Bone spur in heel?

[PrincessAtta]

Posting for my aunt...does anyone have any advice on surviving with bone spur in the heel in the World? My aunt has a trip planned for the first week in October.

Thanks in advance!

 

[lwilliam]

My husband and I have suffered with heel spurs for over a year.
Last summer right before our Disneyland vacation and Mexican cruise it started. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced. The bad news
is, it took ONE FULL YEAR to get relief. My husband also (we are "relatively" young ).
All I could do last year is take the Advil, have the soft inserts in my shoes, ice the heel at night. Nothing seemed to help. When I got home, I had to try physical therapy for a few weeks.
My husband had so many prescriptions for the pain, he finally gave up.
Our doctor told us it would take about a year to recover, and it did.
My girlfriend is having surgery on her heel spurs (I find this SO weird that
everyone I know has them).
We also found sandals felt better than sneakers to walk.
SO, my suggestion, ice it at night, if wearing shoes, wear soft gel inserts (I got mine from the doctor, my husband bought his at Walmart by Dr. scholl),
and the anti-inflammatory pills (we take Advil), or get some stronger anti-inflammatory from your doctor.
Sorry for going on...but I feel so sorry for your aunt.
Lucy

 

[PrincessAtta]

Doesn't sound good, does it? Anyone have any idea if Crocs would be helpful? I'm not a believer, but maybe she should give them a shot before she goes.

 

[ZoZo]

Do a search on this forum for "foot pain". Here's a link to a good thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1203205

I also have heel spurs (but mine are on the back of my heels instead of on the bottom, like most people). I have found that switching to "backless" shoes helps a lot. My shoes do not rub on the back part of my foot any more.

I asked my orthopedic surgeon what to do (wanted to avoid surgery, which have already had for both feet), and he recommended backless shoes and also doing Achilles tendon stretches (gently pull your toes toward your knee).

I'd recommend asking your doctor (whether orthopedic, podiatrist, etc.) what might help.

 

[theprincess]

We were in WDW a few weeks ago. (I have bone spurs also) I brought both my sneakers and my crocs (athens kind) and for 10 days that is all I had on my feet!! They didn't hurt at all. She might want to give them a try.

 

[mmeb144]

My doctor has given me a cortisone shot to help with mine. Thankfully, only in one foot. I've had one shot so far, it seems to be helping. My doc says that it can take one to three shots for the pain to be relieved. The worst part is that the shot has to be where the pain is the most intense. Ouch!

Encourage your aunt to keep on trucking. Do the stretching and the icing. See if her doctor will give her the shots.

Marie

 

[dbenlee]

I have a bone spur on the bottom of my right heel plus I am "Pooh" sized. I tried several pads and gel inserts but had little to no relief because of my weight. I saw an advertisment on TV for some inserts called Walk Fit, www.walkfit.com. Now I don't normally buy into things I see advertised on TV if I can't buy it in a store. I like to actually see things and hold them before I buy them. My wife suggested we get some for me to try because I am on my feet most of the day and she was tired of my complaining. So after some discussion we ordered some. No I won't wear shoes without them. They take the pressure off of the area where the heel spur is and I can walk all day fith no foot discomfort. A word of warning though, they take some getting used to. They are kind of rough on the feet until they are broken in and you get used to them. The instructions tell you to wear them for a short time at first slowly increasing the time until you can wear them all day. They are not for everyone, my wife can't stand them in her shoes, but they have been life savers for me.

 

[adisneynut]

Another vote for crocs. Wore them everyday in May and my bone spur on the heel never hurt.
I am sorry that you suffer from this. It is quite painfull.

 

[TravelinGal]

Was this diagnosed by a Dr? A true heel spur does not cause pain as it usually shoots forward following the plantar fascia ligament, not down toward the ground. The pain actually comes from the strained (or even torn) plantar fascia ligament. Plantar Fasciitis is often called a heel spur because, well, it's easier to say! LOL

(heel spur in top picture - 'normal' heel in bottom picture)

Shoes should bend only at the ball of the foot, where your toes attach to the foot. This is vital! Avoid any shoe that bends in the center of the arch or behind the ball of the foot. It offers insufficient support and will stress your plantar fascia. The human foot was not designed to bend here and neither should a shoe be designed to do this.

The "shoe pushup test" should be done to check where the shoe bends. Hold the heel of the shoe in one hand and then press up underneath the forefoot. The shoe should bend at the ball of the shoe, where the metatarsals would be. Next press under the part of the shoe where the metatarsal heads would be. The shoe should not bend under moderate pressure before this area. If it does you should change to a shoe that meets this criterion.

An alternative to the "shoe pushup test" is the shoe pushdown test. Press the shoe at a 45 degree or greater angle onto a countertop as seen below. The shoe should bend at the ball of the shoe. It should not bend before this point further back on the shoe.

