topic Re: Possible Heel Spurs? in Wellness

Possible Heel Spurs?

June222 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:51:58 GMT

I have a sharp pain in my right heel when I step down on my foot... it hurts more at first and feels a bit better as I walk... It is when I have been sitting or sleeping and then get up that I notice it most.

I see that this can be connected to Planter facitis. as well as arthritis( which I have a lot of)..

I have purchased some insoles Today from The Insole Store for this to see if it helps. I know stretching the foot also helps.. Any suggestions? Do any of you have just the heel pain? I can rub the area and feel a hard nodule in my heel where the pain is coming from.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

Pearlee — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:47:50 GMT

Sorry about your foot plight - that sounds painful.

I hope your heel spurs heal.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

June222 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:49:32 GMT

@Pearlee wrote:
Sorry about your foot plight - that sounds painful.

I hope your heel spurs heal.

@Pearlee Thanks Pearley! Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

hopi — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:00:27 GMT

It could be possibly heal spurs or a touch of planters facitis. Whatever the problem. I would recommend that you get a pair of open toed Orthaheel slippers and never step out of bed onto the floor without slipping into them. Going barefoot with those problems make them worse and having had both those issues usually due to exercise and they will become more painful without proper attention. Orthaheel really soothes and puts that heel in the right place. I usually only get open toed slippers or the open toed sandals because you can fit your foot perfectly with the adjustable straps.

Also you can buy some dead sea bath salts and either take a whole bath soak or just your feet. It really is soothing and relaxing.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

haddon9 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:07:30 GMT

If it is planter facitis I've found that arch support helps with the pain (among other things like stretching) and prevention. I've been through it twice and only wear shoes, sandals, boots, sneakers & slippers with arch support now. Haven't had a problem since I switched over.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

millieshops — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:38:00 GMT

@June222ouch - whatever it is. Your description does sound very much like the pain I felt when I was told I had a heel spur - but I'm no doctor so you know what my diagnosis is worth.

Also, I'll tell you what I do right before I stand up after sleeping or sitting for a long time. I do some ankle exercises which seem to get the flood flowing and waylay most of the pain. Years back, one doctor I saw recommended "writing" the small letter alphabet in the air with each ankle and I still do that quite often. Probably can't make things worse, but, again, I'm no doctor, so take it for what it's worth.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:45:21 GMT

All these suggestions are just band-aids. I had mine surgically removed and have had no problems since then. BTW:it is heel not heal

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

June222 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:50:32 GMT

@ncascade wrote:
All these suggestions are just band-aids. I had mine surgically removed and have had no problems since then. BTW:it is heel not heal

@Group 5 minus 1 I would give some other remedies a try first before surgery.... Oh thanks for the spelling correction.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:52:50 GMT

I tried many suggestions before surgery. I can still see myself at lunch with a bag of ice under my foot trying to ease the pain. I finally saw an orthopedic surgeon.

Re: Possible Heal Spurs?

June222 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:59:18 GMT

@ncascade wrote:
I tried many suggestions before surgery. I can still see myself at lunch with a bag of ice under my foot trying to ease the pain. I finally saw an orthopedic surgeon.

@Group 5 minus 1 At least you tried! Sometimes surgery is what works.....I know about that with two knee and two hip replacements!

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

ChynnaBlue — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 19:44:10 GMT

That's the kind of pain I have when I get Plantar Fasciitis. I've had PF on and off in the past and insoles have always helped, but right now I've got it and none of them are helping. I'm making an appointment with a podiatrist to see if I have something else and to recommend a plan of action.

I recommend you do the same if your pain continues. Right now my pain is terrible when I get out of bed, but I can walk it off. Getting up from my desk is also painful, but walks off.

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

2blonde — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 20:21:44 GMT

It sounds like plantar fascitis (you usually get that before you get the spur). Arch supports are needed to take the pressure off the heel and distribute it more evenly across the foot. Orthaheels have too high of an arch for me

I've been wearing Birkenstocks for about 15 years because of my flat feet. They not only support the arch, but are molded to fit the entire foot like a footprint in the sand. I can't walk barefoot more than across the room without my Birks on. They are right next to the bed, because when you get up in the a.m. is when the heel pain is at its worst.

