Symnptoms, Causes, Treatments, Pain Management

If you look at an adult foot from the inside, you’ll usually notice an upward curve in the middle. This is called an arch. Tendons — tight bands that attach at the heel and foot bones — form the arch. Several tendons in your foot and lower leg work together to form the arches in your foot.

When the tendons all pull the proper amount, then your foot forms a moderate, normal arch. When tendons do not pull together properly, there is little or no arch. This is called flat foot or fallen arch.

Test Yourself for Flat Feet

You can easily test yourself to see if you might have fallen arches or flat feet. Follow these three steps:

1. Get your feet wet.
2. Stand on a flat surface where your footprint will show, such as on a concrete walkway.
3. Step away and look at the prints. If you see complete imprints of the bottom of your feet on the surface, then you’re likely to have flat feet.

Many young children have flat feet, a condition referred to as flexible flat feet. When the child stands, the feet look flat. But when the child rises to their toes, a slight arch appears. In most cases, as children grow older, the arches develop.

Causes of Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Flat feet in adults can arise from a variety of causes. Here are the most common:

• An abnormality that is present from birth
• Stretched or torn tendons
• Damage or inflammation of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT), which connects from your lower leg, along your ankle, to the middle of the arch
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Some health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Nerve problems

Other factors that can increase your risk include:

Symptoms of Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Many people have flat feet — and notice no problems and require no treatment. But others may experience the following symptoms:

• Feet tire easily
• Painful or achy feet, especially in the areas of the arches and heels
• The inside bottoms of your feet become swollen
• Foot movement, such as standing on your toes, is difficult
• Back and leg pain

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time for a trip to the doctor.

Diagnosing Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Your doctor examines your feet to determine two things:

• Whether you have flat feet
• The cause(s)

An exam may include these steps:

• Checking your health history for evidence of illnesses or injuries that could be linked to flat feet or fallen arches
• Looking at the soles of your shoes for unusual wear patterns
• Observing the feet and legs as you stand and do simple movements, such as raising up on your toes
• Testing the strength of muscles and tendons, including other tendons in the feet and legs, such as the Achilles tendon or the posterior tibial tendon
• Taking X-rays or an MRI of your feet

Treatment for Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Treatment for flat feet and fallen arches depends on the severity and cause of the problem. If flat feet cause no pain or other difficulties, then treatment is probably not needed. In other cases, your doctor may suggest one or more of these treatments:

• Rest and ice to relieve pain and reduce swelling
• Stretching exercises
• Pain relief medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
• Physical therapy
• Orthotic devices, shoe modifications, braces, or casts
• Injected medications to reduce inflammation, such as corticosteroids

If pain or foot damage is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery. Procedures may include the following:

• Fusing foot or ankle bones together (arthrodesis)
• Removing bones or bony growths — also called spurs (excision)
• Cutting or changing the shape of the bone (osteotomy)
• Cleaning the tendons’ protective coverings (synovectomy)
• Adding tendon from other parts of your body to tendons in your foot to help balance the “pull” of the tendons and form an arch (tendon transfer)
• Grafting bone to your foot to make the arch rise more naturally (lateral column lengthening)

Home Remedies for Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

There are home remedies to prevent or manage pain from fallen arches or flat feet. Here are some areas to consider:

• Wear footwear or shoe inserts that are appropriate to your activity.
• When pain occurs, try at-home treatment of rest, ice, and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen.Talk to your doctor first if you take any other medicines or have any medical problems.
• Ask your doctor or a physical therapist to show you stretches that can prepare you for feet-intensive activities.
• Limit or treat risk factors that can make fallen arches or flat feet worse, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
• Avoid activities that put excessive stress on your feet, such as running on roads.
• Avoid high-impact sports such as basketball, hockey, soccer, and tennis.
• Know when to get help. When pain is severe or interferes with activities, it’s time to see the doctor for a thorough exam and treatment.

Bone Spur Surgery and Treatment for the Neck, Spine & Back

Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, are calcified ,hard lumps of additional bone that develop on the ends of spinal bones or surrounding joints. They frequently occur near joints damaged by osteoarthritis, a disorder that causes painful and stiff joints. Bone spurs can also form when adjacent cartilage or tendons are inflamed or injured. Osteophytes can sprout from any bone, but they’re most common in the neck, shoulders, knees, lower back, fingers, foot, and heels, where cartilage has degraded. Bone spurs are also common around degenerative discs in the spine.

Bone spurs are the body’s natural means of redistributing weight over a greater surface, cushioning the bone. They also decrease the range of motion, inhibiting activities that could create bony stress. The majority of bone spurs do not create any complications. Patients will only develop symptoms like pain and stiffness if the outgrowths rub against other bones or irritate surrounding nerves.

Causes of bone spurs

One of the leading causes of bone spur is arthritis. When the joints are impacted by arthritis, osteophytes develop. In the rear of the spine, each vertebra has two pairs of facets. Facet joints are formed when these facets meet those of the vertebrae above and below. During spinal movement, the facets rub against one another. Smooth, slippery cartilage coats the facets, allowing them to glide against one another. A condition known as spinal osteoarthritis develops as the protective layer of cartilage wears away. Bone spurs form as a result of the increased tension. The neck and lower back are the most common sites of spinal osteoarthritis. It can result in stiffness, discomfort, and other side effects.

Another cause of bone spurs in the spine is Degenerative Disc Disease which is the wear and strain on an intervertebral disc. Discs between the spine’s vertebrae operate as shock absorbers. When a disc is injured, it might cause friction between the vertebrae above and below it. A deteriorated disc is more likely to cause spine instability, and instability is more likely to cause enthesophytes, a form of bone spur.

