How to treat heel spurs at home

This article will discuss how to treat heel spurs at home. This is a rather unpleasant disease, accompanied by pain when walking. According to medical statistics, every tenth person experiences heel spurs. The disease progresses rapidly and constantly. Ligaments, tendons and muscles become inflamed. All this causes unbearable pain. At home, you can use FitoHeel phytocream for heel spurs. It has proven its effectiveness in numerous clinical trials. Positive reviews confirm high performance. Orthopedic doctors also talk about the unique effect of Phyto Heal balm.

Causes of heel spurs

A heel spur can be recognized by severe pain in the heel. This is especially noticeable in the morning and at night. The pain may subside during the day. Bone grows on the sole and over time the problem becomes noticeable to the naked eye. The following reasons can provoke the appearance of this defect:

the presence of excess weight and, as a result, increased load on the foot;
flat feet, causing excessive tension on the heel bone;
thinning of the fat pad in old age;
the presence of connective tissue diseases;
pathological problems in the spinal column;
violation of mineral metabolism;
vascular pathologies;
consequences of fractures and ligament ruptures;
frequent and prolonged wearing of low-quality shoes that cause discomfort;
long periods of standing.

Features of the disease in pregnant women

Heel spurs are likely in pregnant women. A woman’s body weight in this position rapidly increases, and the ligamentous apparatus becomes more flexible. As a result, the planar heel plate softens. However, most treatments are prohibited during pregnancy as they can harm the baby.

The following therapy methods are used:

selection of orthopedic shoes with low heels (4-5) centimeters;
choosing an orthopedic insole;
foot massage;
diet planning;
restriction of physical activity;
preventative salt baths;
taking vitamin complexes;
taking choleretic medications.

Sometimes after childbirth the problem disappears on its own.

Symptoms of having a spur

The fact that we are talking about a heel spur is indicated by the presence of the following symptoms:

heel pain that gets worse after prolonged sitting or lying down. Normal movement causes great discomfort. The man begins to limp. In the evening the pain intensifies;
gait deformity. Due to painful movements, a person begins to limp or fall to one side;
discomfort in the heel area, the appearance of red and rough skin, as well as tissue suppuration.

Characteristics of the disease

Plantar fasciitis is a fairly common pathological process, the peak of activity of which has occurred in the last 10 years. Most often, heel spurs are observed in women over 40 years of age.

However, cases of plantar fasciitis also occur in younger people. Removing a heel spur does not cause difficulties for specialists if the disease is in its initial stage.

Recommendations for heel spurs

If you have a heel spur, it is best to consult a doctor, as this disease requires immediate treatment. The specialist will recommend the following tips:

reduce physical stress on the leg;
use special clamps;
insert insoles with arch support;
apply external means;
use the services of taping, immobilization, etc.;
in advanced cases, surgical treatment will be required.

Diagnostics

A specialist of any profile will tell you which doctor to contact if you have symptoms of a heel spur. The orthopedist will make an accurate diagnosis based on a history and examination of the patient. The results of an X-ray examination of the foot are of great importance. On an x-ray, as a rule, a spike on the heel tubercle is clearly visible. Among the auxiliary research methods, a general blood test and MRI of the foot can be prescribed.

Differential diagnosis should be carried out for diseases such as:

bone tuberculosis;
rheumatoid arthritis;
gout;
osteomyelitis.

Top 15 options for treating heel spurs at home

In folk medicine there are several effective recipes that help get rid of heel spurs, reduce pain and stop inflammatory processes. To achieve maximum effectiveness, it is recommended to combine home treatment with the use of pharmaceutical drugs. The most effective methods are as follows:

salt bath. Add 2-3 tablespoons to 1 liter of water and thoroughly steam your feet, then thoroughly dry the skin and put on socks made from natural fabrics;
soda-salt baths. Add 100 g of salt and 5 tablespoons of soda to a liter of warm water, add 8 drops of iodine. Carry out the procedure for 20 minutes, then wipe the skin dry, rub in nourishing oil and do a light massage;
a bath of cocklebur. Dissolve 150 g of medicinal herb in 2 liters of water. After cooking, strain and cool to a comfortable temperature, steam your feet for 10 minutes. The procedure is best performed before bedtime, after which you should immediately go to bed, avoiding stress on the feet;
Boil 100 g of horseradish leaves or roots in a liter of water. Cool to an acceptable and comfortable temperature. Steam your feet in the broth. The frequency of this procedure is twice a week;
propolis. This bee product is characterized by analgesic, anti-inflammatory and absorbable effects. Take a small piece of propolis and soften it in a water bath. Form a cake and apply to the sore heel. Put a warm sock on top. This procedure can be done every night;
potato. The product is known for its unique properties in the fight against inflammation. Take a large saucepan. Pour water into it and add small tubers. Stir until done, drain the water, cool slightly and stomp your feet until it cools completely. After this, apply a mesh of iodine to problem areas and put on socks;
tincture of lilac flowers. Pour 10 g of dried lilac flowers with 100 grams of vodka. Leave to infuse for one week in a dark place. Strain and use to wipe diseased areas;
salt treatment. Pour 100 g of salt and walk on it for 20 minutes with bare feet. It's best to use coarse salt;
iodine-based tincture. Mix one teaspoon of iodine with one teaspoon of salt and honey in the same amount. Use twice a day to wipe the affected area for one month;
egg based recipe. Take any baby cream, squeeze it into a glass jar and combine with one egg. Stir, add a large spoonful of vinegar and leave the mixture overnight. In the evening, steam your feet in a salt bath, then rub your heels with the resulting mixture. Put cellophane and socks on top;
use of laundry soap. Grate a bar of soap on a coarse grater. Melt in a water bath, form the resulting mass into a cake and place on the sore spot. Put a plastic bag and warm socks on top. Leave the compress until the morning and rinse the affected areas. This recipe is absolutely safe and suitable for use for two to three months;
warm sand. Under the influence of warm sand, inflammatory processes are stopped. The procedure can be carried out in a natural environment, walking on soft sand on the beach or near a pond. It can also be used at home. Take a small amount of sand and heat it in the oven, then immerse your feet in it;
the use of animal fat or lard. Steam your heels thoroughly and apply a piece of lard to them. Badger and goat fat are also suitable for this;
vinegar solution. Mix 70 percent vinegar, vegetable oil and dry mustard in an amount of one tablespoon of each ingredient. Soak a cotton swab or gauze in the solution, apply it to the spur and rinse the skin after half an hour;
pharmaceutical turpentine. Use to rub the sore area before bed for two weeks.

