HELP! I have a heel spur

[Noah122898]

I am in so much pain, I can't stand it. My podiatrist is going to fit me with an orthetic? Is this going to help? Has anyone out there had this painful spur? I am going out of my mind with the pain! Any suggestions from those of you who may have had this???

 

[mickeyboat]

I have not, but a former co-worker did, and it caused her a lot of discomfort. She was fitted with orthotics, which were very expensive and were not covered by insurance. They helped quite a bit, but then she developed back pain because she had compensated for so long for the heel pain. There are also lots of exercises and stretches she does which she reported helped quite a bit.

She said her brother had the same condition, and surgery helped. But it was not an option in her case for some reason.

Good luck.

Denae

 

[Chattyaholic]

Heel spurs are no fun. I had one several years ago. The podiatrist made an insert for my shoe, to take the stress off my heel, and I had several cortisone shots as well. Couldn't go barefoot, always had to have shoes on with my insert. Over time it heeled and I no longer have any pain at all, and don't wear the insert anymore either. Good luck to you.

 

[golfgal]

For temporary relief until you get your orthotic get some soft foam, squishy foam like they use in pillows, not rigid foam like florists use. Cut a piece of foam that is about twice the size of the area that hurts. Cut out about 1/4 of the inside of the foam so it looks like a donut. Tape that on your heal and that will take the pressure off where it hurts. Use foam that is at least 1" thick. You might have to wear different shoes (tennis shoes/sneakers/whatever) so this fits.

 

[TENNTigger]

Yes this is very painful. I have been suffering with one for about 18 months. I have tried the shots - worked for about a week and inserts, which seem to give some relief. I can only wear tennis shoes. I bought a heel insert and cut a hole in it where the pain was. This seems to work the best. They tell me eventually it will go away. We can only hope.

 

[aprilgail2]

I have heel spurs, Orthodics worked great for them! Only problem is my insurance will only cover one pair every 2 years and I really could use new ones every year!

 

[Feralpeg]

I've had them for years. I considered surgery, but decided against it after seeing what a co-worker went through. I wear orthotics and do exercises, but there are just times that they act up.

The best thing I've found is the cortisone shots. I know it sounds horrible, but it isn't that bad and it makes a huge difference.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Two things have helped me a lot. First, I had a cortizone shot. That worked for a while then I needed another. I didn't want to get a third so the doctor suggested birkenstock shoes. I didn't believe they would help but sure enough, they solved all my problems. I have been wearing them for three years now and won't wear anything else. I had MAJOR pain before and it is a thing of the past. You gotta adjust to birkenstocks but I strongly suggest them as they do make a hude difference.

 

[mickeysgal]

I've heard of this, but don't know exactly what this is. Is this something visual or is it deep within the heel? How do you get it? Is it from not wearing shoes enough and going barefoot too often?

 

[NAB]

I have them too. I the pain comes from something else. It is called Plantar something. Can't spell it. I got inserts too. The doctor said to wear shoes in the house that really helped that and stretching in the morning before your foot even leaves the bed. She told me to get a towel and put it on the ball of your foot and pull the foot towards you. Stretching the back of you calf too. There have been other threads about this , someone else said use a can and roll your foot on it too before you get out of bed. My pain is gone now and I tend not to wear indoor shoes anymore. The pain used to be bad when I sat for awhile and then got up.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I had one. I had my foot casted, wore an orthotic boot, had cortisone shots (several), exercises....I was miserable. I finally had surgery. The first 3-4 weeks after surgery I thought, OMG, what have I done. It hurt soooo bad and I was back in a cast and on crutches for over 5 weeks with no weight bearing allowed on that foot at all. But once it healed, it was a godsend. I've not had a moments trouble since and this was in 92 or 93. Good luck.

 

[Feralpeg]

I've heard of this, but don't know exactly what this is. Is this something visual or is it deep within the heel? How do you get it? Is it from not wearing shoes enough and going barefoot too often?

It tends to happen as your feet flatten out. It causes the tendon in the foot to rub and create a build up of calcium called a heel spur.

There are different reasons for this. Being overweight can contribute to it. Wearing shoes without arches can cause feet to flatten. I was recently with a friend who is a podiatrist. We were at Universal Studios. We were talking about all of the kids in flipflops. He said that he and his colleagues will have more patients than they can handle in about 15 years when all the flipflop wearers find they have flat feet.

 

[aprilgail2]

. The doctor said to wear shoes in the house that really helped that and stretching in the morning before your foot even leaves the bed. She told me to get a towel and put it on the ball of your foot and pull the foot towards you. Stretching the back of you calf too.

That is a major thing for me, the Dr said to put on your shoes when you get up in the morning and not take them off till bedtime, if I walk barefoot or with flip flops (or feet killers as my Dr put it) I pay for it for the next week!

 

[mrsheppo]

I actually had them on both feet. I went to my chiropractor and he gave me gel heel cups to wear in my shoes. He also did ultrasound treatments which gave me great relief. This happened just before I had a WDW trip scheduled and he recommended I get a pair of Crocs to wear. It took me about 6 weeks of treatments (2 per week) to heal.

Have had no problems since.

 

[MAKmom]

Crocs have Orthotic footbeds! They are only $30.00. Ihave a heel spur but it does not bother me yet....but I wear a Croc 90% of the time.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Oh, I'm sorry! No advice, only

 

[holycow]

I have them too. I the pain comes from something else. It is called Plantar something. Can't spell it. I got inserts too. The doctor said to wear shoes in the house that really helped that and stretching in the morning before your foot even leaves the bed. She told me to get a towel and put it on the ball of your foot and pull the foot towards you. Stretching the back of you calf too. There have been other threads about this , someone else said use a can and roll your foot on it too before you get out of bed. My pain is gone now and I tend not to wear indoor shoes anymore. The pain used to be bad when I sat for awhile and then got up.






This is the best advice I can give also. Helped me tremendously. I also did take drugs for a while after about a year it went away. Thank Heaven!

Lisa

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

The correct name of this is plantar faceitis (sp?). It is without a doubt the most painful thing I have ever encountered. I think it is worse than labor. At least with labor the end is in sight. With PF it can go on and on and on and on. I have it again, this is twice in 7 years. This time it is worse, I have had it for about 1 year now. I can't get anyn relief. I have tried the stretching, steroids, inserts (all that did was pinch a nerve in my back) and foot baths of ice and heat alternating. Nothing is working, only thing left is cortisone, and I am waiting to do this until my trip to Disney is around the corner. I don't want my foot to hurt while I'm there.

 

[mickeysgal]

For those that have this, how can you drive? How can you go to work? Certainly a job that requires you to be up on your feet is out of the question? This sounds so painful. For those of us that don't have it, are there ways to avoid this from happening?

 

[golfgal]

For those that have this, how can you drive? How can you go to work? Certainly a job that requires you to be up on your feet is out of the question? This sounds so painful. For those of us that don't have it, are there ways to avoid this from happening?

Wear good shoes, exercise, take care of your feet. Daily leg/foot stretching exercises will help as well. Some people are prone to this because of the way they walk, their ankles turn in/out when they land.