Calcaneal Spur
August 25, 2023 by
Calcaneal Spur
- A calcaneal spur is a calcium deposit causing a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone (calcaneum)
- More commonly seen in females than males.
Calcaneal Spur
August 25, 2023by
Calcaneal Spur
Causes
- Calcaneal spurs occur when calcium deposits build up on the underside of the heel bone, a process that usually occurs over a period of many months.
- These are often caused by strains on foot muscles and ligaments, stretching of the plantar fascia, and repeated tearing of the membrane that covers the heel bone.
- Spurs are especially common among athletes whose activities include large amounts of running and jumping.
- Risk factors for Calcaneal spurs include: (a) Walking gait abnormalities, which place excessive stress on the heel bone, ligaments, and nerves near the heel (b) Running or jogging, especially on hard surfaces (c) Poorly fitted or badly worn shoes, especially those lacking appropriate arch support (d) Excess weight and obesity (e) Increasing age, which decreases plantar fascia flexibility and thins the heel's protective fat pad (f) Diabetes
Symptoms
- Intermittent or chronic pain especially while walking, jogging, or running.
- A sensation of pain as a knife or pin sticking into the bottom of the feet when the person first stands up in the morning -- a pain that later turns into a dull ache.
Manage
- Do hot fomentation with rock salt every night before going to bed
- Avoid walking barefoot
- Lose weight
- Avoid high calcium-rich foods
- Rub the feet every morning before stepping out of bed to enhance blood circulation in the area
- Wear footwear with cushioning
Approaches
Calcaneal spur is an extremely common condition, especially among females. It starts initially with a slight discomfort in the heel area while walking and generally gets ignored until it becomes extremely painful to keep the footing on the floor. The condition is named after the heel bone called the calcaneum, which slightly overgrows or gets some calcium depositions on it leading to the formation of a small prickly structure of bone called a ‘spur’.
Calcium deposition is the main cause and that could be due to taking high calcium-content foods and even a high intake of calcium supplements (whether required or not). There could be a few risk factors that can trigger the formation of a calcaneal spur. One of the most important of which is being overweight and wearing footwear with high heels.
The extra bony tuberosity (or spur) actually presses the plantar fascia (the covering of the heel) whenever we use our feet. When this pressure-taking capacity of the facia decreases and the tension on the fascia with constant pressure intensifies with every passing day, it results in the inflammation of the fascia and the patient experiences tremendous pain, the condition is called Plantar Fasciitis. It is this plantar fasciitis that needs to be treated with medicines conservatively.
Homeopathic medicines can in a very short span of time relieve the inflammation, pain, and discomfort that a calcaneal spur brings about. The bony excrescence doesn’t get shrunken or broken or dissolved on its own, it is with Homoeopathic medicines and following all the dos and don’ts that the complete resolution of the spur can be achieved. There is no need to go for surgical cutting of the bony spur as it not only is a tedious task but also not a fruitful exercise for the patient in the long run.
Some of the extremely useful Homoeopathic medicines for Calcaneal spurs are – Rhus Tox, Ruta, Cyclamen, Aranea Diadema, Calc. Fluor, etc.
Investigation
- X-ray of the foot
- Serum Calcium