How enthesophytes form

The ligaments that keep the vertebrae together relax as the intervertebral discs wear out. As a result, the spine loses some of its stability. Instability puts additional strain on the loose ligaments, creating inflammation. These ligaments may thicken spontaneously to reduce excessive motion and regain strength. The enthesis, the connective tissue that connects another soft tissue, such as a ligament, to a bone, gets inflamed due this process. The vertebra’s bone development is affected by inflammation at the enthesis. The enthesis tissue calcifies and forms a bone spur because vertebral bone cells are deposited where they would not ordinarily be.

Who is at risk of developing bone spurs?

Bone spurs are most commonly caused by aging as joints deteriorate over time due to wear and tear. Bone spurs are a typical imaging result, especially in persons over the age of 50. Similarly, most patients who suffer from a compressed nerve root or spinal stenosis due to bone spurs are in their 60s and 70s.

Apart from age, other factors can contribute to the development of bone spurs. Patients with scoliosis or other spinal problems are at a higher risk of developing bone spurs. Similarly, maintaining poor posture or overusing can also lead to a spinal disorder like bone spurs. Lifestyle choices like dietary decisions and physical conditions also play a part in an individuals’ spinal health. For instance, being obese can put extra pressure on the spine.  

Symptoms of bone spurs

The symptoms related to bone spurs typically develop slowly over time. Patients will often experience pain, numbness, and weakness in different parts of the body. These symptoms can become worse with activities like bending, prolonged sitting, and twisting. However, most symptoms will improve with adequate rest and supplementary medication.

Bone spur symptoms are often location-specific. The two commonly affected segments in the spine are the cervical and lumbar spine.

Symptoms of bone spurs in the cervical spine

Patients may experience the following symptoms depending on the location of bone spurs in the neck;

•  Numbness, or tingling in one or both arms
• Radiculopathy in the neck and shoulders
• Weakness in the upper arms

Symptoms of bone spurs in the lumbar spine

Patients may experience the following symptoms depending on the location of bone spurs in the lower back;

• Weakness in one or both legs
• Dull lumbar pain triggered by standing or walking.
• Loss of sensation, or tingling into the buttocks and back of the thighs

How bone spurs cause pain

Bone spurs don’t cause symptoms by themselves. Pain experienced due to bone spurs can develop in three ways;

1. Nerve root compression

The neural foramina, which is where the nerve roots exit the spinal column, can become constricted due to bone spurs. The nerve roots may become squeezed if there isn’t enough space. Nerve root compression can produce paresthesia as well as inflammation of the nerves. Pain can occur when the nerve root becomes irritated.

2. Spinal cord compression

Bone spurs can extend into the spinal canal, reducing the space available for the spinal cord. The spinal cord can be compressed, resulting in numbness, tiredness, discomfort, and other complications.

3. Facet joint inflammation

Bone spurs in the spine’s facet joints can cause adjacent vertebrae to grind against one another, causing tension and inflammation. Pain, stiffness, and other symptoms may result from the inflammation.

Diagnosis of bone spurs

Consultation with a medical professional is the only way to diagnose bone spurs and identify the best treatment recommendations. The doctor will start by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. 

The patient will be asked to conduct specified motions to verify nerve function and muscle strength in the limbs and examine the range of motion of the spine. These clinical tests can assist in identifying whether symptoms are caused by compression of the spinal nerves and spinal cord or another condition.

The doctor is then likely to call for an imaging test to assess the existing condition of the bone structure in the affected region. Soft tissues such as discs, nerve roots, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and cartilage are best examined with an MRI scan. 

Doctors can also use x-rays to see whether there are any bone spurs or evidence of spinal degeneration. X-rays assist doctors in determining whether more medical imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan, is required. A CT scan is a type of x-ray that produces several cross-sectional images of the body. CT scans can better show nerves, bone, and soft tissue when contrast is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid placed in the intrathecal space.

Treatment of bone spurs

The majority of patients with mild to moderate nerve compression and irritation caused by bone spurs can adequately manage their symptoms without surgery—nonsurgical treatment help to address the problem of pain and inflammation.

If the discomfort from a bone spur is minor and only occurs once in a while, your doctor will prescribe an over-the-counter pain reliever. A steroid shot could also help to reduce swelling and inflammation gradually. Patients should undertake long-term medication use with discretion due to the danger of side effects.

Back discomfort caused by bone spurs can also be relieved with physical therapy and exercise conducted by trained therapists. These rehabilitation techniques aim to improve posture and reduce nerve root compression by restoring flexibility and strength to the spine. Likewise, a physical treatment that focuses on strengthening the muscles around the afflicted joint will assist patients in moving in a way that does not put pressure on their nerves.

A bone spur pressing on a nerve can produce significant discomfort and limit the patient’s range of motion. A doctor might propose surgery in this scenario. Bone spur surgery involves removing excess tissue and bone to ease pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. There are several procedures available for patients to choose from, including minimally invasive laser spine surgery which can be used to correct spinal abnormalities, including bone spurs. At Deuk spine, we have perfected a peer-reviewed treatment option with a 95% success rate and allows patients to regain complete control of their bodies in less than three days.

The level of spinal degeneration and the patient’s dedication to rehabilitation are two factors that influence whether or not surgery will eliminate pain and other symptoms caused by bone spurs.

How to prevent bone spurs

Bone spurs that develop as a result of arthritis’ natural wear and tear are usually irreversible. Patients can, however, take the following precautions to avoid bone spurs caused by other factors;

• To preserve the strength of your bones, adopt a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
• Maintain a regular exercise routine to stay fit and in shape
• Keep good posture when standing or sitting to sustain back strength and stabilize the spine.
• Employ physical therapy to master techniques that will improve and strengthen the muscle around the joints.

Are you or a loved one experiencing back pain or other symptoms? Deuk Spine Institute is always accepting new patient inquiries. To learn more, contact us or give us a call at 1-800-FIX-MY-BACK.

