Heel spurs

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Heel spurs

Heel spurs are small, bony growths on the heel. A spur may develop when the ligament that connects the heel bone to the bones in the toes (plantar fascia) becomes inflamed.

A person with a heel spur may not be aware of any symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may include:

Pain or tenderness over the weight-bearing part of the bottom of the heel.
A bump that can sometimes be felt when the area is touched.

However, symptoms in the heel are most often caused by inflammation rather than by the spur itself.

A heel spur can be diagnosed by looking at an X-ray. In most cases the spur is not the main cause of the heel pain, so the spur is generally left alone and the cause of the heel pain is treated. For instance, a painful and inflamed tendon near the spur (plantar fasciitis) may need treatment. If a spur is found to be the main cause of the heel pain, surgery or injections may be needed.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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