Correct:

Incorrect:

**I did the above tests with my Crocs and the only bend at the proper point. By this 'test', Crocs DO meet the criteria listed above.**

(Sorry - done playing 'teacher' for now...LOL)

Many many people have posted here about how much Crocs helped their PF pain. I am one of them. I tried the $100 orthodic inserts -they did NOT help. I tried high dollar walking shoes that offered a lot of support (Dr said I needed to wear close fitting lace up shoes) - that didn't help! But $30 Crocs did! I almost live in them now!

I'd highly recommend that she try a pair of Crocs before the trip. It certainly can't hurt! Worst case scenario she's out $30. Best case scenario - her feet won't hurt at WDW!!!!!!!! (or at home as well if she wears them once back!)

I don't know her age, but they do also make a shoe for diabetics that has more of a heel cup (comes up higher behind the heel) and that may add a sense of stability/security for her if she is older. That shoe is more expensive though. I'd find out if they help by buying the less expensive style first.

 

[onelugnut]

wow, that gal is a fountain of knowledge.
gotta tell you that she nailed it,
I have a heelspur the led to my planter facia pain,
and went to disney with it last year.
walked my butt off.
but my orthodics saved me.
if the crocs work for her thats great.
but i had to get my orthodics from the foot docter
and it cost me 425! ouch that almost hurt as much as the
planter facia. (by the way, not coverd by insurance)
but at least they work.http://www.disboards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=14555231#
pirate

 

[CPT Tripss]

If she goes the gel insert route, remind her not to wear them to the airport, but to put them in her checked luggage. Those darn inserts are as dangerous to air travel as snow globes.
Seriously, pack them.

 

[TravelinGal]

wow, that gal is a fountain of knowledge.

LOL - some days I get carried away with information...

 

[wewantmore]

My Mom just had surgery on BOTH feet for this. Very painful.

I'll have to let her know about the Crocs. She's a fashion victim anyway. She still wears velcro sneakers.

 

[brndbaker]

I am planning to visit Disneyland in Oct. I also have heal spurs and will be going to get a cortizone shot before my trip. If you can work in a trip to the Dr. This is what a would suggest for temporary relief for you trip. If not I use heal hallows, an insert with a cutout area to put into the heal of your shoe. It works pretty well while you are on your feet, but does nothing for the pain when you remove your shoes and sit for a while.

good luck. enjoy your trip.

 

[RoseNJ]

I spent 8 days in WDW with a recently diagnosed heel spur in my left foot. I followed my podiatrist's directions for the month before the trip and was able to walk every day with no pain. His directions included:
Ice for 15-20 minutes twice a day
Non-inflammatory ( I am using Aleve)
Stretching exercises (to stretch that ligament which is what really causes the pain, not the bone spur)
Wearing a night splint a few hours each evening while watching TV (again stretching the ligament)
I did none of this on vacation by the way, but the pain stayed away. I wore good supportive sneakers and my birkenstocks.
Good luck with your heel pain. Those of us who have it know how painful it really is .

 

[Louise-Montreal]

Have suffered too- one word- CROCS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[goofyforlife]

while you may have a heel spur the pain comes from the inflamation of the plantar fascia.

i have had the pain for awhile in my left foot. I finally asked my doctor about it and she told me what it really is.

Icing my foot (bottom) has really helped. So have my crocs.

Tylenol or aleve have never helped. My doctor gave me a presciption for relefen. (one of the new super-anti-inflamatories)

That works great

 

[PrincessAtta]

Thank you to all who replied. I think she's going to get some Crocs and see how she does. We appreciate everyone's help.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I have PF in both feet and it is particularly bad. It has been on and off for about 5 years and in the last 18mo it is mostly on. In fact my podiatrist says that I am his most difficult case in years! I do love to be different!

I love my Crocs, but could never wear them for more than light-to moderate walking like grocery shopping. Make sure your aunt tries them in many different situations to determine if they really will work. For heavy duty walking I have to have my tennies with custom orthotics. Crocs are pretty different and while many LOVE them, there are probably just as many that can't wear them, or not for long times. Everyone is different and you need to know how your feet and body will react.

Another thing that I have tried that helps are ankle supports bought at Walmart. The kind that velcro in 3 places around the foot and ankle. One of the adjustments is around the arch, and I found if I pull that one as tight as I can stand (without turning my toes blue!) it gives me more support to the PF area and allows me a few more hours of walking. Foot Source (footsource.com) also sells some arch supports and night splints.

I also wear the night splints on both feet most nights--I say most because it can be hard to sleep that way so some nights the need for sleep wins over the foot pain!. I am taking both splints to Disney tomorrow.

Ibuprophen is also helpful, ask your dr. for dosage. In cases like this you may need to take a prescription strength!

And finally cortisone shots can help. For me they haven't helped as much as we expected, but everyone's results will vary.

 

[MegsMa]

Had a heel spur w plantar fasciitis several years ago (and I don't consider myself "old" enough to even know what heel spurs are). I might add, I didn't know of crocs then, however, just by trial and error, the only shoe that gave me relief was a good old pair of clogs. Yes, I wore those babies every day for months - even in the snow. Now am pain free since that time. Can't explain the reason that a clog was comfortable, but it was and thank goodness!