Treatment of a calcaneal spur
Synonyms
Calcaneus spur, Calcaneus spur, lower heel spur, upper heel spur, dorsal heel spur, plantar fasciitis
definition
There a Heel spur in many cases also by a Over or improper loading of the foot and the entire skeletal system, it is particularly important, in addition to treating a heel spur, to have a physical conservation to be observed. This helps that the selected therapy works better and faster and that a heel spur cannot reproduce as quickly. If sport and a lot of movement were carried out before the onset of the complaint, this should be reduced at least for the start of treatment. Extreme sports such as Marathon running or climbing and road cycling should be completely avoided during this time in order to avoid the ligaments and tendons in the area of the foot to spare and appropriate Inflammatory reactionsthat go along with a heel spur to subside faster. The leg and foot usually do not need to be bandaged.
General measures
In addition to physical rest, further supportive Measures are being taken to advance the general recovery process. That would be mentioned here cooling of the joint and the area of the foot. Also Put up the foot cannot harm it, but it doesn't have to be. Especially short-term Protection should be done.
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Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
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Athletes (joggers) are particularly often affected by the disease of the heel spur. In many cases, the cause of the inflammation of the heel spur cannot be identified at first. Therefore, the treatment requires a lot of experience. I focus on the heel spur.
The aim of every treatment is treatment without surgery with a complete recovery of performance.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
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Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert
Compensate for the incorrect load
In addition to treatment by physical protectionthat especially the Overload of the calcaneus reduced, so should the Improper loading of the foot. One measure to achieve this would be to adapt and use appropriate Shoe insoles. During this treatment, an orthopedic surgeon should first be consulted, who will diagnose any incorrect posture and adjust it with compensatory insoles.
Once the insoles are made, they should be worn consistently. If the outer edge of the foot is stressed too much, insoles that are raised on the outside are prescribed. The foot is thus pressed inwards, which, when worn consistently, leads to straightening and relief of the entire arch of the foot including the heel. If the inner edge is stressed too much, it is exactly the other way around, the inner side of the foot is pressed upwards by a correspondingly processed insert and thus leads to a straightening. In addition to the insoles, appropriately made shoes that have the elevation on the outside of the shoe sole can also be worn. Depending on the severity of the deformity, both measures can be combined with one another.
Please also read: Insoles in the heel spur
To a To prevent heel spurs from the start, should carry out regular treatment stretching the calf to be carried to a Discharge the Achilles tendon to reach.
In most cases, those affected are not aware that they are anatomically prone to a calcaneal spur and will not do these prophylactic exercises. Even after the appearance of a heel spur, appropriate stretching exercises can help to stretch the Achilles tendon and relieve it accordingly. However, it should be ensured that the exercises are carried out carefully and gradually increased to avoid overloading. During the development of a heel spur there is usually an accompanying one inflammationthat would be exacerbated by overstretching. For this reason, any stretching exercise should be done carefully. In these exercises, the tip of the foot should be moved upwards slightly and the stretch should then be increased little by little. If you experience severe pain during the stretching exercises, the stretching strength should be reduced.
Medication
There are no drugs that do one Heel spur can disappear. However, you can very well accelerate the healing process with some medication. The drugs are all aimed at that Reduction of pain and inflammation that occurs from. Medicines that can achieve both at the same time are popular.
The so-called Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as. Voltaren or Ibuprofen are always used here with pleasure. However, due to the gastric damaging effect, they should only be taken for a certain period of time. Long-term intake is rather not recommended and if it is, then one should Stomach protection by taking Pantozol® respectively.
In severe cases, the drug can also be administered as a syringe into the affected region. Most often, a pain reliever is injected near the heel bone. The inflammatory response can also be tried using cortisone to inhibit. Medicinal gels and lotions that have a cooling effect on the skin can be used as well as herbal ointments that act on the skin skin can be given over the heel to relieve the discomfort. Sometimes the use of Kytta ointment make sense and is called Relieves pain and inflammation described.
Operative treatment
In cases where conservative therapeutic approaches are unsuccessful, an operative measure should be considered. This is mainly used when it comes to difficult courses and to strong symptoms of a calcaneal spur that affects the patient and his everyday life as well as his mobility severely restrict.
The operative procedure can either be in general anesthetic or in Spinal anesthesia be performed. During the operation, an approx. 5 cm long incision is made at the level of the heel bone on the sole of the foot and access to the so-called Plantar fascia, the sinewy plate that forms the actual sole of the foot. Then either this sinewy plate is split or a piece is cut out. This should be done at the level of the bony heel spur. The bony protrusion gets through this intervention Made roomso that it does not come into direct contact with the tendon, which ultimately leads to the symptoms described. In some cases it will be the real one Heel spur at the operation with removed. Then the heel is closed again. After the operation it should definitely be timed consistently Protection of the foot in order to avoid an immediate recurrence of a heel spur. This is followed by the regular physical therapy, from stretching and from Strength building consists.