Bone Spurs – Antonio Webb

What are bone spurs? 

Bone spurs are overgrowths of bone, sometimes called osteophytes. They often form where bones meet each other. 

What causes bone spurs?

Bone spurs mainly form from joint damage associated with osteoarthritis. Because there is no more cartilage, the joint turns into “bone-on-bone”. Because it is unstable, the bone grows in ways to keep the joint stable. An example of a joint that is located in the spine where this occurs is the facet joints. These are the joints in the back of your spine that allow you to move, extend, and rotate your body. When these joints become arthritic, the bone rubs along each other and, hence, bone spurs form. These bone spurs may be asymptomatic and are usually a show of wear and tear over time, though sometimes they produce symptoms.

What are symptoms of bone spurs?

Most bone spurs do not cause any symptoms and may be picked up incidentally during a routine X-ray of the spine. When there are bone spurs in the spine, it can cause a number of different symptoms depending on where the spur is located.

• Joint grinding: When there is no cartilage or lubricant between the joints of the spine, the bones rub against each other which can cause pain. This occurs because nerves that supply the facet joint transmit pain to the brain. 
• Compression of the spinal nerve: The facet joint helps form the neural foramina, which is the bone tunnel where spinal nerves exit to innervate muscles, skin, and other organs. If the opening is smaller, it may compress on the spinal nerve and cause pain, which inevitably leads to radicular pain, or pain that wraps around your abdomen, your groin, or down your arm or leg. It may also lead to tingling and numbness.
• Compression of spinal cord: if a bone spur grows large enough, it can enter into the spinal canal. This may decrease the area for the spinal cord which can lead to weakness, pain, or problems with your bladder or bowel as the spinal cord gets pinched by the excess bone.  

How are Bone Spurs Diagnosed?

In addition to obtaining a detailed history, Dr. Webb will use your x- rays and/or CT scan to identify and diagnose bone spur formation.

How are Bone Spurs treated?

Most patients with bone spurs can be treated conservatively with anti-inflammatories and other pain medications. Just because a bone spur is present does not mean it is the source of the pain. Bone spurs may be asymptomatic, while something else may be causing the pain. 

Level 1 – Conservative Treatment

• Physical therapy
• Home exercises
• Chiropractic therapy
• Oral medications to relieve the pain
  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen
  • Steroids
  • Muscle relaxants
• Pain patches
• Ice and heat

Level 2 -Spinal Injections

• Done on an outpatient basis
• Injections are done with x-ray guidance to help accurately place the needle in the correct part of the spine

Level 3 – Surgery

• Bone spur removal: this is a procedure where the bone spur is removed with special instruments in surgery.
• Laminectomy: also known as decompression surgery, a lumbar laminectomy is a procedure that involves removing the lamina or back part of the spinal cord vertebrae. This procedure is usually done to make more space and take pressure off of the spinal cord. This pressure is most commonly caused by bone spurs. Learn more about lumbar laminectomy. 
• Foraminotomy: The spinal nerves leave the spinal canal by going through the intervertebral foramen, which is a bony archway between two adjacent spinal vertebrae. If the bony spur is compressing the nerve as it exits the foramen, then a procedure called a foraminotomy can be done to make more space for the spinal nerve to exit, and thus relieve compression. Learn more about a foraminotomy. 

Bone Spurs

Bone Spurs in the Neck and Low Back

Osteophytes—better known as bone spurs—are small, smooth bony growths that may develop near the edges of a vertebral body’s endplates (called spondylophytes) or the spine’s facet joints where cartilage has worn. An osteophyte can grow at any level of the spinal column—neck, mid back, low back.

Degenerative changes in the spine’s joints are a source of neck and back pain. Photo Source: iStock.com.As you age, your chances of developing bone spurs increase. Most people who develop bone spurs are 60 years or older. Osteophytes do not always cause neck or back pain and don’t always require medical treatment. A bone spur may become problematic when it compresses a spinal nerve or the spinal cord.
The above illustration is an axial or overhead slice of a vertebral segment. The bone, nerve, spinal cord, and ligaments are seen, including “spondylophytes” along the outer edges of the vertebral body. Spondylophytes is another medical term for vertebral (“spondylo”) osteophytes or bone spurs. Photo Source: Shutterstock.

What Causes Bone Spurs?

Bone spurs can be caused by wear and tear, and aging-related conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis (spondylosis) and spinal stenosis. It is thought that osteophyte formation is the body’s attempt to repair itself and may be triggered in response to degenerative changes. Many of the spine’s structures can be adversely affected by degeneration that can cause a cascade of problems, including changes in disc structure (eg, flatten, narrow, weaken), thickening of spinal ligaments, and joint enlargement—alone or combined, these changes affect normal movement of the spine.

In addition to aging and degenerative disorders, injuries and trauma to the spine may trigger the development of bone spurs. Poor posture has also been linked as a possible cause.

How Can Bone Spurs Cause Pain?

Not every bone spur causes pain, but they can if they begin to cramp the space around your spinal nerves or spinal cord. Here’s how bone spurs can cause pain:

• Near each spinal joint is an opening that serves as a passageway for your spinal nerves. This passageway is called the neuroforamen (or neural foramen). If bone spurs develop in the neuroforamen, they can compress the nerves and cause pain and other symptoms.

Bone Spur Symptoms

The most common symptoms of bone spurs include:

• Neck or back pain (eg, frequency and intensity varies)
• Pain and other symptoms may radiate (travel) from the neck (cervical radiculopathy) or low back (lumbar radiculopathy).
• Other symptoms may include: numbness, burning, and pins and needle sensations that may affect the shoulders, arms, hands, buttocks, legs or feet
• Pain that eases with rest and worsens with activity
• Muscle spasms
• Cramping
• Weakness

In severe cases, bone spurs may lead to loss of bowel or bladder control. This is a rare symptom that warrants emergency medical care.

