Plantar fasciitis is more common than you might imagine and can cause complications such as cracks and fractures. To diagnose it, radiological methods are used such as: MRI, ultrasound, x-ray; Therapy for heel spurs includes effective methods that allow you to cope with this disease in a short time.
Plantar fasciitis is a foot disease that occurs due to increased load on the sole, as a result of which microcracks appear in the aponeurosis. Over time, they lead to inflammation and the possible growth of osteophyte - a hook-shaped outgrowth, the so-called heel spur. Most often found in women due to high heels and hormonal changes, which lead to fragility of the ligaments; also a common disease among track and field athletes; people suffering from flat feet. This disease can also develop due to poor circulation in the legs or metabolism, injuries to the heels and knees, and manifest as a consequence of prolonged standing.
Pain occurs due to inflammation of the tendons, and not the presence of an osteophyte.
The pain is especially bothersome in the morning. During the night, cracks in the tendon tissue try to recover, but when trying to get back on their feet, ruptures and microtraumas occur again. Out of 10 cases of the disease, overgrown bone tissue is found in only 5 patients. Sometimes the problem does not appear outwardly. Radiology methods can clarify the diagnosis and alleviate a person’s condition.
There are two possible positions for radiography:
There is no need to prepare in advance for this procedure, only there should be no metal objects on the leg, as they distort the x-ray.
This method of radiological diagnostics makes it possible to distinguish plantar fasciitis from other similar diseases: osteoporosis, arthritis, arthrosis, osteomyelitis, gout. An x-ray shows the presence or absence of cracks and fractures of the calcaneus. The doctor determines the projection of the foot to be photographed so that the cause of the disease can be seen more clearly.
The resulting image of the heel spur is interpreted by a radiologist. It describes the location of the outgrowth and its length.
An x-ray of the heel bone, which can be seen in the photo, demonstrates a spur as a growth on the surface of the tubercle, like an awl or hook, up to 1 cm long. Externally, this manifests itself in the formation of calluses and bruises on the sole of the foot. It hurts a person to step on the affected limb, especially in the morning. The gait changes, the center of gravity of the body shifts forward, resting on the toes and the front of the foot. For comparison: x-ray of the heel without a spur (photo of a healthy leg).
However, an x-ray of the heel cannot determine the functioning of the organ of interest. Changes in soft tissues are also little noticeable.
X-ray therapy is considered one of the most popular and safe treatments for plantar fasciitis.
The main thing is that the radiation session does not last longer than normal.
There are two types of this method:
Their use depends on the level of complexity of the disease. X-rays act in the following directions:
The rays are directed at the heel, they affect soft tissues, blocking nerve endings and thereby promoting pain relief. The X-ray therapy process lasts about 9 minutes, in total there are at least 7 sessions. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor, based on the degree of complexity of the disease and the characteristics of the patient’s body.
X-ray therapy should be carried out in combination with other treatment methods:
The use of X-rays does not cause pain, does not require hospitalization, there are no side effects and the result is felt immediately after the session.
Pregnancy is a contraindication for radiotherapy.
The dose of radiation that the patient receives is completely harmless to him, but can negatively affect the development of the child.
If the disease worsens or reappears after a while, then repeated radiation sessions can be prescribed after a couple of months.
An ultrasound examination is prescribed if the patient has problems with movement, swelling, or pain in the leg, especially in the morning. After a preliminary examination, the doctor tentatively diagnoses plantar fasciitis and sends you for further examination. They may also be referred for an ultrasound scan even when a person does not have any signs of disease, if the doctor finds any abnormalities during a standard examination. In addition, this procedure is recommended to be done periodically for those who suffer from flat feet, since in 90% of cases plantar fasciitis provokes this particular disorder of the structure of the foot.
Ultrasound is the safest research method, which is approved for use by people of all ages and in any condition, including during pregnancy.
