“Would I need surgery for my heel spur?”
I was diagnosed with a heel spur recently, and it's not going away with any of the treatment that my doctor recommended. Is it possible that I would need surgery for my spur? What would the surgery be like and how long is the recovery?
14 Answers
No one removes plantar calcínela Spurs. Usually it resolves. Some times the fascia is cut to release the pain. If it is the back of the heel surgery is indicated with reattachment of the Achilles’ tendon.
The type of surgery depends on where the heel spur is located, on the bottom or back of the heel. There are various procedures available for both. Typically the surgery involves resection of a spur through a small incision, followed by 2-4 weeks of being in a cast and crutches, without walking on the surgical foot. Then followed by physical therapy.
The spur itself does not actually cause pain, unless it becomes unusually large. The inflammation process in the ligament and soft tissue near the plantar fascia attachment to the heel is the cause of the pain.
Although surgery is possible 90% of heel pain responds to conservative car.
If you elect the surgical option the specific procedure needs to be determined after exam and diagnostic tests
If you elect the surgical option the specific procedure needs to be determined after exam and diagnostic tests
Surgery for heel spur is usually not the 1st line of treatment for a patient experiencing heel pain. Often times doctors will dry physical therapy, cortisone injections, orthotics before seriously considering surgical intervention. When conservative measures fail, then surgery is a solution.
Heel spur/plantar fasciitis surgery is generally a same day procedure done as an out patient. The recovery time after heel spur surgery is generally three to four weeks. The first week you're walking with a cam walker/boot with crutch assistance. By week three and four, your stitches should be removed and you're back wearing sneakers.
Heel spur/plantar fasciitis surgery is generally a same day procedure done as an out patient. The recovery time after heel spur surgery is generally three to four weeks. The first week you're walking with a cam walker/boot with crutch assistance. By week three and four, your stitches should be removed and you're back wearing sneakers.
Typically, we identify heel spurs inferiorly (on the bottom) and posteriorly (the back). In both circumstances, the etiology of the bone growth relates to insertion of tendon, fascia and muscle cause constant passive strain on the bone. A law of medicine known as Wolf's law suggests that when bone is placed under force or strain, there can be generation of new bone growth along that force. Heel spurs on the bottom of the heel are usually produced by tension from the plantar fascia. Resistant cases that do not respond to concerted conservative care of at least six months may be amenable to more aggressive intervention. Recent study and experience suggests that removal of the inferior heel spur is not necessary with treatments focused to the plantar fascia that can include balistic ultrasound, coblation therapy, and limited surgical release of the fascia in small open or endoscopic approach. Posterior heel spurs can be more challenging as their prominence may impact use of foot wear with pressure being induced by the counter of the shoe. Those resistant to conservative care may require surgical excision of the spur and debridement of the degenerated Achilles tendon insertion with reattachment. Although an effective treatment, this surgery does carry a long recovery typically 6 to 9 months before pain relief is identified and function restored.
Generally speaking, heel spurs don’t need removal unless they are pinching something. The problem is likely the plantar fascia and would need to look at the X-rays to give an appropriate response. Heel spur surgery can be done open or endoscopic, healing time will vary on severity, but usually 4 weeks to recover.
Ahmad Farah, DPM
Ahmad Farah, DPM
For starters, 85 to 90% of patients get better without surgery. That's an important fact that has not changed in decades.The most important component of conservative care is Achilles stretching. These stretches must be made with strict attention to position of the feet and the knee while you doing your wall pushups. You should feel intense pain in the back of the calf when you're stretching. 30 stretches A-day 10 and 10 at lunch time and before you go to bed. Continue stretching everyday religiously. Add I thing with a frozen water bottle at you land the floor and royer foot over it pressing hard, no walking barefoot, and/or thought X or over the counter inserts placed in new shoes. Avoid activities that stress the heel like running jumping and heavy ballistic exercises. Cortisone can be helpful a medrol dosepak can be helpful and ice can be helpful but nothing is as important as stretching.Good luck and keep us posted.Dr. SiegelSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
There are cases that eventually progress to surgery. Heel spur surgery is mostly minimally invasive and involves about 6 weeks of recovery. Depending on the surgeon's training, different surgeons perform surgery differently.
If you have gone through 6 months of treatments and you're not improved, then you may possibly need surgery. There are various techniques based on the surgeons expertise/preference. Expect to be in a walking boot for 4 weeks followed by physical therapy.
Heel spur surgery is usually recommended if the heel spur itself, and not the ligament and soft tissue inflammation, is the reason for the pain. If the the spur gets too large it can become painful and wound definitely need surgical correction to remove or make smaller. It the process you will have your plantar fascia ligament cut off of the heel bone to get to the spur.
Depends. Some people have heel spurs with no pain. It may not be the spur. Could be other options out there. If the spur is on the back of the heel then surgery is most likely. Recovery all depends on what is done. If the heel spur is the bottom of the foot it may not be needed to resect that spur.
Heel spurs are very common. Usually, there are multiple treatment options prior to surgery. The heel spur itself is usually not the cause of the pain (if it is on the bottom of the heel. sometimes a heel spur on the back of the heel needs to be addressed surgically) I recommend you be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) to determine the cause of your problem and the most appropriate treatment options
In my practice, it is very rare for me to have to do surgery for heel spurs. And, the spur is actually not the problem-the problem is actually with a ligament, the Plantar Fascia, and the problem is really called Plantar Fasciitis. I am usually (99%) able to relieve a patient's Plantar Fasciitis with cortisone injections, foot strappings, orthotics, and a program of stretching and icing. There are also Shock Wave and Miracle Wave therapy and other physical therapy modalities that can be used to treat this problem. Read up on Plantar Fasciitis. If you are not getting better, seek a second opinion.