Traditional methods of treating fasciitis

Resorting to folk remedies for treating spurs is not prohibited even by official medicine. Traditional recipes can be a good alternative if, for some reason, the drugs do not have an effect, and ultrasound treatment is not suitable for health reasons.

Many folk remedies have proven their effectiveness and safety. But nevertheless, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. First of all, because a heel spur can be easily confused with another disease - a heel wart.

This formation has a hard core that causes symptoms similar to typical plantar fasciitis. It can be difficult to distinguish between these diseases on your own, so getting diagnosed is still a good idea.

Another important point is to choose the right treatment method. Some of the recipes are designed specifically to reduce plantar warts. Therefore, if, after treating heel spurs with folk remedies, the symptoms do not go away, it means that the prescription was chosen incorrectly, or the wrong ailment was treated.

There are 4 main ways to treat the disease:

warming up the diseased area;
24-hour compress;
compress at night;
massage.

Garlic-based compress
The effectiveness of all remedies is different: some can eliminate discomfort and pain in 3 procedures, some need to be repeated much longer, sometimes up to a month.

Ready-made ointments for the treatment of heel spurs

At the pharmacy and on the Internet you can order ready-made compounds that relieve heel spurs and alleviate the symptoms of this pathology. Let's look at the most effective ones:

FitoHeel - phytocream for heel spurs. It is made from shark oil and other unique natural ingredients. Quickly penetrates to the source of inflammation and instantly eliminates symptoms, relieving pain and discomfort. Phyto Heal promotes complete recovery from the disease and also prevents pathologies of joints, cartilage and bones;
external anti-inflammatory drugs, including Diclofenac ointment, Ibuprofen ointment, Piroxicam gel. These drugs are rubbed into the affected area and applied three to four times a day for two weeks;
anti-inflammatory local irritant drugs. They help relieve pain, activate metabolism and reduce inflammation. For example, Dimexide gel, suitable for application and as a compress.

The simplest and most well-known drug is hydrocortisone ointment with an anti-inflammatory effect. It must be used for two to three weeks. Today, Chinese patches with anesthetic substances and magnetic compounds are increasingly used. They affect the reflexogenic zones of the foot.

Physiotherapy can also be used to eliminate tumors on the heels:

foot massage that normalizes blood circulation;
mud applications that relieve inflammation;
mineral baths that absorb bone formation.

Treatment at the Energy of Health clinic

If you are worried about pain or discomfort in your heel, come for an appointment at the Health Energy clinic. An experienced orthopedic doctor will listen and examine you, and also prescribe the necessary examinations. After making a diagnosis, we will offer modern methods of treating pathology:

blockades for quick pain relief;
all types of physiotherapy;
professional therapeutic massage;
training in physical therapy exercises and exercises under the supervision of a trainer.

Additionally, we will prescribe drug treatment in accordance with modern standards, and also monitor the effect of therapy.

About night orthoses and heel spur prevention

Night braces can be used as an additional tool in the treatment of heel spurs. Morning pain occurs as a result of repeated rupture of the fascia that has grown together overnight. At night, a person is in a horizontal position, and his feet are relaxed and extended. In the morning the sole bends. As a result of tension in the fascia, a rupture occurs. If you fix it at night, it will help avoid morning pain, so orthopedists recommend using special splints and night orthoses. An alternative could be long knee socks and additional straps that secure the foot at an angle of 90 degrees.

To ensure that the problem of heel spurs remains in the past and does not affect you in the future, you should pay attention to the following preventive methods:

treat spinal diseases in a timely manner;
do not cause flat feet;
train muscles and ligaments;
take care of the condition of the joints;
wear good shoes;
use hard orthopedic insoles;
avoid foot injuries and overloads;
lead an active and healthy lifestyle;
control weight;
eat right;
seek preventive massage services.

Under no circumstances should the disease be neglected, as it gets stronger and becomes more and more difficult to treat. The presence of even minor discomfort and inconvenience when walking is the first sign that you should consult an orthopedic doctor. In advanced cases, surgical procedures may be required. If the cause of the problem is not eliminated, then even after surgery there is a risk that the spur will appear again.

Diet

Nutrition for heel spurs has several goals:

reduce body weight and prevent its increase;
minimize inflammatory processes;
remove excess salts from the body.

Doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:

control the daily caloric intake of food, prevent overeating;
in the absence of contraindications, drink at least 2-3 liters of clean water daily (tea, coffee, juices and other drinks do not count);
balance the menu in terms of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, provide a sufficient amount of vitamins;
do fasting days regularly;
minimize the consumption of spicy, hot, smoked, salty foods, sauces, canned food, as well as products containing artificial flavors;
exclude strong broths, mushrooms, offal, coffee, alcohol from the diet;
reduce the amount of salt;