After approx. 3 months the patient should be able to walk again full load and unrestricted everyday movements to be able to perform.
Alternative method of treatment
There are still numerous alternative medical procedures that are used to treat a heel spur. The effectiveness is controversial, but should not necessarily be left untried, especially if it is unsuccessful. It is described that a homeopathic Preparation Lava substance of a specific volcano leads to a reduction in the size of the heel spur when taken regularly. The effectiveness is as unknown as the mechanism leading to it.
Furthermore, the traditional chinese medicine with the treatment of heel spurs. Here come mainly acupuncture-therapeutic measures for use. Needles are placed both in the place of the heel spur and in the area of the hands and ears. The effectiveness here is already better proven. There is also a good chance that this treatment method will be covered by the statutory health insurance.
In the so-called Cryotherapy, which is more likely to be counted as an alternative medical treatment, is supported by strong Reduced temperature in the heel area tried that Reduce nerve sensitivity of the foot. Similar to icing in a sports accident, the symptoms of a heel spur are subjectively less perceived. The downside is that the pain usually starts again as soon as the ice treatment is interrupted. Regular treatment is usually important, but it should not in the long run be performed.
Treat heel spurs with home remedies
The Pain and discomfort with a heel spur are primarily Expression of inflammation. For this reason, there are a large number of home remedies that can basically be used for inflammation.
The easiest home remedy is cooling in every form. Whether with ice packs or cool packs, with quark wraps or a cold foot bath, Cooling helps reduce inflammation and relieves the discomfort of heel spurs. Care should be taken that there is no hypothermia or damage to the skin.
In order to train the foot muscles at the same time, for example, a cooled hot water bottle can be rolled back and forth under the foot during office work. Also a targeted one Heat stimulus can help with a heel spur, for example by moistening a towel with hot water and tapping the heated towel briefly with the heel several times. This can be the Promote blood circulation and have a relaxing effect on the painful area.
Furthermore, treatment options come from the traditional chinese medicine (TCM) into consideration, for example, can acupuncture in some cases help very well against the heel spur. An improvement in the symptoms of inflammation can also be achieved through home remedies Marmot fat can be achieved. The fat of the marmots is said to have a positive effect on the joints and muscles and is considered to be more natural Cortisone replacement. It is an ointment that little water and plenty of vitamins and which should be applied to the heel regularly twice a day. Some sufferers report good experiences with ointments made from rhododendron, which have to be applied several times a day, but should lead to an improvement in the symptoms caused by the heel spur relatively quickly.
Another method against heel spurs is the "Taping“. With the help of correctly performed Medi-Tape applications, pain receptors should directly influence the Heal inflammation faster and Water retention removed faster become. Another home remedy method is using treatment Tuning forks The theory behind this is that the vibrating tuning forks are the Dissolution of the calcium deposits of the calcaneal spur to accelerate.
Also requirements Medicinal herbs how Comfrey or Horsetail are considered a home remedy for heel spurs. Basically the foot be relieved as much as possible. Sports breaks, little walking or standing, and frequent Raise the affected leg are recommended.
Homeopathy and globules against heel spurs
The basis of the teaching of the homeopathy forms the so-called Principle of similarity. Treating like with like and like with like is the goal of homeopathic treatment. In the case of heel spurs, homeopathic remedies such as Hekla lava, Solanum malacoxylon and Kalium bichromicum are used.
The most popular Hekla lava was developed on the basis of the observation that sheep that graze at the foot of the Icelandic volcano Hekla increasingly develop bone outgrowths from the jawbones. A heel spur is also a Bone outgrowth and so the ashes of the volcano in homeopathic processing should also help against the heel spur. Mostly it will be in potency C4 prescribed, which means that it is four times one Dilution process with water has gone through. The recommendation for this is that the remedy should be taken at three-hour intervals for four days and repeated after a day's break. The homeopathic remedy Solanum malacoxylon is recommended if the heel spur has arisen as a result of obesity or intense sporting activity. This is initially taken in the C4 potency, after a while in C9 and over a period of four weeks.
The remedy is less effective against heel spurs in homeopathy Kalium bichromicum, which is taken three times a day. The Schüssler salt Calcium fluoratum D12 is used for all types of bone growth, especially when they develop after an injury. 6 globules of these are taken in the morning.
Another remedy is Silicea D12which should be used in the case of excessive new bone tissue formation. Silicea is said to help with a heel spur if there is very pronounced pain in the heel that makes walking difficult. It is also suitable for people who have a tendency to weak ankles and strong-smelling foot sweat. Silicea should usually be taken in the evening (6 globules), as the symptoms get worse at night.