It helps to establish other pathological processes and diseases associated with heel spurs:
The procedure takes about ten minutes and does not require prior preparation. The patient lies down on the couch and relaxes his leg. To make the device's sensor glide better, the skin is lubricated with a special gel. If necessary, all the necessary information is saved on a flash card or disk.
If after an X-ray or ultrasound there are still any doubts about the diagnosis, if it is necessary to clarify the clinical picture of muscles, tendons or blood vessels, then the patient is referred for magnetic resonance imaging. Using this method, it is possible to identify additional factors that complicate the condition of the diseased limb:
Magnetic resonance imaging is mandatory before surgery.
MRI is an absolutely safe diagnostic method, painless and not causing inconvenience. It cannot be used only in a few cases:
If contrast is to be administered, you will need to not eat or drink for several hours before the examination. The doctor must test for substances containing iodine so that the person does not experience allergic reactions. You should not wear clothes with metal fittings, and jewelry should also be removed. Otherwise, no special preparation is required for MRI of the heel.
If necessary, contrast is injected before scanning, then the patient is placed on the machine table. The duration of the procedure is about 20 minutes, during which time you cannot move. If it is difficult for a person to lie down without moving, the foot is secured with straps. Inside, the device is equipped with a microphone and speaker; the newest models even have a video camera so that the patient can contact the doctor at any time.
Another method for examining the heel bone is computed tomography. It allows you to get complete information about what the internal structure of the foot looks like, but it has a number of contraindications:
On average, a CT scan procedure takes about an hour.
To prevent the disease, as well as for successful treatment, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that provoke inflammation of the plantar fascia:
If you have flat feet, you should be regularly examined by an orthopedist in order to detect the onset of the disease in time.
Plantar fasciitis, or popularly “heel spur”, is often accompanied by pain in the foot area, complicates the process of walking, and leads to tissue microtrauma. The causes of the disease are flat feet, incorrectly selected heel height, and excess weight. The human foot has an arched shape and is supported in this state, like a taut bowstring, by an internal ligament, which is attached at one end to the heel, and at the other, branching, to the toes. It is the inflammation and “ossification” of the heel tendon of this ligament that leads to pain and limited mobility of the foot. The maximum pain occurs after sleep, at the beginning of walking.
The disease is diagnosed using radiography and ultrasound. An X-ray provides an image of a calcium-coated (ossified) ligament in the form of a small spike-like growth - a spur; an ultrasound examination reveals an inflammatory process in this area. The disease significantly limits a person's ability to walk normally. At the same time, treatment of the disease is not expensive and does not take a long time if you consult a specialist in a timely manner. Currently, the following physiotherapeutic methods for treating heel spurs are used: x-ray therapy, laser therapy, ultrasound, shock wave therapy, injections of hormonal drugs, electrophoresis using potassium iodide and novocaine.
Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used methods of treating the disease.
1. A method called shock wave therapy for heel spurs (SWT) is based on the use of hydroacoustic waves, which, passing through the tissue cells of the heel, encounter an obstacle, the ossified ligament, and gently act on it. With this effect, calcium deposits are gradually destroyed. In addition, shock wave therapy for heel spurs improves blood flow, and, as a result, blood supply to the inflamed tissue area.
The advantages of this method are undeniable. Firstly, the method is non-surgical and virtually painless. The duration of the procedures is about 15 minutes, the frequency of treatments depending on the severity of the disease is 4-6 procedures with an interval of 3 weeks between them. Secondly, this method gives a very high percentage of patients cured and no relapse, and pain disappears after two sessions. Currently, shock wave therapy for heel spurs is a unique method of treating the disease.
In addition to the shock wave therapy method, there are two more equally popular and effective treatment methods. Let's look at them.
2. The method of magnetic laser therapy (MLT, or laser treatment of heel spurs) is based on the impact of a low-intensity light beam (laser) on the patient’s diseased cells and the effect of a magnetic field on the affected area. As a result, the body’s immunity is increased, energy metabolism is improved, an anti-inflammatory effect is observed, and the elasticity of cell membranes is restored. Due to the complexity of its effects on the body, MLT is also successfully used to treat heel spurs.
