Heel Spurs???

To tell you the truth your heel spurs most of the time aren't whats causing your pain. Its a igament that runs from the ball of your foot and wraps aroung the heel like a fan shape called your plantar fasca. When you have a heel spur the plantar fasca is what is causing the pain your having. Your having swelling so you may have plantar fasciitis. Take a towel and put it on the bal of your foot and stratch it backwards do like 2 reps of 10 and then take a water bottle freeze it the roll your foot on it for a few minutes. Also you'll need an antiinflammatory. That should help if not you may need some cortizone injections. Try it I hope it helps.

I had bone spurs surgically removed from the tops of my feet. There was no non-surgincal option for me because they were so large. If surgery ends up being your route, let me know if I can recommend a surgeon.

Find yourself a good podiatrist. I used to work for 4 of them. They can custom make orthotics for you and it should help. I used to have terrible trouble with my feet until I got my orthotics..now I can't live without them!

I have had them. What I found to help was losing weight. I was having pain daily, all the time. I have lost over 30 lbs and almost never have pain anymore.

The other thing that helps is regular exercise. I found if I worked out a few days, then didnt for a few days, they would hurt. Or if I didnt work out for awhile, then did a few times, they would hurt. But getting some exercise in every day helps.

S.

I was in so much pain and finally decided to go with the cortizone injection. That was NOT fun at all, but 2 days later I was pain free and very surprised! It's been a couple years now and every now and then when I don't take care of my feet as well it comes back a little. My podiatrist recommends a good pair of shoes on your feet at all times. No more barefootin' in the house! I've gotten used to it and can really tell when I'm not following doctor's orderss.

I haven't had them, but a friend of mine did. They got so bad she couldn't find any shoes that fit, and eventually began to have problems walking without pain.

She eventually opted to have them surgically removed. She had to use crutches and wear special post-surgery shoes for a couple of weeks after, but now her feet are lovely, she can fit shoes fine, and she has no more pain.

Perhaps you'll want to check out an Orthopedic surgeon (I think this might be bone related) in your area, or get a referral from your family physician?

I agree with Sarah. My peditrist(sp?) told me i had heel spurs because of the muscle on the bottom of my foot (plantar whatever) was pulling away from my heel and the heel was literally growing more bone (the spur) to essentially reach out to the muscle. He suggested the same things as sarah did. He taped my feet for a week and i was suppose to go back to get custom inserts but my insurance didnt cover it. so i didnt go. The big thing to do is keep stretching and buy some GOOD arch supports to support that muscle. The ped. recommended Spenco brand from osco drug store. They cost me around $11 i think? I've been wearin those supports for a couple years and not stretching... and now it seems to be getting worse again.. so, yeah.. stretch stretch stretch! even when you get to a point where its not hurting.. keep up with it- its the only way to keep the pain away.
best of luck!