When every step becomes torture

If you notice pressure pain in the middle of the heel, your doctor will most likely tell you that you have a heel spur. At first, the condition will lead to only minor restrictions, but the pain may increase in the course of time, causing everyday life to become torture.

Cause

The ligaments and tendons run from the heel bone along the underside of the feet. According to Katharina Müller, a surgeon and a doctor at santé24, a heel spur is a thorny calcium deposit in the tendons and ligaments running from the heel bone along the sole of the foot. Excessive strain can cause minor tears, irritations and inflammations in these ligaments and tendons. Although a heel spur is generally only a few millimeters in size, it can be very painful.

Heel spurs mostly affect individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 and are caused through excessive strain or malpositioning of the foot. Doing sports without warming up or being overweight is likely to exacerbate the condition further.

Treatment

First and foremost, recovery from a heel spur requires a lot of patience. While treatment generally does not involve surgery, doctors usually prescribe painkillers. The affected area can be treated with local anti-inflammatory injections or ointments. It is often very helpful to use a gel insert under the heel until the discomfort disappears. This protects the heel by cushioning the impact from walking or running.

Prevention

To prevent a heel spur from occurring in the first place, consider the following measures:

• Be sure to warm up properly before you exercise.
• If your feet are in any way malpositioned, make sure you have proper shoes or insoles.
• Use footwear that cushions against impact from walking and has stable heels.
• Try to lose weight if you are overweight.
• If you are planning activities with increased strain on your feet, be sure to train accordingly.
• Avoid standing on hard surfaces for long periods.

11.09.2019