3. X-ray therapy of heel spurs, this is another method of treating heel spurs, which is based on the effect of low-power X-ray radiation on body tissue. There are superficial (voltage on the device tube 20-60 kV) and deep (voltage on the device tube 180-400 kV) therapy. The first is used to treat dermatological diseases, and the second is successfully used to treat inflammatory processes that occur deeper. Under the influence of radiation, protective fermentation occurs in cells and connective tissue is stimulated.
Of course, all three methods have their advantages and disadvantages. But I would still like to dwell in more detail on the first method of treating heel spurs. According to experts, it is this method that deserves the greatest respect, since it is the most effective. The main aspect of the success of this process is the timeliness of the patient’s contact with specialists who will select the most appropriate method of treatment.
The effectiveness of this method can be judged by statistical data. Among 100 surveyed patients who were treated for heel spurs with shock wave therapy, about 90 people noted a positive effect and only 10 found it difficult to answer. In addition, many highlighted the fact that the treatment is practically painless or barely noticeable, and there are no unpleasant sensations after such therapy. Of course, you will have to pay a lot of money for the service: one session costs about 40 dollars, to relieve unpleasant symptoms you will need at least 2-3 sessions, and for a complete recovery about 5 (depending on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body).
Unfortunately, this method has a number of contraindications. Shock wave therapy for heel spurs is contraindicated in pregnant women, people suffering from poor blood clotting, and those with malignant tumors. This method of therapy is also not recommended for people with diabetes mellitus who have inflammatory foci in the area of spurs (purulent formations, cracks, etc.).
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X-rays (x-rays) are widely used in medicine, both for examining a person and for treating certain diseases. X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation that have extremely short wavelengths. This gives the radiation great energy, which allows it to penetrate deeply into the tissue, which is used to achieve a therapeutic effect. Typically, X-rays are used to treat cancer, affect benign tumors, and also remove warts and other skin growths.
But we must not forget that X-ray radiation is still radiation, which, at a certain dosage, is harmful to the human body. But only prolonged and intense exposure to x-rays on the human body can cause harm. In addition, radiotherapy is recommended for use in areas that are easily accessible.
The heel spur has a very convenient location in order to be exposed to x-rays without causing harm to the entire body, so x-ray therapy for heel spurs is a very popular treatment method.
The x-ray treatment method for heel spurs is used when other conservative treatment methods are ineffective. The doctor, using special equipment, directs the action of an X-ray beam with a low dose of radiation to the location of the bone growth on the heel. This causes blocking of the nerve endings in the “sore spot” and the pain disappears. Since heel pain in this disease is the main symptom that prevents people from living, getting rid of pain significantly improves the quality of life for such patients. The heel spur itself does not disappear under the influence of x-rays, but there will be no pain when walking.
One radiotherapy procedure for a heel spur lasts about ten minutes. Ten such procedures will be required per course of treatment. After completing a full course of radiotherapy and following all medical recommendations, patients are completely relieved of pain in the heel. You just need to make an effort to unload your feet (wear special shoes, fight excess weight, and so on).
But X-ray therapy has some contraindications - it is contraindicated for pregnant women. Radiation may have negative effects on the developing fetus.
Although X-ray therapy produces very good results, there are no reliable studies on the effectiveness of this method of treating plantar fasciitis.
Treating heel spurs with X-rays is not the treatment of choice or the method that is most effective. Rather, this is a last resort method. If the doctor has diagnosed a heel spur, he will most likely begin treatment with the simplest conservative methods. But if they do not bring relief and do not eliminate heel pain, then the doctor may prescribe x-ray therapy.
In a vertical position of the body, all the weight falls on the feet. The plantar fascia experiences a lot of stress. Her injuries occur frequently. Usually small tears heal on their own. But with very frequent injuries, the fascia does not have time to recover. Inflammation develops in it. The response is ossification of that part of the fascia that attaches to the heel bone.
