Heel spur - When every step becomes torture

When every step becomes torture

A heel spur can restrict the everyday life of those affected considerably when every step becomes agony. Although there are some options for getting rid of the pain, they require a good deal of patience.
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
In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 telemedicine service free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach. SWICA customers can also use the BENECURA medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.