Diagnosing Heel Spurs

A Heel Spur is a debilitating condition which causes discomfort across the entire foot. Typically a quarter of an inch in length, heel spurs are caused by the development of a bony growth known as a calcium deposit, extending between the heel bone and arch. Whilst it may normally appear at the front of the heel, heel spurs can often expand to affect other parts of the foot as well.

Book Your Initial Consultation with Ultrasound Appointment for £60.00 

What causes a Heel Spur?

Heel Spurs are typically brought on as a result of long-term muscle and ligament strain. Over time, excessive strain on your ligaments can stretch out the heel’s soft tissues and wear them out.

Since Heel Spurs are a progressive condition, they won’t appear suddenly after a workout or sports event – a common misconception. They will often be brought on as a result of repetitive stress from walking, jumping or running on hard surfaces.

Here are some other causes of heel spurs:

  • Heel Bruising.
  • Gender. Heel Spurs are typically more common in women than men.
  • Age. Heel Spur onset increases in likelihood as you get older.
  • Weight. Heel spurs tend to be more common in overweight individuals.
  • Walking Gait Issues.
  • Arthritis.
  • Incorrect Footwear. Overwearing flimsy footwear like flip-flops can heighten the risk.

What are the common symptoms of a Heel Spur?

The most common symptom of a Heel Spur is a feeling of pain, inflammation and swelling at the front of the heel. The affected area is also often warm to the touch and is said to feel as if you’ve stood on a knife when first standing up. Throughout the rest of the day, the pain will lessen into more of a dull ache, with the point of tenderness at the bottom of the heel making it difficult to walk barefoot.

Over time, Heel Spur pain can spread to other areas of your foot away from the heel. Eventually, a small bone-like protrusion may start to appear, which then helps confirm the presence of a spur.

How are Heel Spurs diagnosed?

Depending on the severity of the Heel Spur, it can be fairly difficult to diagnose one accurately. This is because the condition shares a lot of similarities with plantar fasciitis, in terms of the type of pain felt and the area which causes the issue. One key difference comes through the longevity of each condition though; heel spurs are there permanently, whereas plantar fasciitis can subside over time.

Another diagnostic difficulty comes from the fact that some heel spurs don’t cause any symptoms at all. Research shows that only 50% of people with heel spurs actually experience any sort of pain from them.

Detecting a heel spur is, therefore, difficult to do on your own, so if you’re worried that you might have one, you should contact a professional. Our podiatrists here at the Sussex Foot Centre are specially trained to detect a wide range of foot conditions. Listed below are some of the main diagnostic methods we employ:

  • X-ray. An X-ray allows your podiatrist to rule out other causes of foot pain, such as a breakage or stress fracture. They also enable underlying bone-like growths to be easily identified.
  • Heel Spurs Ultrasound. The most accurate method for identifying a heel spur comes via a foot ultrasound. This painless procedure produces accurate images of your foot’s interior muscles and tendons, allowing your podiatrist to visualise any issues.
Heel pain treatment

What is the process for a heel spurs ultrasound?

A ‘Heel Spurs Ultrasound’ is entirely painless and only takes approximately 20 minutes.

The technique is used to produce accurate images of muscles, ligaments, joints and tendons within your lower limbs. Visualising these internal components makes it a lot easier for your podiatrist to see the extent of any issues at hand.

This is what the process typically involves:

  1. A small quantity of jelly-like gel will be applied to your ankle/calf area.
  2. Your podiatrist will then move a handheld device across the affected area. This device will use sound waves to capture internal images of your foot and heel. These images will then be shown on an ultrasound monitor in real-time, allowing you to see exactly what your podiatrist sees.
  3. Using these images, your podiatrist will then be able to quickly identify whether there is an issue. If there is, they will then determine what the best course of treatment is for you.
  4. Your podiatrist will then talk through with you what they found, and discuss what the next best steps will be.
  5. You will then start on the appropriate treatment plan, as recommended by your podiatrist.

How are Heel Spurs treated?

Treating a Heel Spur depends on the severity of the issue. However, the most common treatment options typically include:

  • Ice. This can help to reduce swelling.
  • Painkillers. Anti-inflammatory painkillers reduce pain and inflammation and help with swelling.
  • Stretching. Podiatrist-recommended stretching exercises help strengthen affected muscles and tendons.
  • Rest. Avoiding putting weight on your heel gives it the chance to properly recover.
  • Orthotics. Fitted to the exact contours of your feet and manufactured on-site, orthotics are designed to alter the load on your foot and heel, helping ease your pain.