The following factors increase the likelihood of developing a heel spur:
? excess body weight, when the feet bear an excessively high load;
? diseases of the spine: dysfunctions of the spinal column lead to the fact that the load on the feet begins to be distributed unevenly;
? flat feet is a disease in which the mechanics of the foot are disrupted and the load on the soles is distributed incorrectly;
? pathologies of the hip, knee, ankle joints;
? injuries to the foot, especially the heel bone at the site of attachment of the plantar fascia;
? damage to the joints of the legs at the sole;
? varicose veins, heart failure, obliterating endarteritis and other diseases leading to poor circulation in the legs;
? prolonged intense loads on the feet: this factor occurs in athletes who run.
The only manifestation of a heel spur is pain in the heel area. It intensifies during physical activity, in the morning, and can bother you constantly. This symptom is especially painful for people who play sports or do physical work: because of the pain, they cannot continue their activities normally.
If you are experiencing heel pain, you should consult a surgeon, orthopedist or traumatologist. The doctor will order an x-ray, after which the heel spur will be clearly visible in the pictures - after this, the cause of the pain is no longer in doubt.
Treatment of heel spurs begins with conservative methods:
? It is necessary to get rid of uncomfortable shoes with flat, hard and high heels. Buy good sports sneakers with soft heels and arch support - a special elevation that gives the foot the correct position. It is also worth purchasing arch support insoles. Walk barefoot more.
? Your doctor may also recommend that you use special pads for your heels.
? Massage and physical therapy have a good effect.
? Physiotherapeutic procedures are widely used: ultrasound, laser, x-ray therapy.
? They use therapeutic mud, warm and mineral baths.
? In more severe cases, shock wave therapy is used: the heel spur is exposed to intense waves that destroy it.
An important condition during the treatment of heel spurs is not to overload the legs. If the disease occurs against the background of intense sports activities, then it will be possible to return to them only when the doctor allows it.
Surgery for a heel spur is performed when it is initially in an advanced state or cannot be treated without surgery for more than six months. There are various techniques. Today, minimally invasive methods are mainly used, when the skin is pierced with a special sharp instrument and the heel spur is removed under X-ray control. Rehabilitation after surgical treatment can last from 2 days to 2 weeks. It is necessary to limit the load on the feet and wear special orthopedic shoes.
Are you experiencing severe pain in your feet? Did you feel like someone hammered a nail into your heel and forced you to walk like that for several kilometers? Don't know what to do with this hated tumor? Read the article about how you can cure heel spurs using folk remedies.
A heel spur is an overgrowth of the heel, namely the back part. This neoplasm most often takes the form of a small blade or spike. This is where the name of this disease comes from.
A spur is formed as a result of flat feet, as well as due to disturbances in human metabolic processes. Initially, the spur may not manifest itself, but if this disease is neglected and not detected in time, there is a risk of complete deformation of the foot.
The seal on the heel cannot be seen visually; it is also not detected by palpation (palpation with fingers). For a spur to make itself felt, it is enough for a person to wear uncomfortable, tight shoes during the day. By the evening you will not be able to fully stand on your feet; you will begin to want to walk on your toes.
The size of the heel spur varies from 5 to 12 mm, with the tip of the tumor directed towards the toes. At the end of the last century, doctors believed that the spur was formed as a result of excess body weight. This fact should also not be excluded if you are trying to find the cause of the formation of a heel spur in your case. Statistics indicate that in 80% of cases, the diagnosis of “heel spur” is made to females. Moreover, most of the fair sex who fall into this category wear high heels throughout the day. So, ladies, apparently, need to draw a conclusion.
Heel spurs are mainly diagnosed through a complete examination of a person's feet. To do this, you will need to take an x-ray and, of course, visit a medical facility.
Most often, a heel spur manifests itself in the morning, as soon as a person gets out of bed. When walking, a person feels unbearable pain, which can be compared to a nail driven alive into soft tissue. Moreover, as mentioned above, it is not possible to visually notice any defect.
