Heel spurs occur when calcium buildup causes the underside of your heel bones to protrude (typically about by half an inch). When regular treatments don’t work, you need to get help from one of the experienced foot surgeons in London.
What Causes Heel Spurs
When foot muscles and ligaments get significantly strained, heel spurs can develop. According to ankle specialists in London, you are at risk of developing heel spurs if you have poorly fitted or worn-out footwear, you’re running or jogging on hard surfaces, you’re obese, or you have walking gait abnormalities.
Your chance to have heel spurs is also higher if you have flat feet or high arches, arthritis, diabetes, or a profession that requires you to spend most of your time on your feet.
Take note that heel spurs don’t appear overnight. Therefore, you to recognise early symptoms like chronic heel pain. This pain becomes more punctuated when you jog, run, or even walk. Pain caused by heel spurs is often linked to plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation that affects the fibrous tissue found between your toes and heel.
Another symptom that you have to be aware of is swelling at the front of your heel. The protruding area may also feel warm when touched. If not addressed immediately, these symptoms can be felt beyond the affected area and extend to the arch of your foot.
How A Foot Surgeon Can Help
There are cases when heel spurs don’t exhibit any symptoms. If you suspect yourself of having this condition, it’s best to consult with ankle specialists in London. A proper diagnosis such as an X-ray will be done to examine your foot.
If you’re diagnosed to have heel spurs, there are different conservative treatments available. These include stretching exercises, wearing proper footwear or orthotic devices, physical therapy, and night splints. Your doctor might also recommend over-the-counter medications to help manage pain.
If these won’t be adequate, surgery will likely be advised. Only around 1 in 10 people with heel spurs undergo surgical treatments. However, these are necessary to remove the spur and/or release the plantar fascia. Heel spur surgery can be done either via open surgery or endoscopic surgery.
A foot surgeon performs this procedure. They will be the one to determine if you’re indeed a proper candidate for the procedure. Once you’ve undergone heel spur surgery, he or she will then guide you on how to recover fully. The recovery process typically includes wearing supportive gear and relying on compression. Exercises will also be instructed to help improve the mobility of your foot.
Get Treated By London’s Leading Foot Specialist
One of the most skilled foot surgeons in London, Martin Klinke can treat a wide spectrum of common foot and ankle conditions including heel spurs. While he has already over 15 years of experience, he continuously takes interest in learning new developments in the field, enabling him to apply the best surgical techniques to his patients. He’s a full-time consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the London Foot & Ankle Centre and the London Bridge Orthopaedics.