When every single step causes sharp pain in the heel, a calcaneal or heel spur is usually responsible. The pain is particularly excruciating after prolonged sitting or in the morning after getting up.
The specialist consulted distinguishes between two different growth forms of heel spur, which is actually a new formation or remodeling of the bone on the heel. By far the most common growth form is the inferior or plantar heel spur. If it develops at the Achilles tendon insertion, it is called a dorsal heel spur. The heel spur irritates the surrounding tissue step by step to such an extent that chronic inflammation quickly develops, causing the typical severe pain when walking.
Factors Responsible for the Development of Heel Spurs
While heel spurs can have various causes, they are always, without exception, the result of constant misalignment or overuse that permanently disturbs the sensitive system of the human foot.
The body can only counteract this permanent misalignment of the feet by beginning to deposit calcium at the tendon insertions. This is the only way it can stabilize the foot system that has been thrown out of balance. The bone support structure resulting from these calcium deposits is known as a heel spur.
Incorrect Footwear and Changes in Gait
One of the most common causes is wearing incorrect footwear, which leads to unilateral strain or overuse of the feet. This may explain why women are particularly affected. Muscle weakness can also lead to permanent foot deformities and result in a heel spur.
Naturally, this is linked to all primary causes that lead to incorrect strain and changes in gait, for which the heel spur is ultimately only a symptom.
However, every form of misalignment, regardless of its cause, always results in the excessive formation of calluses. If these are not regularly removed, they hinder anti-inflammatory processes through continuous irritation and expand the range of misalignments to include incorrect rolling of the foot.
Poor Nutrition and Overweight
Poor nutrition leads over time to overweight, which in turn results in increased stress, which leads to foot misalignment, and this in turn leads to increased callus formation.
Here, too, a vicious circle can quickly arise, as the permanent severe pain when walking prevents those affected from any form of physical exercise.
The overweight increases, the strain on the feet and the pressure on the heel spur increase. Therefore, a change in diet will be indispensable here.
Treatment Options for a Heel Spur
If a heel spur has already developed, the treatment path is usually lengthy. Relief from constant pain can usually only be achieved with footwear with a slight heel and shoe inserts with a special heel bed or a heel cushion. Special stretching exercises can also provide temporary real relief for acute pain.
However, there is no way around actively fighting the inflammation and relieving the feet. A change in dietary fats to healthy, anti-inflammatory fats such as flaxseed or hemp oil, rapeseed or nut oils is usually recommended here.
Wild herbs such as parsley, rosemary, or mint also contain natural anti-inflammatory agents. Dandelion and especially nettle prove to be particularly helpful here. They could be processed into a delicious smoothie together with mango and ginger.
Another measure that strongly combats inflammation, however, is the regular removal of calluses, which counteracts the misalignment caused by them and thus the irritation.