Diagnosing Bone Spurs

The diagnostic process is similar to that of other spinal disorders, such as spinal stenosis. After reviewing your medical history and symptoms, your doctor may order an x-ray to determine if osteophytes are present. If the x-ray is inconclusive, your doctor may order a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests will illuminate the osteophytes showing the bony overgrowths in more detail than x-ray.

Osteophyte Treatment Options

Rarely are bone spurs an urgent medical situation requiring surgery. Most people with osteophytes respond well to limited periods of rest and non-surgical treatment, such as:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• OTC or prescription analgesics (pain relievers)
• Muscle relaxant
• Spinal injection
• Physical therapy; combining passive and active modalities
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture

While you may have tried one, or a combination of non-surgical treatments under your doctor’s care, perhaps your pain and/or symptoms persist, have worsened and or are difficult to manage. If that’s the case, and/or neurological deficit develops, your doctor may recommend spine surgery; a last-resort treatment option.

When an osteophyte compresses a spinal nerve, your spine surgeon may recommend a laminectomy. During a laminectomy, the bone spur and other tissues pressing on the spinal nerve are removed to create sufficient space for the spinal nerve. Decompression is another name for laminectomy. In select patients, a laminectomy can be performed using minimally invasively techniques. Also, make sure to ask your surgeon questions prior to your procedure so you understand the benefits and risks of surgically removing osteophytes.

Bone Spurs Hip Houston, Osteophytes

Hip bone spurs can form as the body responds to a breakdown of joint cartilage, which often occurs along with the natural aging process. A loss of cartilage, which cushions the ends of bones where they come together in a joint, can lead to painful bone-on-bone contact. A bone spur is the body’s way of protecting a weakened joint.

Some people have hip bone spurs for years without experiencing any symptoms. However, discomfort such as pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion may develop if a bone spur comes in contact with nearby tissue.

Do hip bone spurs require treatment?

In general, a bone spur will not require treatment unless it causes uncomfortable symptoms, in which case there are a number of potentially effective ways to reduce the associated hip pain and stiffness. Some common options include:

• Weight loss, if necessary, to reduce the load on the hip joints
• Pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be taken as needed to alleviate pain and inflammation
• Physical therapy, including exercises to enhance the flexibility and strength of the muscles that support the hips

Surgery may be considered if hip bone spurs cause severe symptoms that interfere with mobility. Depending on a patient’s specific needs, a surgeon can remove or reduce a problematic bone spur, repair a damaged tendon or remove a bone or cartilage fragment from a hip joint.

At Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine of Houston, TX, we take a conservative approach to bone spur treatment, which means we generally recommend exploring all appropriate nonsurgical treatment options before considering surgery. However, we may discuss surgery sooner to address a severely damaged or degenerated hip joint.

If you’d like to learn more about hip bone spurs, contact Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine to schedule an appointment with a joint specialist. We welcome patients from the Houston, Texas, area to visit any of our three convenient locations.

How Should a Bone Spur Be Treated?

Bone spurs are small, bony growths that deposit on top of “normal” bone. One thing about them you might not realize: they are one of the body’s peculiar methods of protecting itself from damage. Spurs grow in spaces where the soft tissue has been inflamed, torn, or depleted over time.

Heel spurs, notably, are usually the result of plantar fasciitis. As the inflamed plantar fascia “pulls away” from the bottom of the heel, bony material deposits on the front of the bone. Elsewhere, bone spurs commonly form in joints where the cartilage has worn down from arthritis.

But hey, an explanation of what bone spurs are isn’t why you clicked on this blog. The more pressing question is: how should bone spurs be treated?

The short answer is, it depends.

The longer answer?

Actually, most bone spurs don’t need treatment at all. Although the word “spur” might make you recoil at the thought of painful jabbing, most bone spurs are painless and symptomless. In most cases, you won’t even realize you have a spur until they show up on an X-ray for an unrelated problem. A symptomless spur is no problem at all, and can be confidently ignored.

However, occasionally a bone spur does get in the way. Located in a certain part of a joint, a spur could make it painful or difficult to move or extend a toe or an ankle. Other spurs might put painful pressure on a nearby nerve or connective tissues, or maybe on the skin, where the spur can cause chronic corns or calluses.

Spurs that simply cause pain when standing (but don’t otherwise restrict your motion or activities) can often be managed through conservative remedies. Arch supports or orthotics make a great choice here. We might also recommend treatments such as stretching, changing footwear, or over-the-counter medications.

If conservative treatments don’t work, or if the spur is causing more significant pain or motion restriction, it may be necessary to remove the spur surgically. This could be done as its own procedure, or in combination with a related surgery (rearfoot reconstruction, bunion correction, joint replacement, etc.).

Every situation is unique. Whether your bone spur needs treatment or not, you should always check in with Dr. Wettstein at Advanced Foot & Ankle whenever foot pain is getting in the way of living life to the fullest. To book with us in Twin Falls or Burley, please call (208) 731-6321 today.

Bone Spur | Houston Foot Surgery | Non-Invasive Treatment

Once formed, a bone spur isn’t likely to go away on its own. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with the pain. Because, you don’t have to get bone spur surgery to get pain relief from your podiatrist. Let’s take a closer look at how this all works.

What is a bone spur?

A bone spur is a bony bump that forms on other bone. Often, you’ll notice spurs on your joints, or in areas where you find natural bone ridges.  But mostly, the bone spurs usually form in areas of tension, pressure, or trauma. That means they can show up in lots of spots on your foot. Still, most commonly, you see bone spurs on your heel, the top of your foot, or your toes. In some cases, bones spurs form because of osteoarthritis.

