I have a heel spur that is giving me a lot of grief in my left foot. I've read to encase the foot in apple cider vinegar and plastic wrap overnight, it will go away. I've tried using a bread bag, but every time I need to get up during the night, it's noisy and wakes my dh. It is also very uncomfortable. Any suggestions?
Please bear in mind that I live in Australia and many proprietary brands, and even some herbs and remedies may not be available here. Thank you for your time and trouble.
Here are a couple of remedies that I have tried and they worked. Put a few golf balls in a sock, tie the sock so the golf balls don't fall out and then roll you heel/foot over the golf balls. The other was given to me by a physiotherapist and also a podiatrist. Fill a 500ml plastic bottle with with water and freeze it. Once frozen roll your heel/foot over it. These remedies will take a little while to work but they do help the problem
I have plantar fasciitis & have been to the GOODFEET STORE. They have shoe inserts that they tried to sell me. It is called the 3 step. One is an insert (orthopedic) that you wear with sneakers. Another is one you wear with dress shoes. And the 3rd is one that you wear with slippers. The cost $820. I went on line & looked for reviews on GOODFEET STORE. Most were not good reviews.
They do no offer you a money back guarantee if you get no relief with the orthodontics. Instead they give you a credit to use in their store which other than the orthodontics can only be used on sneakers which cost $80. At one pair per year it would take 10 years to use the credit. A bit to much for me to pay. I do have orthodontics that cost me $350. which my insurance does not pay. They do help but every couple of years they have to be replaced with new ones. Good luck.
Having been married to a podiatrist many years ago, I was quite aware of what bone spurs were and what worked to bring relief and what didn't work. A heel spur is caused by a chronic irritation of the tendon that is attached at the bottom of the heel which then eventually becomes calcified - hence the reference to a bone spur. As this irritation continues, the area becomes more and more painful.
The best long-lasting relief is to find something that ameliorates the constant irritation, and that most likely would be a well-fitting support that fits inside the shoe and which stabilizes the foot, decreasing the pressure or tension that is caused by walking or standing. I am sure there are drug store remedies that work, but if not, I would surely go to something like a "Good Feet Store" or see a podiatrist. Surgery should be resorted to only after palliative methods for relief have been sought.
My late husband had excellent success with molded appliances which fit into shoes, and only when there was insufficient relief would he do surgery, although he was an excellent surgeon. There is just so much inherently that can get complicated with surgery. At this point, my first approach would be to try the Good Feet Store. If they can't help you, then I would see a podiatrist.
I have heel spurs and I know that they are so painful. The doctor showed me a few stretches that help quite a bit. But, I had also heard from a friend of my mom that citus aggravates heel spurs. So I quit drinking orange juice( which I love ) and the difference is night and day. Also, try the different stretches. Good Luck!
Depending on the size and location of the spur, there often isn't much that can be done short of surgery. A lot of doctors will often give their patients a heel cushion that has the inside (where the spur is) cut out. The rim cushions each step, while the opening leaves room for the spur, not allowing it to be thrust on the shoe sole, which is what causes the pain. You can probably try to make one yourself out of foam or a store-bought inner support. Hopefully, something this simple and cheap will work for you.
I also had a similar problem a few years back. The heel spur is not going to go away, but the inflammation causing the pain can be helped. My doctor told me to sit on the side of the bed when getting up in the morning and flex my foot up & down a few times before standing up. I also did this after sitting in a chair for a while. This stretches the muscles in the foot so they don't cause irritation. I also bought a Dr. Scholl's heel pad for a few dollars. I was told that raising the heel a bit takes the pressure off the heel and puts it on the rest of the foot. It didn't take long before I got relief from pain.
I had the same problem a few years ago. The foot doctor sold me Spenco orthotic arch supports --about $20) -- and gave me exercises to do. The best exercise was one in which I stood at the edge of a step and hung both heels down over the edge of the step. Hold it for about 1 minute, and you will actually feel the muscles in your calves relax.
I also had to have two cortisone shots, which are painful, but the whole treatment program worked! I still wear the over-the-counter arch supports, and when I feel the tiniest start of the problem again, I start doing the step exercise.
This is definitely worth seeing a foot doctor. The pain will inhibit your life, your job, everything. Start with the arch supports and exercise if you can't afford anything else.
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Request: Remedies for Heel Spurs
Archived on 02/09/2009
Does anyone have any suggestions for heel spurs? How does one make them go away or at least be able to walk?
wacky camper from Westland
Answers:
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I don't have heel spurs but do have a bone spur on my left big toe. I've had one cortisone shot but only helped for a wee bit. Could have surgery but it could come back, I'm told. Any help out there? Thanks, Millie (11/06/2008)
By Millie
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I have the same thing. My podiatrist gave me the shot. He also had me buy running shoes, and put the insoles in them. My insurance didn't cover them either. But, the doctor let me pay him $5 payments on a pair. I believe they only cost $35. I don't know what kind of inserts cost $200! He also recommended rolling my foot over a bottle. The combination of it all has helped me. I hope you find what works for you! (11/07/2008)
The doctor told my Mom to try rubbing Castor Oil on her heels at night, wrap it with plastic wrap and cover with socks before going to bed. She swears it works! (11/10/2008)
Any advise for heel spurs caused from Planter Fasciitis? I was already over weight and quit smoking and gained more weight. I want to walk to lose the weight but it is so painful. I walk through the pain and it just makes it worse. I went to the foot doctor and had those painful shots. My insurance will not pay for the shoe inserts from the doctor and they are $350. Any suggestions?
