Health & Body > Home RemediesFebruary 09, 2009

Remedies for Heel Spurs

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.

Leonie from Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

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By Gail from Australia (Guest Post) 02/14/2009

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

By kidena (Guest Post) 02/12/2009

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.

By Alice M. (Guest Post) 02/12/2009

I bought me a magnet bracelet. I have not had any more pain from my heel spurs.

By Wondernana (Guest Post) 02/11/2009

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.

By Lee Ann (Guest Post) 02/11/2009

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!

By
02/11/2009

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.

By Sharon (Guest Post) 02/10/2009

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.

By
02/09/2009

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.

Good luck!

Questions

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Treating Heel Spurs

How do I cure heel spurs or prevent them from hurting so much?

By PR

 

Most Recent Answer

By sanmer25 05/22/2011

Always wear a shoe with a arch support, even to buying a arch support to put in your house shoes. My doctor told me this when I had heel spurs and it takes a little while to get relief but I haven't had any spurs since stating this. Never walk around barefoot.

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Tips for treating heel spurs. Post your ideas.


Vinegar for Heel Spurs

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)

By ThriftyFun

RE: Remedies for Heel Spurs

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)

By terdralynn




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