On their own, bone spurs aren’t a medical concern. In fact, they often cause no symptoms. But, since they change the profile of your foot, they can make it harder to wear shoes. Or create painful inflammation at and around the bone spur site. That’s why, for some people, bone spurs become painful. Which is when you may come see your podiatrist for help with bone spurs.

Non-surgical Bone Spur Treatments

If bone spurs are painful, you have lots of treatment options. But remember, non-surgical treatments will address your pain. They won’t get rid of your bony bump.

When I see patients with painful bone spurs, I start with conservative treatments. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Advil can help with pain. We can also look at changing your shoes, to prevent painful rubbing on your bone spur. If that’s not enough, padding your shoes or bone spur may help. And remember, bone spurs form with pressure. So we can take away some of that pressure with custom orthotics. An option that may also prevent your spurs from growing.

Still, even if these options stop the pain from your bone spur, that doesn’t mean that the bone spur has gone away. If you look at your foot, you’ll probably still see that bump. So, why are you feeling better?

Most likely, our non-surgical treatments relieved the spur’s pressure and tension. And that relief helped control the inflammation surrounding your spur. (Which was the cause of your pain in the first place!)

Of course, your body could resorb your spur on its own. But it probably won’t. Because, without surgery, we can only control the pressure and tension hitting your bone spur. But we can’t stop it completely. That’s why, if you want a cure for bone spurs, you’ll have to look at more invasive options. Because the only way for a spur to be completely removed is with surgery.

Surgery for Bone Spurs 

Most people won’t need surgery for bone spurs. In fact, 90% of patients feel better without an operation. But, if your pain persists for a year, or if your bones purs are tied to plantar fasciitis, you may choose surgery.

So, what does bone spur surgery involve? Before operating, I would take X-rays or other scans to see the extent of your extra bone growth. If you are a candidate for surgery, we would next come up with a plan.

The goal of the operation would be to remove your extra bone. But it might also release tension on your plantar fascia. Especially if your bone spurs were linked to heel pain.

Now, the most important part of your treatment would come after surgery. Because, even if we remove your bone spur, it could come back unless we also treat the underlying problem.

How we do that depends on what caused your bone spurs. If the issue is arthritis, there’s not much we can do. But if pressure, or faulty mechanics, are the problem, we’ll tackle both of those issues right after surgery. Because, if we don’t, those bone spurs will be back before you know it!

One of the best ways to stop pressure on your feet is to fit you for custom orthotics. Designed to meet your body’s needs, these medical devices add support to your feet. That way, they take pressure off overworked areas. Meaning your body won’t have to compensate. And hopefully won’t develop new bone spurs as a protective response.

Of course, every patient is different. So each person needs a different bone spur treatment plan. Which is why every plan we lay out is tailored to your individual needs and lifestyle.

Are you worried that you may be dealing with a bone spur on your foot? Don’t wait until you feel pain! Instead, get it checked out right away by Dr. Andrew Schneider at Tanglewood Foot Specialists. If you come in before it starts hurting, we’ll have more treatment options to choose from! So we’ll be able to work with you to determine the best course of action to take.

90,000 Shock wave therapy (SWT) of the heel spur at the Family Doctor clinic in Moscow

Shock wave therapy (SWT) is a method of getting rid of a heel spur using a modern apparatus that emits acoustic pulses with a frequency of 16-24 Hz in the infrasound zone. This action can quickly reduce heel pain. The severity of the pain syndrome is minimized after 1-2 sessions, and after the full course the problem disappears. The treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, the session lasts up to half an hour.Waves affect only the pathological focus, without harming the surrounding tissues.

The essence of the method

UHT is based on the property of a sound wave to pass freely through healthy tissues, lingering in places of increased ossification. The sound softens scar tissue, loosens calcium build-up, and removes signs of inflammation. Due to this, swelling and pain are reduced. Metabolism improves due to the production of biologically active components. Stimulation of the capillaries increases the blood supply to the foot.To make the effect effective, the doctor manually selects the parameters of the device.

Benefits of Shock Wave Therapy for Spur Treatment:

• elimination of bone growth without damaging adjacent tissues,
• rapid significant pain relief,
• improved microcirculation of the legs,
• reduction of puffiness of feet,
• relief of spasmodic pain in the foot.

Table 1. Pros and cons of UHT

The method combines well with medical treatment. Strengthens the effect of drugs.

When is heel spur treatment prescribed with shock wave therapy?

The heel spur is associated with plantar fasciitis. The causes of the disease are not known for certain. The most popular version is a violation of mineral metabolism with the deposition of salts.As a result, bone growth (osteophyte) is formed on the lower, less often the posterior surface of the calcaneus, which does not pose a threat to the life and health of the patient, but delivers pronounced inconvenience, since walking causes severe pain. Women suffer more often.

Table 2. Factors contributing to the appearance of spurs

The risk of developing the disease increases significantly in old age, due to the natural deterioration in the ability to repair.In addition to age, risk factors are:

• physical overload,
• playing sports, especially without a preliminary warm-up,
• work “on the feet”,
• varicose veins,
• overweight,
• atherosclerosis,
• diabetes mellitus,
• gout.

Symptoms of the manifestation of a spur

Pain. Caused by the pressure of the otseophyte on the surrounding tissues. It can be either local, only in the heel area, or spread over the entire foot or radiate to the toes. Appears immediately after getting out of bed, worse when walking. May be aching or sharp. Some patients say: “I step on a nail.”

Change in gait. A person, trying to reduce pain, rests on the surface when walking, not with the whole foot, but only part of it, for example, with the outer edge.This is fraught with the development of pathology of the joints and even the spine.

Diagnostics

It is carried out in order to clarify the disease and exclude contraindications.

• Laboratory research.
• X-ray.
• MRI, CT.
• Ultrasound.

Heel spur. How is shock wave therapy

treated?

