How to get rid of heel spurs at home and using traditional methods of therapy? You can find the answer to this difficult question in the materials of this article. Also, it will indicate the symptoms of this pathological condition, the causes of its occurrence and diagnostic methods.
Basic information
Before telling you how to get rid of spurs, you should tell what it is all about.
The first and main symptom of the disease in question is severe and unbearable pain in the heel. From a medical point of view, this pathological condition is a bone growth located on the back of the calcaneus, in the form of a spike or wedge. Hence the unconventional name for this disease.
How to quickly get rid of spurs? Treatment of the disease can be medication, surgical or physiotherapeutic. Such methods are most effective and in demand. However, there are patients who prefer to use folk remedies that have been tested for decades. In most cases, they are also effective.
Development process
Before you learn about how to get rid of spurs on your legs, you should find out how such a pathological phenomenon generally develops.
In modern medicine, plantar fasciitis is a degenerative inflammatory disease that affects the calcaneal tuber and its soft tissues at the junction of muscle tendons. Often with such a disease, the periosteum tissue itself becomes inflamed. It is in this area that bone growths called spurs form. Exerting strong pressure on the soft tissues, they very often cause severe pain. As a rule, such a syndrome worsens after rest (starting pain), as well as with a load on the heel.
Development reasons
How to get rid of spurs on the foot? To give an exhaustive answer to this question, it is necessary to find out the causes of the development of the disease. Specialists include the following:
- the presence of longitudinal flat feet;
- overweight;
- various injuries;
- violations of salt and water metabolism in the body, which lead to the accumulation of a large number of salts in the tissues;
- sports loads;
- osteochonodrosis of the lumbosacral, which contributes to the improper distribution of load on the foot;
- neurodystrophic and vascular changes in the heel.
All of these factors can lead to a heavy load on the heel, as well as to trauma to the tissue of the periosteum and tendons, which causes chronic inflammation, which, in fact, causes ossification of the tendons and the development of the heel spur.
So how to get rid of a spur on the foot? To effectively treat this disease and prevent relapse, you should not only detect, but also eliminate the cause that causes its development.
Symptoms of the disease
To get rid of spurs by folk remedies or traditional methods is quite realistic. However, before this, you need to find out if you really develop this disease.
The presence of plantar fasciitis is often determined by the available symptoms. First of all, such a disease is manifested by severe pain in the heel. Most patients compare these sensations with a nail hammered in the foot.
As for the external signs, with the development of spurs in some people there is a noticeable tightening in the heel area. Although in most cases there are no visible changes with such a disease.
It should also be noted that in patients suffering from this disease, there is a significant change in gait. This is especially noticeable if a spur occurred immediately on both legs.
Establishing diagnosis
How to get rid of spurs in the heel quickly? To do this, consult an experienced doctor. To determine the presence of a heel spur and distinguish it from other diseases, a specialist must conduct an ultrasound and x-ray examination. In the pictures taken, bone growths in the heel area are quite clearly visible. Their size can reach 3-12 mm. In this case, the sharp end of the wedge is always located towards the toes.
It should also be noted that it is incorrect to diagnose plantar fasciitis only by the available symptoms. This is due to the fact that similar signs can be observed with various types of rheumatoid diseases, as well as in the case of a calcaneus fracture.
How to get rid of spurs on the foot? Treatment algorithm
So that the process of treatment of plantar fasciitis is not prolonged, it is very important to recognize the presence of this disease in time.
In the initial stages, conservative treatment methods can be used. Their main areas are:
- removal of inflammation in the heel;
- elimination of existing edema;
- reduction of pain;
- prevention of dystrophic changes in tissues;
- stimulation of tissue regeneration.
As for the advanced stages of plantar fasciitis, in this case, a drug blockade is carried out or anti-inflammatory drugs are injected directly into the affected area. It should be noted that such a procedure requires strict accuracy of the dosage, depth and place of injection. If the injection was performed by an inexperienced specialist, then the patient may develop serious complications.
As practice shows, the effect of the blockade almost always turns out to be long and lasting.
How to get rid of spurs on legs in advanced cases? If conservative methods of therapy are ineffective, surgery may be recommended to the patient. During this procedure, the affected tissue is completely excised. It should be noted that if the reasons that contributed to the development of the heel spur were not eliminated, then after some time the disease may return.
