Heel Spur- UGH!

[TEK224]

Anyone have issues with heel spur ? Any advice?

I have been having pain in my heel for the last couple weeks. On a recent visit to my primary Dr. I asked him about it. He sent me for an xray. Got the results today - small heel spur. I thought it might have been PF as I was having pain along my arch.

So, before I had the xray I asked doc what my options were if it was a heel spur./ He gave me 3 choices:
1. get a wooden stick and rub my foot over it to try to grind down the spur
2. I could get a shot
3. They could cut my foot and grind it down for me

2 & 3 are really not options unless I am totally desparate. I'm going to stsrt rolling my heel over the stick and see what happens. Just wondering if anyone tried anything else that worked.

Terri

 

[cewait]

Anyone have issues with heel spur ? Any advice?

I have been having pain in my heel for the last couple weeks. On a recent visit to my primary Dr. I asked him about it. He sent me for an xray. Got the results today - small heel spur. I thought it might have been PF as I was having pain along my arch.

So, before I had the xray I asked doc what my options were if it was a heel spur./ He gave me 3 choices:
1. get a wooden stick and rub my foot over it to try to grind down the spur
2. I could get a shot
3. They could cut my foot and grind it down for me

2 & 3 are really not options unless I am totally desparate. I'm going to stsrt rolling my heel over the stick and see what happens. Just wondering if anyone tried anything else that worked.

Terri

Actually, Option 2 is not that bad used in conjunction with 1. The reason you are hurting is from the inflammation in the area. Cortisone will kill the inflammation quicker than oral NSAIDs and get you past the issue quicker. Now saying that, one has to worry about adding a substance into the body. The compounding issue from the summer is not really an issue with straight cortisone, but infections can occur if carried in from the needle passing through the skin as can tendon issues. A shot in the ankle foot region will require 4-7 days off running so take that into account. The best time for this injection at this point in training would be just after Christmas during the first part of taper. However, if you cannot get the last few long runs in due to pain, then now could be appropriate.

I agree with 3 being a very, very last resort. You should be bail to work it down with the other two options.

Good luck. It can be a tough decision and I offer my views from a coach and runner who has on occasion suffered from spurs (mine are in the knee area).

 

[ironz]

Terri...I've had the cortisone injection there before. The injection hurts like ...um....Malificent?... .but it really helped. I want to say I had the injection before I did one of the WDW races one year.

Another thing that is said to be a factor with PF is tight calves. The folks at www.tptherapy.com know some stuff about that, and working on the calf (gastroc and soleus) can help with the foot. (true...I've dealt with all this before). So don't just use the stick or other roller type options on your foot...work the calf as well.

Hope this helps, and good luck!! I'll see you in January, I hope?

 

[TEK224]

Thanks Coach & Betsy. I've had people tell me the cortisone will help. But I can safely say I am a big scaredy cat when it comes to shots. Even during routine blood work, when I know the girl has drawn my blood before painlessly, I still get myself all tensed up. Couple that with the fact that I just don't like the thought of cortisone, that's why I said the shot would be one of my last resorts.

Unfortunately I will not be at Disney this year. I really wanted to go (the medal looks SO cool). But I was trying to figure out some family arrangements (Mom is in early stages of dementia. She lives with me and I'm not comfortable leaving her alone for several days). While I was trying to work it out, the race closed. I guess it was an omen.

I'll work the calves as well as the foot and see how it goes. I don't have any races scheduled for the near future, so I have some time to get it straight and get back to training.

 

[Swmr359]

My dad has a heel spur, he was told his only option was surgery which would involve removing and reattaching his achilles. He decided agianst that...

So what he did was cut down the back of his shoe, to relive pressure on the heel and he wears a compression sock. He does most of his running on the treadmill now, and when he goes to races he tries to keep his pace slower but steady. He does orienteering not road races; running on the road makes it worse.

 

[lisah0711]

So, so sorry to hear about your heel spur.

I have what my PT called "heel spoons" they were so large. I suffered with PF for much longer than I should have. I had to have the cortisone shot in the bottom of my foot. The good news -- it worked. The bad news -- I would rather have a baby without an epidural again than have another shot. My regular doctor gave me the shot. A podiatrist who treated me later told me that he would have done it differently so it wasn't quite as painful. I would certainly get the shot before trying surgery if I had it to do again. I had a total cure after PT and wearing orthotics. The golf ball under the foot works well. Also, wear shoes, even in the house.

I started running after all that so it is something that you can recover from and live to race another day -- good luck!