The patient lies on a couch with the foot resting on a cushion. The doctor determines the zones of pain, marks them. Applies a sound-conducting gel that enhances the penetration of the acoustic wave deep into the tissues.

UHT with a heel spur is carried out using an apparatus that converts electrical waves into sound waves. The doctor selects the mode of exposure for each client individually.

During the procedure, the patient feels vibration. Particularly sensitive people may experience discomfort. In case of increased pain, the doctor interrupts the procedure, waits for it to disappear, and then turns on the device again.The total duration of one session does not exceed 30 minutes.

The improvement is noticeable after the first or second procedure. The average course lasts 1-2 months with sessions 1-2 times a week. After stopping treatment, positive processes in the body continue for about two more weeks, during which the patient’s well-being improves.

Often, the Achilles tendon is also involved in the inflammatory process. In this case, it is necessary to act on two zones at the same time.This is the only way to eliminate the disease.

The main goal of therapy is the restoration of the anatomically correct bone system of the foot, the return of full motor volume, the ability to withstand physical activity and the prevention of possible complications. Hospitalization for SWT is not required. Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis or at the patient’s home.

Results of shock wave therapy for the heel

Acoustic waves soften the osteophyte and break it down.Bone build-up is destroyed. As a result of treatment:

• pain in the heel zone disappears,
• tendons, ligaments are strengthened,
• gait is restored,
• metabolic processes are normalized,
• improves microcirculation,
• swelling decreases,
• muscle tone increases.

Patients regain the ability to walk without pain or discomfort.

Contraindications for crushing the heel spur with shock wave therapy

There are absolute, when UHT can never be done and relative, in which the procedure must be postponed for a while.

Absolute contraindications include:

• genetically determined blood clotting disorder;
• autoimmune diseases;
• advanced oncological diseases;
• acute or chronic liver failure.

Relative contraindications include:

• SARS and other acute infectious diseases;
• chronic diseases in the stage of exacerbation;
• taking direct anticoagulants;
• pregnancy, lactation period;
• neoplasms;
• unstabilized bone fractures;
• thrombophlebitis;
• rehabilitation after leg vein surgery;
• period of active growth in children;
• hypertensive crisis.

Benefits of treatment in the clinic “Family Doctor”

We invite you to take a course of UHT heel spurs at the clinic, which has been providing medical care to Muscovites and guests of our city for more than a quarter of a century. We employ highly qualified orthopedic traumatologists who effectively remove osteophytes using the new SWISS DOLORCLAST MASTER, EMS SWITZERLAND. The effect is mild due to the possibility of individual settings for the patient.Often, this method alone is enough to get rid of the spur, avoiding medication, surgery and the associated risks. After the course of therapy, the doctor will select or make orthopedic insoles to relieve the feet, and recommend a set of preventive exercises.

To make an appointment at a convenient time for you, call the unified contact center in Moscow +7 (495) 775 75 66, use the online appointment service or contact the clinic’s registry.

Cost

traumatologist-orthopedist

traumatologist-orthopedist

traumatologist-orthopedist, chiropractor, leading specialist of the clinic

90,000 Shockwave therapy and heel spur treatment

Shock wave therapy is one of the methods of physiotherapy based on the effect of waves of a given frequency on pathological areas. It is successfully used to treat a number of diseases, including pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Today, shock wave therapy is considered as an intermediate method of treatment between conservative medication and surgical treatment.

Indications for SWT in orthopedics

The action of a directed wave has a regenerating and analgesic effect, restoring mobility and function of the limb. The time of the procedure and its intensity are determined by the orthopedic traumatologist, depending on the indications.

• joint pain of various etiology
• arthritis. arthrosis
• sports injuries, tendon and ligament injuries
• rehabilitation after fractures and sprains
• Chronic or age-related wear of tendons
• inflammation of joints and ligaments
• heel spur

Heel spur treatment

Bone build-up on the heel, as a rule, is the result of microtraumas and injuries, which ultimately lead to non-infectious inflammation and plantar fasciitis.
Over time, a person notices discomfort and pain when walking, until the progressive disease limits mobility at all.

Until recently, the only treatment for a heel spur was surgery, followed by a long period of rehabilitation.
Today, Medgard offers non-invasive treatment of heel spurs using shock wave therapy. Under the influence of directed waves, bone formation is slowly destroyed, and the decay products are naturally excreted from the body with the blood stream.

Shockwave therapy: how is it done?

The basis for the SWT session is the appointment of an orthopedic traumatologist. As a rule, a course of treatment of 3-7 procedures with an interval of several days is indicated. During the first session, a person may feel some pain sensations, which are leveled during the second and third sessions and further.
The procedure takes 20-30 minutes

Plantar (plantar) fasciitis (heel spur)

Plantar fasciitis (heel spur) is one of the most common causes of foot pain after forty.

The main symptom of plantar fasciitis (heel spur) is pain in the heel. It is felt most strongly after waking up: getting out of bed, a person can hardly step on his foot – pain from the first step. If you overcome it and, despite the discomfort, start walking, it will decrease or even disappear. However, during the day, pain can recur periodically, for example, when a person stands up after the foot has relaxed a little.

The cause of pain is inflammation of the ligament, which is the longest and strongest in the human body.It, like a cable, connects the heel bone with the metatarsal bones, and also supports the longitudinal arch of the foot. Fashionable shoes cripple our feet, especially: stilettos, ballet flats and flip-flops.

There are several factors that can lead to plantar fasciitis. The common cause of the disease is shortening or contracture of the calf muscles and plantar fascia.
The most important factor is the development of flat feet. When the arch of the foot is flatter, the plantar fascia is tightly stretched, and micro tears form on it.Damage is especially noticeable where the fascia is attached to the calcaneus, so inflammation appears in that place.