But, you should not carry out treatment with folk remedies if you are not 99% sure that you have a heel spur. To establish a diagnosis, it is better for you to consult a surgeon or orthopedist. In most cases, a heel spur is a secondary disease. And the main diagnosis will sound like rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter's syndrome or ankylosing spondylitis.
To identify these diseases, it is necessary to take a blood test for a rheumatoid panel.
If these diseases are not confirmed, then the probable causes of heel spurs may be:
The treatment algorithm for heel spurs consists of mandatory elimination of swelling, reduction of pain, healing and subsequent tissue regeneration.
In addition to drug and surgical treatment, it is possible to influence the heel spur with the help of folk remedies. Basically, such treatment comes down to applying various compresses to the foot.
A compress made from medical bile is quite effective in treating heel spurs. Before applying a cotton swab soaked in bile, you will need to steam your feet in a hot bath. Afterwards you wipe your feet dry and apply bile. It is advisable to tie a fixing bandage over the heel. Be sure to wear warm socks to create a steam effect. It is advisable to do this procedure at night so that the bile has time to show all its healing properties.
Bile compresses must be applied until the morning pain disappears.
Another effective remedy in the fight against heel spurs is animal fat or regular lard. Badger, goat, and bear fat are used as an application. One of the listed fats is applied to a small piece of gauze and applied to the sore foot.
Potato gruel, applied as a compress for several hours, will not only help eliminate pain, but also soften the skin, making it smooth and soft.
Rubbing a heel spur with pharmaceutical turpentine for 14 days will eliminate pain and help destroy bone formation. All you need is to rub your feet with turpentine and wrap them in warm scarves or woolen socks.
Regular iodine can effectively treat heel spurs. But, in order for it to work, you need to dip your heels in a small bath of iodine and hold it there for 10 minutes. Afterwards, wipe off any remaining iodine and put on socks. In 10 days of this procedure, you are guaranteed to get rid of heel spurs. The only negative is getting a chemical burn from exposure to iodine. The skin on your heels may crack and begin to peel.
To eliminate the inflammatory process on the feet, you can take baths with salt. To do this, dissolve ten tablespoons of sea salt in five liters of hot water. You need to keep your feet in this solution for at least 15 minutes. Afterwards, wipe your feet dry and use one of the compresses described above.
You can also add turpentine, iodine, sting and herbal decoctions to the baths. A special mixture is also effective in the fight against heel spurs: medical alcohol, iodine, vinegar and salt are mixed together. Liquids are taken in a 1:1 ratio, and five tablespoons of salt will be enough. All this is diluted in three liters of hot water. You need to keep your feet in such a bath until the water cools completely. Afterwards, wipe your feet and lubricate them with animal or vegetable fat.
The main thing that needs to be observed in treatment with traditional methods is systematicity. If you devote time to your feet over the course of several days, they will thank you in return.
The medical name for heel spurs is plantar fasciitis. This is a phenomenon in which the bone in the heel grows and becomes wedge-shaped. The disease is characterized by severe pain and is aggravated by injuries to the limbs and feet, excess weight and high physical activity. People with flat feet and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, circulatory disorders, bursitis and diabetes mellitus are at risk.
How to treat a heel spur? There are traditional and modern methods, the effectiveness of which has been proven by positive reviews from patients and doctors.
A spur in the heel immediately attracts attention, as it is always accompanied by pain when stepping on it. In this case, any external changes are completely absent. At first, painful sensations appear only during intense physical activity: when bending and jumping, running and walking. Further, the condition only worsens, discomfort occurs at the slightest pressure and support on the leg. A person can no longer sit and stand normally; he experiences sharp pain with any movement: standing, sitting, lying down. It has been noticed that negative symptoms increase in the morning and evening.
Unloading the diseased limb should precede any method of treatment. With a spur in the heel, doctors recommend a maximum reduction in activity; the person is given sick leave, as he becomes incapacitated.