How to reduce discomfort?
How to get rid of a spur in the heel quickly, only an experienced doctor can tell you. If you do not have the opportunity to see a doctor in the near future, then you can reduce unpleasant sensations by creating sparing conditions for the affected area, as well as changing the usual regime of physical activity.
With plantar fasciitis, experts recommend giving up:
- weight transfer;
- long walking;
- jumping, running and other types of physical activity;
- wearing high-heeled shoes and too flat soles.
By the way, the choice of shoes with such a disease should be given special attention. The best option for patients with heel spurs will be lightweight sneakers with arch support. In this case, the optimal height of the foot should be 3-4 cm.
Also, some people purchase special orthopedic insoles for shoes that are designed for feet with plantar fasciitis. If it is not possible to purchase shoe tabs, they can be made independently of foam rubber, in which a small hole is made at the location of the spur.
Traditional treatment of plantar fasciitis
How to get rid of a heel spur forever? For this, experts recommend turning to traditional medicine. Indeed, only under the supervision and guidance of experienced doctors can a patient completely cure this ailment and never worry about it again.
Among the traditional methods of treating plantar fasciitis, the following can be distinguished:
- Mud healing applications. Such a course is carried out in a hospital and helps not only to eliminate the inflammatory process, but also significantly reduce pain in the heel.
- Special therapeutic exercises and foot massage. Such methods can restore normal blood circulation in the foot area, which helps to eliminate pain.
- Warm baths with added minerals. This method also improves microcirculation in the heel and helps to absorb bone growth.
All of the listed methods for the treatment of heel spurs are traditional. However, they are used only when the disease is at the initial or advanced stage.
How to get rid of calcaneal spur forever in advanced cases? To do this, use the following methods:
- Laser therapy, in which the laser beam, acting on the affected area, stimulates blood circulation, helps to reduce inflammation and eliminate pain. It should also be noted that this procedure enhances the effect of drugs and requires a reduction in their dosage. Laser therapy has no side effects and is completely painless.
- X-ray therapy is carried out by applying a directed x-ray to the heel area. At the same time, ionizing radiation destroys pathological tissues and cells, and also prevents their further growth. With this treatment, the nerve endings in the area of the beam are blocked, and pain is completely eliminated. By the way, X-rays also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- In the area of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, chemical processes take place, which contributes to the release of active substances and the activation of regenerative processes.
- Shock wave therapy is a relatively new and well-established technique. The directed shock-sound wave blocks pain impulses, breaks bone growths and promotes tissue renewal.
- Magnetotherapy is a physiotherapeutic method that involves the use of a magnetic field. Its effect on the affected tissue triggers metabolic processes, and also contributes to their recovery.
- Electrophoresis is carried out using anti-inflammatory drugs, which ensures their rapid and complete penetration through the skin, as well as intercellular spaces.
- Ultrasound treatment involves heating the diseased portion of the heel, which triggers the regeneration of damaged tissues and accelerated metabolic processes. Ultrasound also has antispasmodic and absorbable effects.
How to get rid of a heel spur quickly? Often, for this purpose, doctors prescribe oral NSAIDs, internal administration of pain medications, and the use of local ointments and gels with similar properties to their patients.
How to get rid of spurs at home?
Alternative methods for the treatment of plantar fasciitis are quite popular among patients with this problem. Most often, home treatment for calcaneal spurs involves the use of various applications and baths. It should immediately be noted that the treatment of such a disease with unconventional means very often requires a long time.
So how to get rid of spurs through applications? We will present several ways:
- Pharmaceutical turpentine. To treat spurs, the affected heel is carefully rubbed with turpentine, and then immediately put on a cotton and wool sock. This procedure is best done at night. The course of therapy is 1-2 weeks, after which they take a break of a similar duration and repeat the treatment.
- Medical bile. Before using it, the heel is steamed very much, placed in a hot bath for 20 minutes. Next, wipe the foot dry and apply a cotton swab, completely saturated with bile. It is fixed with a bandage, wrapped in polyethylene and put on a warm sock. In this state, the leg is left overnight. Repeating this procedure is desirable every day, until the pain disappears completely.
