A heel spur is a condition in which calcium deposits cause bone to penetrate under the heel bone. This is often associated with inflammation of the connective tissues. These tissues are found in the foot and heel bone and thus cause you pain. This can also lead to swelling, irritation and weakening of the archwire. A heel spur is sometimes painful - it digs into the heel like a knife or splinter. Heel spurs are treated with folk remedies in several directions. Firstly, it includes exercises for recovery. Secondly, treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs. Thirdly, in some cases, removal surgery is prescribed. And fourthly, don’t despair; there are several ways to help you cope with the disease.
How does treating heel spurs with salt help?
The use of sea and regular table salt to get rid of fasciitis can be used at different stages of the disease.
Regular salt treatments have the following positive effects:
- have an aseptic, antimicrobial effect;
- eliminate swelling and inflammation;
- reduce pain intensity;
- warm, improve metabolic processes;
- saturate connective tissues with minerals;
- strengthens the vessels of the extremities.
However, it is worth noting that salt baths alone for a heel spur will not help eliminate inflammation of the fascia and remove the thorn. This method must necessarily be combined with traditional treatment and complete unloading of the feet.
The attending orthopedic doctor will definitely tell you which insoles to buy for heel spurs in order to reduce the shock loads on the heels when walking.
Also, heel pads and instep supports are excellent for protecting inflamed fascia and as a preventative measure for its occurrence.
Salt compresses and baths for heel spurs are contraindicated in the presence of individual allergic manifestations to sea salt, which are expressed in incessant itching, redness, burning, etc.
Prevention of heel spurs.
The main preventive measures are as follows:
- Choose appropriate shoes and change your sneakers as often as possible. Remove worn-out shoes from your closet. Also shoes that are worn very unevenly (heel and forefoot heights are different). These shoes increase the likelihood of developing heel spurs.
- Make sure the surface you are running or walking on is not too hard.
- Watch your weight: If you are overweight, it often puts too much pressure on your heels.
- Heel spur treatment with folk remedies, such as barefoot running. Start trying to run slowly barefoot. This will help you avoid weight falling onto your bones and joints, landing on your muscles instead. This option is especially suitable for warmer months if you can run on a variety of surfaces. Some of the best options include grass, moss, and sand.
- Mobilize and activate your foot muscles regularly.
- Diet (reducing salt, normalizing drinking balance).
- If necessary, correction of flat feet. Namely, choose orthopedic insoles.
More information on the link
Salt baths for heel spurs
Salt baths are best done in the evening after therapeutic exercises for heel spurs. First you need to take 200-350 g of sea salt (possibly with filler) and dissolve it in hot (not boiling water!) water.
If there is rough skin on the feet, 50% salt can be replaced with sodium chloride (soda), which perfectly softens the keratinized epidermis and bone spine. You need to take a salt bath for 20-30 minutes until the water cools down.
If you don’t have sea salt in the house, you can use simple finely or coarsely ground table salt. In this case, it is recommended to add a few drops of iodine to the water.
Reviews from patients say that a bath with salt and acetic acid (9 or 12%) softens spurs very effectively. 1/2 cup of essence per bowl of water is enough.
Sea salt and clay will help eliminate pain and improve metabolism. Take the components in a ratio of 1 to 1 and dilute in hot water. Clay, preferably red, can be bought at a pharmacy or store.
Causes of heel spurs
The process of calcium deposition takes months. The mechanism of development of the disease comes down to stretching of the fascia and microtraumas of the membrane covering the heel bone. Due to regular trauma, degenerative and aseptic inflammatory processes are triggered in tissues. The latter cause calcium deposits.
The development of heel spurs can be caused by:
- intense running or jumping;
- excess weight;
- wearing uncomfortable shoes (hard, thin-soled, high-heeled or without shock-absorbing insoles).
The occurrence of heel spurs is promoted by:
- longitudinal flatfoot (causes uneven load on the foot);
- osteoarthritis (destruction of cartilage tissue);
- metabolic disorders, including gout (promotes salt deposition).