Wacky Camper
Answers:
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I agree with terdralyn. Stretches helped me a lot.
Also, my doc gave me a brace to wear at night to keep the foot muscles stretched. Will your insurance cover that? It looks like this
http://www.healthproductsforyou.com/catalog/products/10890/Bilt_Rite_Night_Splint_BlueWhite/
Don't get the ones that look like this because they stretch your toes wrong:
http://www.feelgoodstore.com/cgi-bin/feelgood/postkey_find.html?cm_mmc=channel-_-engine-_-media-_-28358&keywords=28358&media=GF0569&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=23-4017111-2
If your insurance doesn't cover it, it still might be worth it to buy it since they only cost $25 - $50.
(10/30/2008)
By Jean
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I found some shoe inserts at Wal Mart for foot spurs and Planter Fasciitis. They were less than $10 here. I also got some that are super sport arch support that have helped a lot too. They were less than $5. The stretches help a lot. I did an internet search and found a lot of great information on what causes Planter Fasciitis and ways to treat it. It takes time to heal and don't push through the pain to continue walking. I did that and my main accomplishment was more damage.
For the swelling my doctor has me take Motrin (800 mg) 3 times a day BUT CHECK WITH YOUR OWN DOCTOR before doing that. Doctor also told me to fill a 16 oz plastic soda bottle with water and freeze it. Then use my foot to roll the bottle while I'm on the computer, watching tv, etc with the bottle on my heel and arch area. It numbs the area, helps with swelling and the pressure helps stretch the tendons, ligaments and muscle. (10/30/2008)
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I bought pro foot miracle custom molding insoles (memory foam) for all my shoes and have not had a problem since. Try them. They are like a miracle for me. They are easily found in most drug stores. (10/30/2008)
By Jan
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
You may want to try a pair of CROCS. Cheap and comfortable for sore feet. (10/30/2008)
I had heel bone spurs also and they are very painful, I tried everything I could to put on my heel or in my shoe. After 5 pairs later they still hurt I bought a pair of crocs at the dollar store to walk to the mailbox in and that's all I wear now. I wore a pair of regular shoes for a couple of days last week and my heel started hurting that night, put the crocs back on and no more pain. Hope this helps. (10/30/2008)
By barbara
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I had exactly what you are talking about, large heel spurs about the size of my thumb, one on each heel. I too was trying to walk, and it was so painful I had to stop. After about 2 years of buying shoes, I went to an Ortho doc. My niece had told me about some shoes that had springs in the heels, so I searched online to find them and finally did.
I asked the Ortho doc about the shoes and he told me that he wouldn't endorse them because they haven't been approved by any medical association, but he knew several people that bought them and had very good luck. So I went to the store and spent an hour and a half with a pair on my feet, they felt so good, all the weight is off of your heels.
The shoes are around $200.00 per pair, but, most of the time when your shoes wear out, it's the heels, for $20.00 you can get new springs, I do this about once a year. Needless to say I bought a pair, then about 6 months later I bought another pair, the first pair I use for walking, the other pair for everything else. I know $200.00 is a lot to pay for shoes, but if you are like me, you spend tons already on shoes you CAN'T wear, spend money on many kinds of inserts, even the ones the doctor prescribed and still you have pain.
I know I sound like a salesman for these shoes, but honestly it was the best purchase I ever made. It did take a few months of wearing them every day, and never going barefoot (except in the shower), but I am pain free, I can walk and my heels do not hurt. The name of the shoes Z-Coil. I wouldn't recommend trying to get them cheap online through E-bay or anything because they actually have to heat up the arch support to mold them to your foot to get them just right, that part took me about 2 hours, but I have never regretted buying these shoes. If you have any questions you can email me at Tamasa AT aol.com. Here is a picture of the ones I have. (10/30/2008)
I had heel spurs too and spent money at the podiatrist, etc. Then I found out about a method called "trigger point therapy" where you can work out sore knots in various parts of the body to relieve pains nearby. The trigger point for the heel is on the back of the calf. Feel around on your calf for a tender spot and massage that spot. This should help and can be done whenever needed. (10/31/2008)
By Peggy
RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs
I have never personally had plantar fascitis; however, a member of my family had it and he was told to roll the sole of his foot over a bottle for a few minutes each day. He did and it seemed to help him. It's worth a try, anyway, as it doesn't cost anything but a little bit of time, right? Hope you get relief soon and God bless you. (10/31/2008)
I too have had these problems with my feet for years. I have had many cortisone shots from a podiatrist. They never helped for long. I found shoe inserts at WWW.heel-that-pain.com. I wore these and after about 6 months the pain is gone, not even there when I get up in the morning. They claim a 99.7% success rate. Read about them at their website but they are cheaper to order them from WWW.footsmart.com (10/31/2008)
Take a piece of brown wrapping paper (grocery bag works) and cut it into the shape to fit in heel of your shoe. Soak the paper well in Apple Cider Vinegar, place in shoe and wear every day resoaking periodically. Within 2-3 weeks my spur was completely gone
By MrsMoted2 (05/17/2005)
Something my podiatrist had me do which helped immensely, was foot stretches. The one that worked best was taking a bath towel (an exercise band works, too) and placing it on the ball of my foot, then straightening out my leg and pulling the top of my foot back toward my body. Hold for 10 seconds, then relax. He had me do three sets of these three times a day. It worked wonders, and I'd had heel spurs for at least 10 years by the time I saw him.
Terry from ChilliOH (05/17/2005)
