Bone spurs or osteophytes can occur anywhere in the skeletal system. The feet are not an exception. Bone spurs are bone overgrowths that tend to form where two bones come together. Bone spurs in the feet are usually painless. But bone spurs can cause the excess bone to rub against other nerve endings or soft tissues, when subject to pressure. That can result in pain.Causes of Feet Bone Spurs
If your feet are exposed to repetitive pressure and stress, a bone spur can form. This happens as a result of the body's normal response to repair itself. The following can cause bone spurs too.
• Poor-fitting footwear
• Tightening of the plantar fasciitis due to excessive stress
• High-impact activities, such as running
• Excessive weight
• Aging
Bone Spurs Diagnosis
Diagnosing bone spurs can be tricky since there are no obvious symptoms. Some people suffer severe pain in certain parts of the feet, especially when exposed to pressure. For example, heel spurs will cause heel pain. They are also associated with plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the fibrous band of connective tissue (plantar fascia) that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot. This pain often makes patients seek a foot doctor. An X-ray is used to identify a bone spur in the foot. However, if the bone spur isn't causing you pain or damaging other tissues, any treatment may not be necessary.
Bone Spurs Treatment
The treatment of bone spurs will depend on the cause of the spurs and the severity of your pain. For instance, if ill-fitting shoes or weight gain is the cause, your podiatrist or foot doctor in San Diego may advise to work towards reducing weight and getting shoes that are better designed. That may be sufficient to treat your pain.
Conservative treatments for bone spurs include:
• Replacing your footwear with ones that are designed to keep the feet healthy
• Losing excess weight
• Inserting padding or insoles in your shoes
• Stretching
• Deep tissue massage therapy
If you're experiencing stubborn foot pain that doesn’t go away with rest, consult an experienced podiatrist, such as at Pacific Medical Care in San Diego. He would carefully examine your feet and assess your symptoms to reach an accurate diagnosis and design a treatment plan.
If you've developed a bone spur, he would work with you to create a treatment plan that best fits your needs and puts an end to your debilitating foot pain.
To see an experienced foot doctor or podiatrist San Diego in San Diego, call Pacific Medical Care at 619-333-8114. Pacific Medical Care urgent care center offers a broad suite of healthcare services, with the goal in mind of providing first rate care to treat the whole patient.