Finally, it is worth considering the indirect causes of heel spurs, such as a lifestyle that forces you to constantly be on your feet, a high arch of the foot, and limited flexion. After 40 years of age, a person is at risk, and by old age, a spur is diagnosed in 25% of the population.
Foot care after a heel spur bath
After the procedure, you need to rinse your feet to remove the salt and apply a moisturizer. It is best to use ointments for heel spurs “Pyatkaspor”. These ointments contain medical bile, which promotes the resorption of the thorn, softening the epidermis and moisturizing.
The Pyatkashpor line of creams includes:
- “Enhanced” for use in the acute stage of the disease, the cream contains a high concentration of bile;
- “Regular” for application to the feet during the recovery period, when the growth has significantly decreased;
- “Prophylactic”, used to prevent recurrence of fasciitis.
The cream is quickly absorbed, after which it is advisable to wear sheep wool socks for 2-3 hours. Microwave heated slippers are also perfect for warming up your feet; you can order them on our website.
If you are bothered by morning pain caused by a heel spur, it is recommended to take salt baths before bed, and at night use a Strasbourg sock, which accelerates the healing of the fascia by fixing it in a stretched position.
Symptoms of heel spurs
The main symptoms of calcium deposits in the heel area are pain, which at first may only bother you during physical activity.
As the disease progresses, pain occurs during the transition to movement from a resting state, sometimes spreading to the entire foot. Visually, the heel spur does not manifest itself in any way. Sometimes something like a callus appears; as a rule, the patient does not pay attention to this.
The presence of a heel spur can be determined by the following symptoms:
Sensation of a sharp foreign object in the heel
When moving, the patient experiences acute pain, the intensity of which depends on the proximity of the spur to the nerve endings. At the same time, the size of the deposit itself does not directly affect the severity of the pain (unless, as the spur grows, it approaches the nerve endings).
Cyclic occurrence of pain
Microtraumas of the fascia are regenerated at rest, but shortening of the tissue fibers is observed. Because of this, subsequent movement causes it to stretch and rupture again. Therefore, the patient experiences sharp pain when getting out of bed or getting out of the car. In a state of activity, the sensations weaken, but under the influence of new loads, new microtraumas appear, making themselves felt in the evening.
Possible pain at rest
Calcium deposits indicate a violation of its metabolism. Such disorders can cause the appearance of osteophyte - the growth of bone tissue itself. Then the heel spur begins to hurt not only when moving.
Change in gait
When experiencing pain in the hindfoot, a person instinctively transfers the load to the forefoot - literally walking on his toes. As a result, this leads to transverse flat feet and the inability to move without additional support.
Treatment of heel spurs with sea salt: heating and compresses
You can use salt for heel spurs as night compresses:
- Take 100 g of sea salt, 50 g of honey and a few drops of iodine. Mix everything and place it on a gauze swab, which is secured on the heel with a bandage and a bag.
- Take 100 g of table salt and the juice of one black radish. Add a spoonful of alcohol and stir. Apply a compress.
Methods for treating heel spurs at home with salt are varied. But this component for compresses must be used carefully, because... salt has an enhanced local irritant effect.
When used correctly and without irritation on the skin of the heel, daily salt treatment is not inferior in effectiveness to a medical bile compress for heel spurs, which is considered one of the most effective.
Coarse salt can be used for heating.
To do this, you need to pour it onto a baking sheet or frying pan and heat it well. You need to warm your feet for 20 minutes, simulating walking. This procedure has a massage effect and helps relieve pain. Also, do not forget about unloading your heels while walking so that the treatment is faster and more effective. For this purpose, special shock-absorbing heel pads are used.
Drug treatment.
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help relieve heel pain and inflammation. This way they prevent further damage. The most commonly used medications for heel spurs include:
- Ibuprofen
- Aspirin
People with kidney problems and those with a history of ulcers and stomach bleeding should avoid taking these medications.
Injections to treat heel spur pain. Please note that steroid injections (cortisone injections) are intended to relieve pain and not to treat heel spurs. Actually, these injections reduce pain and swelling in the affected areas. They are prescribed only in more advanced cases, if over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective.
You can also use special patches.