What is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is bone spur (osteophyte) that comes off the bottom part of your calcaneus (the heel bone). A bone spur occurs because of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia that runs from the bottom part of your calcaneus to your toes. With chronic inflammation, the plantar fascia will ossify at the origin site: please see the x-ray below, the red circle reveals a bone spur.

Treatment for a bone spur involves treatment for the underlying plantar fasciitis. Surgically removing the bone spur does not correct the problem. The bone spur will return if the plantar fasciitis is not treated. Plantar fasciitis is treated with physical therapy, stretching, anti-inflammatory medications, shoewear modifications, a night splint, Cortizone injections, and PRP injections.