Dealing with Heels Spurs

Brought to you by Vive Health

As a mother, you are undoubtedly one of the busiest people you know, with plenty of things to do left, right, and center. With all the hustle and bustle, you are at risk of suffering from body aches including sore feet brought about by heel spurs.

What are heel spurs?

Heel spurs are the tiny protrusions of your heel bone. They are usually formed when you suffer from a condition called plantar fasciitis, which occurs when the tissues of your foot arch are inflamed or overstretched. If your feet are inflamed, they can’t support your body weight effectively. In response, your body creates extra calcium deposits in your heels to provide additional support to your worn out tissues. These deposits are your heel spurs and they are responsible for the knife-like pain you feel every time you walk.

Although not all people with plantar fasciitis develop these heel bone protrusions, heel spurs are found in about 50% of plantar fasciitis cases.

What are the causes of heel spurs?

Heel spurs are often associated with plantar fasciitis, which may result from the following:

Improper walking gait
Frequent running or jogging on extremely hard surfaces
Wearing ill-fitting shoes
Feet are overloaded with excessive body weight

Are you at risk?

While heel spurs are known develop due to repetitive stress and tension in your feet, the following people are more likely to develop this condition:

Moms. Moms often have to deal with a lot of housework including carrying their child, pushing heavy furniture or carrying heavy objects.
Obese people and pregnant women. Their extra body weight puts more stress on their feet.
People who engage in active sports, especially those that involve running.

Signs and symptoms of heel spurs

If you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms, you might be suffering from heel spurs:

Intense heel pain when taking your first steps every morning
Chronic pain while walking, jogging or running
Knife-like pain in the bottom of your feet
Inflammation and swelling at the front of your heel
You can feel a small bony protrusion on your heel

In some cases, heel spurs don’t manifest any outward signs and symptoms. One of the surefire ways to find out that you have heel spurs is through an X-ray.

How moms can deal with heel spurs

As a mom, it can be very troublesome when you develop heel spurs. You won’t be able to stand for hours in the kitchen preparing your family’s meal. You won’t be able to go with your family for a morning jog because of the stabbing pain in your heel.

There are a lot of activities you can’t normally do if you have heel spurs. Fortunately, there are ways on how to manage the pain, allowing you to go about your daily routine. You can lessen the pain in your heels by:

Using orthotic or heel inserts. Orthotic or heel inserts are simply protective footwear that adds cushioning and support to the arch of your feet. These will help reduce the pain every time you take a step.
Adding Epsom salt to your bath. Adding Epsom salt to your bath can help you relax and reduce the pressure on your heels.
Eating foods that are rich in magnesium. Foods such as bananas, avocados, brown rice, and spinach are rich in magnesium. This mineral helps you to utilize the calcium in your body. Since heel spurs are extra calcium deposits, the magnesium will help in detoxifying them.
Massaging your heels with coconut or olive oil. Warm a little amount of coconut or olive oil, then massage it onto your feet. This helps your worn out feet to heal faster since it lessens the inflammation.
Wearing well-fitted shoes. Ill-fitted shoes can only add more discomfort to your heels. You can wear well-fitting shoes with shock-absorbent soles.
Applying an ice pack. Applying an ice pack to your heels will help reduce the inflammation as well as the pain. You can apply the ice pack for about 10-15 minutes.
Warming up. If you play any sports, be sure to warm up first. Do a bit of stretching and avoid overdoing it.

If these home remedies do not work and you still feel an intense pain in your heels within a period of 9-12 months, surgical treatment might be necessary. Consult your doctor on what’s the best course of action to take.

Heel spurs may not be a very serious condition, but if left untreated, they can greatly limit your productivity. Heel spurs are highly prevalent among women and moms like you. So if you don’t want to suffer from this condition, don’t overwork yourself and strive to maintain your body weight within normal range.