Toggle navigation
Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd.
6445 N. Central Ave. Chicago, IL 60646(773) 202-8800
5356 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL 60641773-696-4700
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • blog

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Our Office
  • Services
  • Directions
  • Appointment Request
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • Patient Education
  • Patient Reviews

What are Heel Spurs?

  • Blog Home
  • Foot+Care
  • What are Heel Spurs?

What are Heel Spurs?

By Affiliated Podiatrists, LTD
December 03, 2015
Category: Foot Care
Tags: Heel Pain  

Find out if heel spurs could be the reason for your heel pain.

Did you know that the heel bone is the largest bone in the foot? Because of this, it takes a lot more abuse and Heel Spurshock than other parts of the foot, which can lead to some pretty unpleasant problems. If you are dealing with heel pain, find out if a heel spur could be to blame and how your Six Corners, Chicago podiatrists can give you the relief you need.

What is a heel spur?

A heel spur is an abnormal growth that gradually forms on the heel bone. As the plantar fascia (a thick band of tissue that runs underneath the foot from the heel to the toes) pulls away from the heel, a calcium deposit forms and in turn causes this hard protrusion.

What are the symptoms of a heel spur?

One of the most common and classic symptoms of heel spurs is severe pain in the back of the foot that is exacerbated by walking or standing.

What causes a heel spur to form?

So what causes the plantar fascia to pull away from the heel in the first place? Flat feet are typically the reason that the fascia tissue begins to stretch. But this doesn’t mean that those with high arches also can’t develop heel spurs.

Women are also more likely than men to develop heel spurs because of wearing certain shoes like heels on a regular basis that cause issues for the plantar fascia.

What are my treatment options?

Your Chicago, IL foot doctor will first need to determine the root cause of your heel spur in order to give you the best and most effective treatment. If the problem is due to flat feet (also referred to as overpronation) then we may recommend orthotics, or shoe inserts. These orthotics are custom-made to offer your foot support and to absorb shock to help reduce flat feet and to facilitate healing.

Here are some of the other common ways to treat heel spurs:

  • Performing certain stretching exercises during the day to help soften and increase the flexibility of the plantar fascia ligament.
  • Losing Weight. Being overweight can also put serious undue pressure on your feet. If this is the case it’s highly recommended that patients who are obese or overweight adopt healthier habits to help them lose weight.
  • Choosing proper footwear that offers more support and stability for the heel and the arches while also offering shock absorption.
  • Consider bracing or wearing heel cups to provide additional cushioning to the heel to reduce shock from day-to-day activities.

For those patients who don’t find the relief they need, your foot doctor in Six Corners, Chicago may recommend Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment (EPAT) to safely and non-invasively speed up the healing process to reduce chronic forms of pain. EPAT can be great for treating heel spurs, as well as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Call Affiliated Podiatrists today and nix heel pain.

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:






Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2019
      • September (1)
        • Using Your Flexible Spending Account on Podiatric Care
      • August (1)
        • Struggling with Bunions? We Can Help
      • June (1)
        • Discover the Pain-Relieving Benefits of New MLS Laser Therapy
      • May (1)
        • PinPointe Laser Treatment
      • March (1)
        • Ribbon Cutting For Our New Location!
      • February (2)
        • Bunions: Causes and Treatment Options
        • How EPAT Therapy Can Help
      • January (1)
        • New Laser Added to Aid Healing
  • 2018
      • October (3)
        • Debra's 25th!
        • Feder Scholarship 2019
        • New Office!
      • September (1)
        • Treatment Options for Bunions
      • August (1)
        • Back to School 2018
      • July (3)
        • Preventing and Treating Athlete's Foot
        • Toenail Fungus Treatments
        • APL KretchStarts
      • June (1)
        • Did I Sprain My Ankle?
      • April (1)
        • Size Matters!
      • February (1)
        • Could EPAT Help Me?
  • 2017
      • November (1)
        • Why Diabetic Foot Care is Important
      • October (1)
        • Frightful Feet Don't Scare Us!
      • September (3)
        • Find Relief from Your Bunion Pain
        • Fall Means More
        • Back to School
      • August (2)
        • Barefoot Blues
        • We Flip
      • July (2)
        • Fungus Among Us
        • Common Foot Problems And How Your Podiatrist Can Help
      • June (1)
        • Discover The Benefits Of PinPointe Laser Treatment
      • March (2)
        • Blog EPAT
        • Bunions and Fungal Toenail Infections
      • February (1)
        • Wear the Right Shoe
      • January (2)
        • What You Need To Know About EPAT
        • Cancer on the Foot?
  • 2016
      • December (1)
        • What Could Be The Cause Of My Foot Pain?
      • September (1)
        • How To Treat My Bunions
      • August (1)
        • In Memoriam
      • July (1)
        • Prepare Your Feet for Soccer Season
      • May (1)
        • How To Protect Your Feet From Infection
      • March (3)
        • Orthotics..Check & Re-Check
        • Ingrown Toenails Treatment Options
        • The Bunion Institute of Illinois
      • January (1)
        • Three common causes of heel pain
  • 2015
      • December (1)
        • What are Heel Spurs?
      • October (1)
        • What can EPAT help me with?
      • September (2)
        • Protecting Your Feet for the Chicago Marathon
        • Orthotics Check & Re-Check
      • August (1)
        • Dr. Jake Richey - Our Newest Associate
      • July (2)
        • Prevent Poolside Nail Fungus
        • Protect Your Feet While on the 606
      • June (1)
        • Walk This Way
      • May (3)
        • Making a Good Impression
        • Commercial Free
        • How to Spot Pediatric Foot Problems
      • March (1)
        • Finding Foot Callus Relief
      • January (2)
        • FAQs about EPAT
        • Causes of Toe Nail Fungus
  • 2014
      • December (2)
        • Am I a Candidate for the SteriShoe
        • Certified Wound Care Specialist
      • November (1)
        • How Athletes Can Avoid Being Benched By A Foot Injury
      • September (2)
        • Phooey on Flip-Flops
        • 5 Ways to Make Walking More Fun and Effective
      • July (1)
        • We Proudly Announce: On-Site Physical Therapy provided by Total Rehab
      • May (1)
        • New Insurance Providers
      • April (3)
        • Try Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment (EPAT Chicago)
        • Protecting Your Feet as an Athlete: Tips from Your Chicago Podiatrist
        • Hey! SOLE Sisters
      • March (1)
        • Affiliated’s Newest Affiliation
      • January (1)
        • Does Your Back Hurt? Your Chicago Podiatrist Can Help
  • 2013
      • November (1)
        • E.P.A.T. a Sound Treatment
      • July (1)
        • Summer Foot Woes
      • May (1)
        • Summer Shoes
      • April (1)
        • Gardening
      • February (1)
        • Mobile Website Launched
  • 2012
      • December (2)
        • Plantar Fasciitis Relief
        • Drs. Joel & Marc Feder on T.V.
      • November (1)
        • Computer-Linked Gait Scanning
      • September (1)
        • Back to School, Back to Shoes
      • August (1)
        • Pregnancy Can Lead to Foot Problems
      • June (1)
        • Summer Pedicures
      • May (1)
        • Finding Killer Shoes that Don’t Kill
      • February (1)
        • Don't Let Sore Feet Trip Up Your Travel Plans
      • January (1)
        • Winter Foot Care for Diabetics
  • 2011
      • December (1)
        • Be Prepared for Winter
      • October (1)
        • Broken Bones
      • August (1)
        • Pigeon Toes
      • July (1)
        • Foot Odor
      • May (3)
        • Ingrown Toenail
        • Drs. Joel and Marc Feder on American Health Watch
        • Ganglionic Cysts
      • March (1)
        • Foot Pain
      • February (1)
        • Diabetic Foot Care
      • January (1)
        • Is Your New Years Resolution Affecting Your Feet?
  • 2010
      • December (1)
        • PinPonte FootLaser
      • October (2)
        • Inadequate Footwear
        • Buying Your Child's Shoes
      • September (2)
        • Runners’ Edge
        • Fall Sports
      • August (1)
        • Size Matters
      • March (1)
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • Shoe Size (1)
  • Fall Sports (1)
  • Running Conditions (1)
  • Fitting Your Child's Shoes (1)
  • Inadequate Footwear (2)
  • PinPointe FootLaser (1)
  • Diabetic Foot Care (2)
  • Foot Pain (2)
  • Foot Ailments (1)
  • Ingrown Toenail (1)
  • Foot Odor (1)
  • Pigeon Toes (1)
  • Broken Bones (1)
  • Shoes (1)
  • Pedicure (1)
  • Pregnancy (1)
  • Pain (1)
  • Podiatrist (2)
  • Chicago (2)
  • Podatrist (1)
  • Foot Care (2)
  • Podiatrists (1)
  • Walking (2)
  • IL (1)
  • Footwear (1)
  • athletes (1)
  • SteriShoe (1)
  • Toenail Treatment (1)
  • EPAT (3)
  • treatment options (1)
  • Callus (1)
  • Pediatric Foot Problems (1)
  • Running (1)
  • Toenail Fungus (4)
  • Marathons (1)
  • Heel Pain (3)
  • Bunions (7)
  • ingrown toenails (1)
  • Soccer Season (1)
  • PinPointe Laser Treatment (1)
  • foot fungus (1)
  • Foot Problems (1)
  • ankle sprain (1)
  • Athlete's Foot (1)
  • laser treatment (1)
  • MLS Laser Therapy (1)
  • Flexible Spending Account (1)

Categories:

  • Foot Care (45)
  • Back Pain (1)
  • Athletic Foot Care (4)
  • EPAT (4)
  • Foot Condition (2)

Our Location

6445 N. Central Ave.
Chicago, IL 60646
(773) 202-8800
5356 W. Addison St.
Chicago, IL 60641
773-696-4700

Map & directions

Our Blog

Office Hours
Monday:10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday:9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday:10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday:10:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday:10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday:8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday:Closed

Office Hours - Addison
Monday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Tuesday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Thursday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Our Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination 
  • Site Map