The second risk factor is when a person is overweight or excessive physical activity. This leads to micro-tears, as the plantar fascia is overstrained.
The third factor is a sedentary lifestyle, work that requires prolonged sitting.

The disease is typical for runners and dancers, as well as for people whose work is associated with prolonged standing or walking on a hard surface.
If not dealt with, heel pain may not go away for 6 to 18 months. Then the pain sometimes recedes, but can return immediately. Therefore, plantar fasciitis must be treated without fail. First of all, it is necessary to reduce inflammation and eliminate the cause. At the discretion of the doctor, therapy may include several options.

First. Exercises to stretch the muscles of the foot. It is imperative to work out the calf muscles, as the tension in them worsens the course of plantar fasciitis.This is an effective method for reducing heel pain, but it is only beneficial when exercised regularly.

Second. You can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain, but for a short period, since these drugs have a lot of side effects.

Third. It is necessary to wear individual orthopedic insoles, the so-called orthoses. They are made according to the mold individually for each patient. It is very important that the insoles are full contact, that is, they adhere to the foot throughout its entire area.This is how they will restore the normal height of the longitudinal arch of the foot, thanks to this, the tension of the plantar fascia will decrease and, as a result, the pain will go away. The pain will begin to go away already in the first weeks of continuous wearing of the insoles. In the modern world, just the same, this method is recognized as more reliable, since it still gives an effect for a long time.

When the site where the plantar fascia is attached to the calcaneus is damaged, calcium salts begin to deposit. As a result, a bony protrusion, or “heel spur”, is formed.It is generally accepted that this is the cause of pain, but in reality it is not so. The pain occurs primarily due to inflammation, and the “spur” is a consequence. It will not be beneficial to smear the foot with iodine or bile, knock on the floor with the heel, or acquire heel pads. It is better to consult a doctor who will select the correct and optimal method of treatment.

Shockwave therapy (SWT is a technique that has proven itself well in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. In combination with massage, various warming mud applications, warm and mineral baths, ultrasonic, low-intensity laser therapy, electro / phonophoresis, tekar and HiTop therapy, local administration of corticosteroids (diprospan, phlosterone), as a rule, the disease subsides for many years.At the same time, other components of our musculoskeletal system do not suffer.

In the HEALTH PARTNER clinic, a full range of non-surgical treatment of plantar fasciitis (heel spur) is carried out using the highest quality medical equipment from leading world brands.

Physiotherapie Berlin Mitte | Physiotherapy practice Christian Marsh

Physiotherapie Berlin Mitte | Physiotherapy practice Christian Marsh

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FOOT AND FOOT JOINT SURGERY

Broström Procedure – Rebuilding the ligaments of the foot To strengthen the joint of the foot or the stability of the foot, it is often not necessary to undergo surgery – it is enough to study and regularly do exercises to strengthen the ligaments and muscles.However, if dislocations recur, it is recommended to surgically stabilize the lateral ankle ligaments by performing the Broström procedure. The aim of the operation is to repair the damage to the ligaments and shorten the loose ligaments.

Arthroscopy of the foot joint – a minimally invasive operation, during which two or three small incisions about 1 cm wide are made in the ankle joint.Through one of them, a 4 mm video camera lens is inserted, along with a bright beam of light that illuminates the completely darkened space of the knee joint.The operating surgeon sees the inner space of the foot joint on the screen with multiple magnification. The operation is performed through the rest of the puncture sites.
Arthroscopic surgery is significantly more gentle than open joint surgery, the recovery period is relatively shorter and the postoperative scars are small.

Arthroscopic operations are performed, for example, for the following diseases: ankle arthritis, ankle instability, arthrofibrosis (formation of scar tissue in the ankle joint), torn fragments of cartilage, bone or scar tissue floating in the fluid in the joint capsule, synovitis (inflammation of the sac of the ankle joint) …

Arthrodesis or fusion of the foot or other joints of the foot. The purpose of the operation is to heal together the bones that make up the joint. This can reduce pain and increase joint functionality for patients with osteoarthritis. After this operation, the joint loses its mobility. The operation is performed if drug treatment and physical therapy have not yielded results, the patient often feels pain and has severe movement restrictions.

Big toe cheilectomy. If arthritis affects the big toe, the disease results in bone spurs – thickening of the bone, growths that can cause pain when moving.The aim of the operation is to remove the bony processes, release the thumb joint, restore its mobility and reduce pain.

Most patients do not develop new spurs in the next 10 years after surgery, but in cases where osteoarthritis progresses rapidly, the most effective solution is fusion of the big toe joint (arthrodesis).

Fusion of the big toe joint. The aim of the surgery is to relieve pain caused by chronic osteoarthritis. During surgery, the articular cartilage is removed and the bones that form the joint of the big toe and foot are placed together.The bones are fixed with a metal plate and a screw or two screws. Thus, the cause of pain caused by osteoarthritis is eliminated – inflammation that occurs when the worn ends of the bones come into close contact.

Endoprosthetics of the joint of the foot and big toe. During the operation, the damaged joint is replaced with a new one – artificial.

Surgery on halux valgus or first metatarsal . Bone deformation occurs slowly, and comfortable, appropriate footwear must be selected and worn in this condition.Bone inflammation is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the deformity becomes so severe that it is difficult to wear shoes, and the bone regularly hurts and becomes inflamed, surgery will be the solution.

The aim of the operation is to straighten the first metatarsal bone and restore the required tension to the tendons and ligaments that have become too loose due to deformity. The possibilities of the operation differ depending on the degree of deformation. In the most serious cases, a thumb replacement can be done.

Flatfoot surgery. During the operation, a special screw is implanted between the bones of the foot, which further ensures the correct bending of the arch of the foot. The main indicator of the operation is pain and walking disorders, which cannot be reduced by non-surgical methods.