In case of doubt or if the symptoms do not improve soon, you should always a doctor to be visited. Homeopathic treatment should also be used not on your own be performed.
Figure heel spur
Heel spur - calcaneus spur
(bony outgrowth)
- Lower (plantar) heel spur
- Upper (dorsal) heel spur
- Calcaneal tuberosity -
Calcaneal tuberosity - Heel bone - Calcaneus
- Achilles tendon -
Tendo calcaneus - External calf muscle -
M. gastrocnemius,
Caput laterale - Shin - Tibia
- Fibula - Fibula
- Ankle bone - Talus
- Scaphoid bone - Navicular bone
- External sphenoid bone -
Os cuneiform laterale - Cuboid bone - Os cuboideum
- Sole tendon plate -
Plantar aponeurosis
A - picture of heel with a lower one
and upper calcaneal spur
B - Left foot from the outside
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Radiation for heel spurs
A X-ray treatment should be with one Heel spur only be carried out if all other measures have already been tried without any improvement and one Heel spur operation should nevertheless be avoided. Within a few weeks, the foot is irradiated for a few minutes in an X-ray tube. X-rays are harmful to cells and the higher the radiation dose, the greater the damage the radiation can cause to body tissue. The radiation dose is lower than, for example, in the Cancer therapybut should not be underestimated. According to the current state of knowledge, the radiation dose is associated with very few acute side effects or long-term radiation effects. The irradiation is the Blood circulation and metabolism of cells in the inflamed tissue around the heel spur improves.
The aim of the irradiation is primarily the Heel spur pain relieved which in most cases works well. But also inflammatory soft tissue or connective tissue diseases such as heel spur arthrosis, Tennis elbow or benign vascular growths can be treated with radiation with good results.In about 70 to 100 percent of cases, the pain associated with the heel spur can be successfully relieved by radiation.
In principle, the irradiation of a heel spur should first be considered if the conventional therapy and also the administration of painkillers are unsuccessful was. However, the earlier the heel spur is irradiated, the greater the success of the treatment with radiation. The treatment itself only lasts a few minutes and is painless. Usually the heel spur becomes over a period of two times a week for five weeks treated with the low-dose, radioactive radiation. It should be noted that the Irradiation cannot correct the cause of the discomfort, so not that Heel spur but only treats the inflammation in the surrounding tissue.
For more information, see: Heel spur irradiation
Shock wave therapy against heel spurs
So-called shock wave therapy is one of the alternative treatment methods for heel spurs. Concentrated sound waves should act on the inflamed tissue around the heel spur. The shock waves do not destroy the heel spur. The theory behind this relates to the fact that the heel spur itself is not the cause, but only the expression of the complaints and treatment with shock waves can inhibit the development and spread of pain. The shock wave therapy is intended to stimulate metabolic processes and start the healing process.
Shock wave therapy for heel spurs is currently still very controversial. Some successes in those affected, whose pain could be completely eliminated, contrast with the relatively painful treatment that was spread over several sessions. Around 2000 shock waves are emitted per session and around three to five treatments are required at intervals of one to two weeks. The principle is based on ultrasound waves and is also used in the treatment of kidney stones.
Side effects of shock wave therapy are, for example, irritation of the tissue, which can be noticeable in the form of small redness, bruising or nerve irritation with numbness or tingling. As a rule, these symptoms disappear a short time after the treatment.
For more information, see: Saucewave Therapy for Heel Spurs
Exercises
physiotherapy and stretching exercises can be done at one Heel spur alleviate the discomfort. It comes down to one in particular Strengthening and stretching the arch of the foot on. In the case of a heel spur, the foot and calf muscles act as long as possible against the incorrect loads. Against this overload, for example Relaxation exercises be performed. With the sole of your foot slowly over you Tennis or hedgehog ball Rolling can restore the muscular stability of the foot and relieve the ligaments. Another typical exercise for The foot muscles are strengthened while sitting carried out with a towel in front of the foot. This towel should now be gripped with your toes several times, lifted up and then dropped again. The longitudinal arch of the foot can also be trained. To do this, the soles of the feet are firmly set up while sitting and the toes and heels remain firmly on the ground during the exercise. Now the outer edge of the foot is loaded a little more and the longitudinal arch of the foot is slowly pulled upwards.
The Calf muscles usually experiences one from a heel spur Shorteningthat can be perceived as painful. The shortened ligaments can be loosened with physiotherapy massages. Also can special exercises to stretch the calf muscles be performed. For example, a towel or something similar can be wrapped around the foot while sitting. The ends of the towel are then held with both hands and pulled towards the body until a stretch can be felt in the calf. This position should be held for about half a minute and repeated after a break. If you do the exercise with the knee bent, the Achilles tendon is also stretched.
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