. It is recommended to do this procedure before bed, but you can walk with a compress during the day. By carrying out such actions, you can get rid of pain within two weeks. If the spur is large, it is necessary to see a doctor regularly.
Method No. 4. You need to dig up 200 grams of iris flower root, wash it and grind it in a meat grinder. The resulting porridge should be filled with alcohol and hidden from sunlight in a dry place for 14 days. After two weeks, you need to soak a cotton swab in the tincture and tie it to your heel with a bandage before going to bed. For better efficiency, the cotton wool can be covered with a bag. In the morning the compress must be removed. Iris must be alternated with Vaseline.
Method No. 5. For this method, dough with honey is used. The spur is smeared with buckwheat honey, a layer of dough is placed on top and a wool sock is put on. It is recommended to use the compress for a couple of days, then change the products. With one month of treatment, the spur goes away.
Method No. 6. It is recommended to apply compresses made from laundry soap daily. You need to take 100 grams of soap, grind it, then melt it. Apply the resulting consistency to the heel before going to bed.
Method No. 7. A remedy that has been used since ancient times. You need to take a regular felt boot and rub your spur on it before going to bed for 20 minutes. It will go away in a month.
All methods of treatment with traditional medicine can be auxiliary. It is recommended to perform them in conjunction with therapeutic treatment. The main thing is not to forget that it is necessary to identify the cause of the spur and neutralize self-education.
The reasons for the formation of heel spurs in children are in many ways similar to those in adults:
Until the age of 18, children's feet have good elasticity and therefore are easily deformed.
Treatment methods are also similar to those for adults and are selected depending on the age of the child and the severity of the disease. More often, when treating heel spurs in children, it is sufficient to use only conservative treatment methods.
It's more difficult with symptoms. Signs of the formation of a heel spur in a child may include complaints of pain, changes in gait, posture, and decreased motor activity. Be sure to pay attention to the condition of children's feet. Calluses, ingrown toenails, and bruises force the child to place his foot incorrectly, which can cause foot deformation and fascial injury.
For a child, shoes, sandals, and sneakers are not just shoes, but also a “shape” for his foot. Therefore, it should be selected according to the age of the child. Booties with soft soles are suitable only for “sliders” who only occasionally stand on their feet. Babies taking their first steps should choose shoes with leather soles, small heels—about 1 cm—and good fit on the feet.
While flip-flops and slates are not recommended for adults, they are prohibited for children! The presence of such shoes on store shelves does not confirm their “usefulness”.
Ballet flats and sneakers are not suitable for everyday wear. It is also not recommended to put children in used shoes. Each child tramples down the insole and wears out the sole in their own way.
In addition to general reasons, the risk of heel spur formation in pregnant women is due to physiological changes - softening of the ligaments during pregnancy. Diagnosis and treatment of the expectant mother is difficult due to limitations in the use of certain methods and medications. Therefore, preventive measures are especially important:
Pregnant women (especially in the third trimester) should not stand still for a long time - queues, stops, but quiet walking is useful.
In the case of the formation of a heel spur during pregnancy, treatment is usually limited to gentle pain-relieving measures - ointments, patches, and less often injections, so as not to harm the baby’s health.