If you are struggling with pain in the base of your heel or can feel a bone-like lump protruding out, contact us today to book a heel spurs ultrasound. Our team here at the Sussex Foot Centre are specially trained to diagnose an array of lower limb-related issues.

Achilles Tendon Pain

Achilles Tendon Pain

The Achilles Tendon, which Is also named the Calcaneal Tendon is avery durable, strong band of tissue. It connects the calf muscles tothe heel bone, and it is the strongest tendon in the human body, capable                                             of holding up...

Plantar Fasciitis: What is it?

Plantar Fasciitis: What is it?

Plantar Fasciitis is a common condition treated at The Sussex Foot Centre. ThePlantar Fascia is a large band of tissue which is situated along the bottom ofthe foot. Medical research states that Plantar Fasciitis affects up to 10% of thepopulation. It is therefore...

Calling All Runners

Calling All Runners

Calling all runners, we want to hear from you! If you are experiencing any aches and pains during or after your run, we would love to talk to you and discuss exactly how we can help. For a limited period of time, we will be...

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Follow the form below to get through directly to one of our Podiatrists at the practice or to request an appointment.

Or call — 01444 453874

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
34 Sussex Road, Haywards Heath, Sussex RH16 4EA

We are trusted by our clients

Amy's been extremely helpful, informative and lovely to talk to during my foot appointment the last few visits. 100% recommend their services.
Darryl Rebbetts
Darryl Rebbetts
26/10/2022
Have had scan and chiropodist treatments and both were carried out with care and I was informed what would be done. I would highly recommend the Sussex foot centre for treatments.
Sheila Stobbs
Sheila Stobbs
15/10/2022
I was misdiagnosed by my GP after injuring myself long distance walking. Now I not only know what's wrong with me, but also how to remedy it so I can walk again. Great attention to detail. Thank you 😊
Liz Platt
Liz Platt
09/10/2022
Fantastic experience with the whole practice, there’s no where I’d trust more. Originally I went to have one issue sorted out, and have found another to be dealt with alongside. A practice where you feel listened to and taken seriously. Thanks again!
Nikki Martin
Nikki Martin
07/10/2022
Had an appointment with Jon Collins about a sore heel. Had a scan on both heels, which was followed by a detailed analysis of the results and an explanation (in layman's terms) what the issue was. Very impressed with his knowledge, how it was imparted and happy with our agreed action plan.
Jonathan Whitnall
Jonathan Whitnall
25/09/2022
Over the last 4 years or so, I have visited a number of professionals including physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths. I was experiencing recurring injuries in my left knee and hip from sports and from attempting to walk mid-distances. The pain was starting to flare in my back too. I was following the physiotherapists’ advice religiously and attending appointments regularly. However, the programme of exercises tended to make the pain worse rather than better. To add to my frustration, I was also misdiagnosed with a hip condition. In the back of my mind, I always felt there was something biomechanically incorrect in the way I move but I was reassured that was not the case until…..I booked an appointment with Jon at Sussex Foot Centre for a gait assessment. Jon quickly recognised the issue with my feet and their incorrect positioning. I was prescribed custom orthotics and after a few months of perfecting these, Jon then created my semi-permanent pair of orthotics. I have been walking further than I have done and am now back on the courts playing tennis, which I love, and never thought I would be able to do again. The whole team at Sussex Foot Centre are very helpful and efficient. My treatment is ongoing so as long as Jon is a podiatrist, I am his patient :) Thank you for everything!
Katherine Morley
Katherine Morley
22/09/2022
I had nail surgery last October and after all this time I can say it was worth it. Jon didn’t rush me into it and gave me all options available, in the end I decided to go for the surgery and Jon made it so easy and everything was explained to me before, during and afterwards. Any questions I had were always answered by Jon or one of his team and put my mind at rest (I’m a bit of a worrier). Can’t thank them enough for helping with something that I had tried to ignore for years.
Gavin Robertson
Gavin Robertson
01/09/2022
I highly recommend Sussex foot centre. I booked an appointment for the shoe insoles and Jon was very helpful and professional. He provided a great solution for me and I feel much better since I wear my new insoles. The entire team is also very nice and helpful with booking the appointments around my work schedule.
Michał Piotrowski
Michał Piotrowski
22/07/2022
After the NHS screwed up my ingrown toenail operation twice this year I decided to go private and it was the best decision. I was seen really quickly and toes healed within a couple of weeks, highly recommend sussex foot centre.
Lauryn Spink
Lauryn Spink
22/07/2022