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

daisyk — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 22:44:29 GMT

I have heel spurs on both feet. I can't feel them really on my foot but they were found by xray. For me they created that Plantar faciitis pain. Wearing arch support has helped me and I'm good at the moment. I have some orthaheel and I have some of the Dr.Scholl inserts and some over the counter ones I got from the foot doctor. My insurance wouldn't pay for custom orthotics, but I've done alright with the store bought ones. It took months of wearing the inserts but finally I had relief. I pretty much have to wear them all the time though.I think that stretching can help and sometimes rolling your foot over frozen water bottle can help. My best relief was the inserts and time. Hope you find relief soon june22.

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

June222 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 22:57:38 GMT

I can can feel a movable lump where it hurts deep in my heel. Guess I will keep an eye on it and see how it goes. Thanks for all the info and helpful suggestions!

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

susan kay — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 23:55:01 GMT

I"m sure everyone's situation is different, but I had something similar which started almost two years ago. I thought that it was due to heel spurs, and even though the doctor said that I had heel spurs, the pain in my right foot was being caused by plantar fasciitis. He gave me some basic exercises to do. Also, told me never to go barefoot, not even around the house (which I did a LOT). He suggested that I get GOOD shoes to help solve the problem. I went to the Walking store and bought two pairs of Abeo sandals...one for everyday wear and one for extensive walking. I could tell when I was in the store that my feet felt much better. I don't even wear slippers around the house that don't have good arch support (not easy to find).

Found a lot of helpful information on a site called "Heel that Pain". Purchased some of their shorter and longer shoe inserts. They have basic information on their site about foot issues and exercises. Good information. Overall, I don't wear any type of shoe without an insert, including heels and flats, and I don't go barefoot. I don't have the pain any more, not even when I get up. I definitely remember, though, how much pain I was in until I took charge of the situation, went to a podiatrist, and read up on the issue. That pain was awful!

Hope you get relief!

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

pommom — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 02:32:14 GMT

As someone who had plantar fasciitis in my right foot and now in the left, in addition to Vionic shoes I often wear socks esp made with strong support in the arch. The weave is denser so as to give your arch a "lift" and my foot feels so much better with the additional support.

There are exercises for this foot condition which I did for my right foot. I no longer have plantar fasciitis in my right foot. My left foot actually hurts more than my right foot did so I'm exercising it, wearing Vionics and the support socks. It will go away soon.

I NEVER go barefoot. A big no-no with those of us with plantar fasciitis.

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

deb5555 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:51:31 GMT

Get a pair of birkenstocks, they work great for this. Put them on as soon as u get up in the morning before you take your first step, keep them by your bed. PomMom is right never go barefoot, it's too painful.

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

straykatz — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:16:28 GMT

Have you tried stretching exerices? They work! I struggled with pain in my left foot on and off for several years and while I was in for PT for a pulled back muscle my trainer gave me some foot exercises to work on and they really helped.

http://heel-spur.info/stretching

Exercise 2 on this website was the one he got me to do and it helped tremendously. I also do exercise 4.

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

momtochloe — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:29:03 GMT

@straykatz wrote:
Have you tried stretching exerices? They work! I struggled with pain in my left foot on and off for several years and while I was in for PT for a pulled back muscle my trainer gave me some foot exercises to work on and they really helped.

http://heel-spur.info/stretching

Exercise 2 on this website was the one he got me to do and it helped tremendously. I also do exercise 4.

Thanks for the link to the excercises straykatz. I keep forgetting about them. Probably because I keep hoping they come up with a new set that involves sitting in a chair and not much else . . .

Just kidding, thanks again for the reminder!

Re: Possible Heel Spurs?

hckynutjohn — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:51:56 GMT

As am athlete my first move is always to use ICE. My second move is always to have a Sports Medicine Specialist in the field examine and diagnose the problem.

Many times I have said on this and other forums, "I can speculate and guess with the best of 'em". I however do not speculate about my own health or injury issues and I would never do so with the body of someone else.

You cannot go wrong with ice, but if it is a Plantar Fascia problem? You can go "very wrong" with stretching.

If you have a Sports Med Podiatrist in your area? Make an appointment to see that Specialist

hckynut(john)