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A heel spur and the inflammation generally associated with it can cause severe pain. When you hit the ground with your heel, you get the painful feeling that your flesh is ripping up. With every step, you feel like a nail is driving into your foot. But where does this severe pain come from? How to fight it?
What’s a heel spur?
A heel spur, also known as Lenoir’s thorn, is a consequence of a common inflammation of the plantar aponeurosis. This inflammation is called plantar fasciitis. This pain appears when the aponeurosis, a fibrous membrane linking the heel to the root of the toes, has been over solicited or over extended. Small bone cells are created to protect your calcaneus. By cumulating, they are creating little by little a bone excrescence in your heel called bone spur.
Heel spur pain: what to do?
If a surgical intervention is the radical solution, there is fortunately a less invasive alternative: the EPITACT® silicone heel lifts*.
Ultra-thin, they reduce tension by raising the heel of a few millimeters. Made of open cell foam, these silicone protections absorb the shock waves generated when the heel hits the ground.
The vibrations are reduced and shocks are absorbed for a greater comfort. The core of each heel lift* is made of EPITHELIUM 26® silicone gel, which will make you feel like you’re walking on a cloud by relieving the center of the heel.
If your joint has been overly solicited, you can also soothe the pain by applying ice on your feet for ten minutes. Keep your feet up to help the blood circulation.
Regular massages of the plantar fascia can also relieve the pain or relax the foot and limit the development of the bone excrescence.
In order to do that, roll a tennis ball or a plastic bottle filled with sand under your foot arch.
If the inflammation doesn’t reduce, taking non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen) can relieve the pain momentarily.
Physiotherapy sessions can also relieve the pain thanks to shock wave application and stretching exercises.
Injections remain the most durable alternative provided that they are properly done and under local anesthesia.
In severe cases accompanied with extreme pains, surgery will reduce tensions by partially severing the plantar fascia. However, be careful of possible complications such as fallen arches.
Preventing the appearance of a Lenoir’s thorn
We can all agree; the best option is to avoid a Lenoir’s thorn and inflammation. To do so, start by choosing better shoes. If you’ve ever had really sore feet, you’ll gladly sacrifice your look for shoes that suit your morphology. Forget very high heels that contribute to the inflammation of the plantar fascia.
Being overweight, having hollow feet or having flat feet are factors contributing to the development of this kind of inflammation.
Postural deformities of the foot, such as varus or valgus deformity, can also be a factor contributing to the plantar fasciitis.
A varied, moderate and balanced diet as well as soles fitted to the shape of your foot arch will compensate for these predispositions.
If you participate regularly in sports or other physical activities that require intense effort from the foot joints, don’t forget to prevent the appearance of a heel spur by regularly wearing the EPITACT® silicone heel lift*.
Lastly, if you are worried about a recurrence, consult a specialist to consider rehabilitation sessions. The stretching exercises will teach you how to release the tensions of the fasciae under the foot and prevent recurrences.
*This product is a class I medical device that bears the CE marking under this regulation. Carefully read the instructions before use. Manufacturer: Millet Innovation. 04/2020.