How do I know if what I have is plantar fascitis or a heel spur?!
Question: I've had pretty severe heel pain for just over one year. I have high arches, have tried the arch supports, heel pads, etc. Alot of people answer these kind of questions with "Go to the doctor", forgetting that not all people have insurance. I'm obviously not going to die from it, I just haven't met anyone yet who suffers from either. The pain radiates, is sometimes burning(nerve?), sometimes stinging, always aching. Should I just cut it off? LOL
Answers: I've had pretty severe heel pain for just over one year. I have high arches, have tried the arch supports, heel pads, etc. Alot of people answer these kind of questions with "Go to the doctor", forgetting that not all people have insurance. I'm obviously not going to die from it, I just haven't met anyone yet who suffers from either. The pain radiates, is sometimes burning(nerve?), sometimes stinging, always aching. Should I just cut it off? LOL
Heel spur is just another name for plantar fascitis. The spur comes when the ligament is inflamed and shortens, the spur occurs to prevent pulling.
There is a special kind of orthotic shoe you can wear while you sleep. It wraps around your lower leg holds the foot in a position to gently stretch the ligament. You'll definitely still need anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce and control the swelling. Also gently massage and stretch your calf muscles.
I can't tell how bad it is, but some need surgery.
Good luck
My brother has PF and really the only way to tell what's going on for sure is to have it checked by a professional. (X-ray, etc.)
He got some custom made arches prescribed and after the 'break-in' period he's been pain free.
Some people need steroid injections to reduce the inflammation and thus the pain but again, gotta see a doc.
Good Luck!!!
Heel spurs hurt like crazy when you first get up to walk in the morning or have been sitting for a while and feel like you are always walking on pebbles. After walking around a bit, the pain goes away. I have them too. Plantars fascitis acts the same but goes up the back of you heel and can be caused by the spurs. Take an anti inflammatory regularly , ice the painfull areas often and for the plantars fascitis, stretch your heels gently before getting up and often throughout the day. It takes a while for it to heal but it will. See Mayoclinic.com for info on both conditions.
symptoms of both are same i.e. pain first few steps after resting but they can be differentiated by a lateral view x-ray of the heel where you can see the calcaneal spur.