A heel spur is a deposit of calcium which is formed on the underside of your foot, on the heel bone. A heel spur is generally detected by an X-ray where it becomes very apparent. The forward-pointing protrusion comprising the spur can extend by as much as half an inch. Sometimes a heel spur can be painless but they can also be extremely painful hindering a person’s movement. Heel spurs are generally associated with plantar fasciitis, an acutely painful inflammation of the plantar fascia which is a band of connective tissue found in the bottom of the foot which connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot.
Depending on the severity, heel spurs are treated through specialized exercises, customized orthotics, anti-inflammatory medicines and cortisone injections. If there is no improvement with these initial treatments then surgery might be needed.
Heel spurs are caused for a variety of reasons which include wear related to aging.
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Regular visits to a podiatrist could do much to alleviate pain from various foot conditions including heel spurs. In the Bay Area, podiatric services are provided by Foot and Ankle Associates a Los Gatos podiatric clinic through three podiatrists and a fully-trained staff. Comprehensive details about their range of services are available on http://www.sjfeet.com/
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