A heel spur is incredibly painful and can greatly impact a person’s quality of life, causing them to suffer when they walk. While sometimes a heel spur will exist for a long period of time, they often begin to hurt without much warning, leaving people wondering what they can do to decrease the pain that they have and increase their quality of life. When patients have a few options of how they can treat his bony growth, then they will be much better suited to handling the pain that they can cause.
Take Advantage of Rest
It can be very frustrating for people who suffer from heel spurs to relax and get off of their feet, but rest is one of the best ways to decrease the pain that is commonly associated with a spur. Long walks, running, and other activities that put a lot of pressure on the foot, such as tennis and basketball, need to be avoided. Even standing for long periods of time can easily exacerbate a spur, aggravating it and causing even more pain.
Use Exercises to Increase Ligament Length
Shorter ligaments in the foot and the leg can play a huge role in the creation of a bone spur as well as in its irritation. While many people turn to medication to dull the pain that they feel, certain exercises can help to strengthen the foot and make the ligament a bit longer. Together, this will result in a foot that is more flexible as well as stronger, which means that it is less likely to be damaged.
Opt for Orthotics
Orthotics are a great way to address the pain caused by a spur, but only when they are professionally made and very high quality. Lower quality orthotics will not reduce the pain brought on by a bone spur and can even result in other foot problems in the future. Orthotics that correct the foot so that it is being held in the correct position are comfortable and reduce strain throughout the foot. This means that the inflammation will be able to heal faster as there will be less strain when walking and even when resting.
Treating a bone spur is key to reducing pain in the foot and ensuring that a person can easily walk, stand, and play sports without pain. Getting professional help to fit custom orthotics is the best way to treat a bone spur and to prevent the pain from becoming too much to bear. Working with a professional will also allow a patient to learn new stretching exercises, which will lengthen and strengthen the foot. With orthotics and stretching, people can easily treat the pain of their spurs without having to consider more drastic measures.
