Bone or Heel spurs can be debilitating, and cause a great amount of pain and discomfort. Learn what causes them, and how to treat them.

1. Bone Spurs Explained A bone spur (osteophyte) is really a bony growth formed on standard bone. Most people think of something sharp when they think of a "spur," but a bone spur is just extra bone. It’s usually smooth, but it can cause wear and tear or pain if it presses or rubs on other bones or soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, or nerves in the body. Common places for bone spurs include the spine, shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet.

2. What causes bone spurs? A bone spur forms as the body tries to repair itself by building extra bone. It generally forms in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress that continues over a long period of time. Some bone spurs form as part of the aging process. Cartilage that protects the joints and bones begins to break down as we get older. In addition, the discs that provide cushioning between the bones of the spine may break down with age. More than time, this leads to agony and inflammation and, in some instances, bone spurs forming along the edges on the joint. Bone spurs due to aging are specifically common in the joints on the spine and feet. Routines for instance running and dancing can also be problematic for bone spurs and can trigger them. As an example, the lengthy ligament around the bottom with the foot (plantar fascia) can grow to be stressed or tight and pull around the heel, causing the ligament to grow to be inflamed (plantar fasciitis). As the bone tries to mend itself, a bone spur can form on the bottom belonging to the heel (known as a "heel spur"). The back from the heel typically gets bone spurs, specially when wearing shoes which are too tight. A whole lot of people call it the "pump hump", due to women wearing fashionable pumps or high-heels.

3. Treating your heel spurs. Get a diagnosis. You will find other achievable causes of soreness inside lower rear part of the foot, including a ruptured plantar fascia--this is generally a sudden injury--or nerve entrapment. While these conditions are less typical than heel spurs, it is still a beneficial idea to check with your doctor. An x-ray will typically reveal a heel spur being a hook-like growth within the calcaneus (heel bone).

4. What you can do Cut back on your activity. In some cases, heel spurs might be so painful that it's difficult to put any pressure for the foot. If pain starts developing, you should address the issue right away. Give your foot a few days rest, and then temporarily cut back again on your exercise regimen and look for possible causes in the problem. As an example, did you recently begin a new running route, or did you injure your other foot so which you are walking differently? A little prevention can save you from experiencing even greater amounts of pain in the longterm. Take anti-inflammatory medication. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine sometimes work wonders in reducing the initial anguish belonging to the plantar fasciitis. Once the inflammation has been alleviated, you must stop using the medicine. Invest in a good pair of shoes. Overpronation, a flattening of the arch in the foot beyond where it's "supposed" to go, is the most popular culprit. Overpronation should not be confused with "flat feet." Shoes that are worn out commonly bring about overpronation. Take off your shoes and bend them. They should not bend at the arch or heel, but rather only at the ball from the foot. If your shoes do bend behind the ball of one's foot, replace them. Make sure to get shoes with excellent arch support and overall mobility assist. Ideal feet(http://www.idealfeet.com)products are designed to balance all four arches in the foot and present you with increased comfort levels. Their merchandise are custom made for your needs. They can be used to treat heel spurs, bone spurs, foot pain, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and much more.