- Raw potatoes. The vegetable is cut lengthwise and tied to the affected area overnight. For the best therapeutic effect, it is recommended to grate the potatoes on a fine grater, and then lay the resulting gruel on gauze, rolled up in several layers, and fix it with a bandage on the heel.
- Pork fat. To alleviate your condition with heel spur, to the place of its formation it is necessary to tie a plate of pork fat (you can grease badger fat) and leave overnight.
- Black radish. The vegetable is ground on a grater, and then imposed on the heel. As a rule, after 4 applications, pain is noticeably reduced.
- Iodine. Heel is well impregnated with this product, and then covered with a gauze napkin and put on a sock or an elastic bandage. This procedure is repeated for 10 days.
Now you know how to get rid of spurs through applications. It should be especially noted that such folk methods not only reduce inflammation, but also relieve all pain. By the way, they can be used with baths. This will greatly enhance the healing effect.
What bathtubs help?
Is heel spur treated? You can get rid of this ailment at home by taking foot baths. To do this, we recommend using the following recipes:
- Hot bath with iodine and table soda. To 3 liters of water add 1 large spoon of soda and about 15 drops of iodine. The procedures are carried out for 10 minutes.
- Trays of decoctions of herbs such as wormwood, burdock, mallow and nettle. A mixture of these plants in the amount of 1 large spoon is mixed with 1 liter of water, put on fire and brought to a boil. After 20 minutes, the broth is removed. After partial cooling, the heel is immersed in it and kept in this form for about ¼ hour. The course of therapy should last about a month.
- Salt baths. To ease your condition with heel spur, it is recommended to make baths of 2 large tablespoons of iodized salt and 1 liter of hot water. Such procedures eliminate inflammation and help soften tissues.
- Therapeutic bath using 100 ml of medical alcohol, 100 g of iodized salt and 50 ml of vinegar. All ingredients are mixed and poured with hot water (2.5-3 L). Keep the foot in such a mixture until it cools completely. Perform such procedures must be within 2 weeks.
- A bath of 50 ml of vinegar essence and 200 ml of turpentine. The heel is placed in a vessel with the prepared solution and hold it for about 30 minutes. Such baths should be used for 14-20 days, after which it is necessary to take a week break and repeat the course again.
Pharmaceuticals used at home
How to get rid of spurs (a photo of plantar fasciitis is presented in this article) using pharmacy products? For this, experts recommend using a special patch, which is sold in pharmacies.
The composition of this tool includes various medicinal herbs, as well as auxiliary ingredients such as borneol, angelica Chinese, safflower, aconite root, magnet powder, gentian and infrared powder. They act on acupuncture points that are located on the foot, relieve pain and eliminate inflammation.
The adhesive patch should be glued to a clean and dry heel surface and then left for a day. After the specified time, it must be replaced with a new one, and so on within 10-16 days.
In addition to the patch, heel spur can be cured with a natural cream. It was created specifically for the treatment of this disease. The basis of such a tool is shark fat, adam root, comfrey and burdock root. Due to its natural composition, the cream relieves pain fairly quickly. The original name of this drug is FitoHeel.
Disease prevention
What is a toe spur? How to get rid of this ailment? Such a disease is called "shipitsa." It should be noted that its manifestation is less pronounced than the symptoms of the heel spur. But to eliminate this pathological condition, doctors often use all the same methods as with plantar fasciitis.
How to prevent the heel spur from developing? Firstly, it is necessary to eliminate all the reasons that contribute to its occurrence. To do this:
- avoid excessive physical exertion;
- lose weight;
- cure flat feet;
- wear orthopedic insoles;
- maintain a normal metabolism in the body.
Secondly, you need to purchase comfortable orthopedic shoes with a heel of no more than 3-4 cm.
Now you know how to get rid of spurs and prevent this disease from developing. It should also be noted that the cause of the development of a pathological condition is often osteoporosis. Therefore, at the first signs of this disease, you should immediately consult a doctor.
If plantar fasciitis nevertheless arose, then treatment should be started immediately. This is due to the fact that it is much easier to stop the inflammatory processes in the early stages of the disease than in advanced cases.