An osteophyte is commonly called a bone spur. This bone spur is any bony outgrowth along the normal edges of a bone. Any bone can develop it but a bone spur is usually found close to the joints. It does not develop on areas of bones where muscle, tendon, and ligament are attached. A bone spur causes pain and restricts the motion of the joint.
Patients of heel spurs often confuse this bone growth with plantar fasciitis, which is a ligament inflammation common in wearers of tight shoes. However, heel spurs are bone spurs affecting the back or underside of the heel. Heel spurs mostly affect people who wear tight shoes that stress the heel, who are overweight, or who are pregnant. It is also common among athletes who may have suffered any heel injury.
Causes of a Bone Spur
- Osteoarthritis is one of the common causes of spurs as the body tries to repair bones by building extra bone.
- Causes of bone spur include local inflammation that causes joint damage.
- Arthritic conditions, past injury, poor posture, being overweight, and wearing ill-fitting shoes may also be among the causes.
- Stressed or worn-out cartilage or a bone rubbing on bone may be other associated causes of a bone spur.
- Causes include aging, and bone spurs are sometimes part of the aging process.
- Activities like dancing and running may be causes of heel spurs.
- Inflammation of the ligament surrounding a degenerating spinal disc can be among common causes of spurs of the spine.
Treatments for a Bone Spur
- Medicines are beneficial treatments for bone spurs such as heel spurs. Anti-inflammatory medications are effective for reducing pain and inflammation.
- Ice packs are among the useful home treatments. Ice packs control the symptom of pain. Ice is especially helpful for heel spurs and their related symptoms.
- Adequate rest can help all treatments of heel or other bone spurs. Patients should avoid physical activities that may aggravate pressure and increase symptoms of pain.
- Night splints can be supportive treatments. These can be worn at night to keep the heels or affected areas of bone stretched to reduce friction. They alleviate pain by enabling rest and reducing pressure.
- Shoe inserts are useful as treatments. These are effective in treating pressure caused by plantar fasciitis and help prevent pain from a bone spur while performing routine activities.
- Stretching exercises can be helpful treatments. Performing stretching exercises can reduce pain and relieve tension on the joint.
- A cortisone injection is among useful treatments to provide relief from pain and inflammation if other home treatments do not work.
- As a final recourse, surgery is among the most effective treatments to remove the bone spur.
© Newsmax. All rights reserved.