Doctors advise patients to stay in bed, use orthopedic insoles and wear comfortable shoes, apply cuts along the border of the heel with the arch of the foot, and support the body with the help of special devices (canes or crutches).
Conservative therapy is aimed at relieving discomfort, softening and breaking up the structure of the growth. To do this, you should take medications and use external agents: pain-relieving ointments and gels, special patches and applicators. Inflammation can affect the main and distal parts of the bone. To normalize trophism and reduce the inflammatory process, it is recommended to give injections and blockades.
Surgical removal of a heel spur is considered a last resort and is rarely used in medical practice.
When conservative measures are unsuccessful, medicine can only offer a person surgery. The surgeon makes an incision in the heel, removes the growth and sutures the tissue. The fastest method of getting rid of a spur is considered to be endoscopic excision of the fascia. The procedure is performed using special equipment and tools. The result is a small incision and minimal blood loss, and the patient’s rehabilitation is much easier.
“We need a blockade!” – This is the advice that experts often give to their patients. Drug blockade is a common and affordable method that allows you to get rid of painful symptoms and inflammation for a long time. It is recommended that the procedure be performed only by a qualified and experienced orthopedist. He injects into the most painful point on the heel. It is not allowed to administer more than 3 consecutive injections. The manipulation is complex and therefore requires good knowledge and skill from the doctor.
If performed correctly, the blockade allows you to achieve a stable but temporary effect. After the manipulation, the patient forgets about problems and pain for a long time. If the procedure is performed incorrectly, serious complications can occur. These are necrosis and suppuration, osteoporosis, destruction or rupture of the plantar fascia. The further treatment regimen will directly depend on the patient’s well-being and the doctor’s prescriptions.
The special location of the spur - on the heel - allows the use of x-rays in treatment, including for older people, without harm to the whole body. The procedure is popular and in demand, since any clinic, social or private, usually has an X-ray machine. The radiologist provides treatment free of charge in a hospital at the place of residence. Treatment of spurs on the heels in a commercial clinic is paid for by the patient through the cash register.
The physiotherapist directs the x-ray beam directly to the area of bone growth and acts on it for a short time: for 10-15 minutes. The procedure blocks pain receptors, so a person feels significant relief after the first sessions.
The main symptom of a heel spur is pain in the heel area. The pain is usually aching, but can be so severe that it interferes with stepping on the foot. A person cannot move and live normally. Increasing pain indicates an increase in growth and the addition of an inflammatory process. The pointed growth constantly injures the soft tissues, which is why they can begin to bleed. The skin turns red, may swell, cracks appear and suppuration forms. All this forces a person to go to the hospital. An x-ray examination will allow you to check for the presence of osteophytes in the heel area. The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the image and the patient’s complaints.
Physiotherapeutic measures are an essential part of a comprehensive heel spur treatment program. Therapeutic gymnastics and physical education are included in the list of rehabilitation programs aimed at preventing and combating the disease.
List of traditional physiotherapy methods:
All forms of physiotherapy: active and passive, manual and instrumental, have long established themselves as a highly effective tool for restoring and returning to health.
Mandatory rules are timeliness, regularity and dosage.
Can a heel spur go away on its own? It is impossible to get rid of the disease without using a special set of therapeutic measures. Using a gentle regimen, the right shoes and orthopedic products, you can reduce the load and eliminate pain. The development of science and medicine has led to the emergence of new treatment methods that have a high degree of positive effects on the body and a low level of harmful effects on it.
What physiotherapeutic methods are considered the most modern:
Knowing what a heel spur is, how and how to treat it quickly and effectively, a person can properly plan treatment and achieve a full recovery. Physiotherapy involves the use of special-purpose devices that emit ultrasound or ultraviolet radiation, creating magnetic or electric fields. All methods are effective within the expected results: suppressing pain, eliminating swelling and inflammation, improving blood circulation and lymph flow, enhancing the effect of drugs. The patient returns to normal activity, experiences the joy of movement and forgets about discomfort.