Morton’s neuroma surgery. Its purpose is to release the compressed nerve in the foot. The surgery can be done by widening the space for the nerve in the foot, or by removing the thickened nerve.

90,000 What causes bone spurs?

Bone spurs are bone growth on existing bone.Medically known as osteophytes, bone spurs occur when the body tries to heal itself. The general condition, which is often painful, usually develops as a way to deal with pressure or scuffs that build up in the body over the years. The causes of bone spurs include disease, the natural aging process, and injury.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in a person’s joints weakens and the body tries to strengthen itself.As the cartilage gradually breaks down, the smooth surfaces around it harden. This forces the bone to press against the other bone. As the body tries to repair internal damage, the result is often new bone growing over pre-existing bones.

Other diseases often associated with the spine are another example of what causes bone spurs. Spondylosis is a condition in which the bones of the neck and lower back break. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperotosis, known as DISH, causes bone growth in the spinal ligaments.Spinal stenosis is a condition in which bone spurs are a factor in the compression of the bones in the spine, resulting in pressure on the spinal cord.

As people age and joints deteriorate slowly, bone spurs often develop in the body. Bony spurs usually develop in the legs and spine. However, in the elderly, bone spurs may be helpful. The condition helps to strengthen the aging of joints and cartilage.

Trauma caused by trauma or inflammation of cartilage or tendon can damage bones, which is another example of what causes bone spurs.Often, damaged areas of the body where bone spurs can grow include the heel and discs in the spine. When the body tries to repair damage or inflammation, a new area develops in the area.

Sometimes bone spurs are self-induced. Activities that compress the ligaments and put pressure on the legs, including dancing and running, can lead to the development of bone spurs. A condition known as plantar fasciitis is when a ligament in the bottom of the foot pulls on the heel, which is another example of what causes bone spurs.Bone spurs can also develop from pressure on the legs from excess weight. Women who wear high-heeled shoes that do not fit properly can form bone spurs on their heels.

The shoulder is where bone spurs also develop. Repetitive movements with the shoulder overhead, such as those used by athletes and entertainers, can lead to bone spurs. Continuous overhead movements cause the tendons to rub against the bone.The result is bone spurs that compress the rotating cuff, causing irritation and weakening of the shoulder.

OTHER LANGUAGES

Heel spur treatment

The combination of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects during physiotherapy can significantly shorten the treatment time for heel spurs. Hoping that heel pain will go away on its own is perhaps the biggest mistake. Sometimes people take six months to see a doctor.Unlike other parts of the body, the foot is constantly under stress, so the injured heel cannot heal on its own.

Bone Spur (osteophyte) is a bony outgrowth formed on top of normal bone. For most people, a bone spur is associated with something acute, however, this is only a bone neoplasm. It is usually soft, but it can wear off, causing pain when rubbing against other bones or soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, or nerves.Bone spurs can form not only on the heel, but also on the spine, shoulders, arms, hips, knees.

The main symptom of heel spur is heel pain. It can come on suddenly, or it can build up gradually over time. If pain is felt under the heel on the sole side, then the heel tendons are most likely affected. If the pain is concentrated over the heel, on the back of the lower leg, then there is a possibility of damage to the Achilles tendon.

Like the rest of the foot, the heel acts as a shock absorber.The soft fat and calcaneus, the largest of the 26 bones in the foot, can withstand tremendous stresses when running and walking. But blood vessels pass through the calcaneus, which is why, in comparison with other bones, it is softer, spongy, and nerves also pass through it. Many of the nerves in the leg pass through the heel to other parts of the foot. It is because of the presence of nerve channels and blood vessels that the heel is so sensitive to injury.

If you experience intense pain in your heels, see your doctor (orthopedist).The doctor will determine the cause of the pain and make a diagnosis. True, in most cases, this will require a number of additional examinations: X-ray diagnostics, general and biochemical blood tests.

Heel spur treatment

how to treat a heel spur, heel spur treatment, heel spur therapy: laser, high frequency, magneto and electrotherapy, laser heel spur treatment

Treatment for heel spur generally aims to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.For this, all kinds of linings, pads are used, which reduce the pressure on the plantar part of the heel. In addition, orthopedic shoes are used to correct the position of the foot by reducing the tension on the plantar fascia.

Medical therapy for the heel spur is reduced to taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Various ointments and gels are applied topically. In severe cases, to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, steroid drugs are injected into the heel spur in combination with a local anesthetic.Folk remedies are also used – herbal medicine. All these types of treatment in most cases are aimed exclusively at relieving exacerbations and preventing the progression of the process.

The most effective and radical treatment for heel spur is the use of physical therapy. In a hospital setting, the use of UHF devices in combination with thermal procedures (baths and massage) gives a good result. But if we take into account that 90% of patients have to solve this problem on an outpatient basis, then the question arises: how can you help yourself at home?

Therefore, it is very important to use physiotherapy at home, especially for those patients who find it difficult to move because of pain.In the initial stages of the manifestations of the disease, the use of magnetotherapy gives a positive effect. Magnetic therapy devices improve microcirculation, reduce pain, and enhance drainage function.

If the course of the heel spur is complicated by fascial, tunnel syndromes, lesions of peripheral nerves, widespread pain not only in the heel, but throughout the foot, lower leg and even in the thigh, then it is better to use electrotherapy devices together with magnetotherapy devices.Electroneuro- (ENS) and myostimulation helps to improve microcirculation, relieve pain or improve sensitivity. ENS improves or restores the neuromuscular regulation of the affected limbs.

If we set ourselves the goal not only to improve the patient’s condition, but also to try to dissolve the heel spur that has appeared, then it is better to use magnetic laser therapy devices, that is, to carry out treatment of the heel spur with a laser. Laser therapy devices cause acceleration of recovery processes in the body, have anesthetic, resorption, anti-edema effect.