When your heel bothers you, you know something is wrong with your foot. Two of the most common conditions that cause heel pain are plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.
Determining the cause of your heel pain helps you receive prompt treatment that allows you to feel better quickly. Keep reading to learn from podiatrist Thomas Rambacher, DPM, FACFAS, FAPWCA, of Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle in Mission Viejo, California, how to differentiate between plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.
Heel spurs are bones that slowly develop over time on your heel. They’re common in athletes and anyone on their feet regularly throughout the day.
Depending on the size of your heel spurs, they aren’t always visible outside the foot and don’t always cause symptoms. When they become large and disruptive enough, they can cause an intense, stabbing pain in the heel.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by an inflammation in the ligament band that connects from your heel to your toes. This injury is also common in active people who stand for extended periods.
The heel pain from plantar fasciitis usually worsens first thing in the morning after waking up. It tends to calm down as the day goes on and you stretch the fascia when you move.
If you have heel pain, certain features can help you figure out if it’s from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, or a different condition. Some things to look out for include:
Heel spurs are often only visible in an X-ray, but if your heel spur is large enough, you might be able to see it protruding from your heel. A visible bump means heel spurs probably cause your heel pain.
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs can both cause pain on the bottom of your heel. In addition, plantar fasciitis can cause pain in the arch of the foot.
You can also experience symptoms like mild inflammation and redness on the bottom of your foot with plantar fasciitis, while heel spur pain is usually only on the heel.
The pain from heel spurs and plantar fasciitis tends to worsen first thing in the morning. However, plantar fasciitis pain is usually better after walking and moving around, while heel spur stabbing pain can come back at points during the day.
Dr. Rambacher can diagnose plantar fasciitis and visible heel spurs with a physical exam. If he also suspects a heel spur that isn’t visible externally, an X-ray can detect if one is present internally.
Treatment for plantar fasciitis and heel spurs is similar. Both conditions can benefit from conservative treatments, including:
It’s not uncommon to have plantar fasciitis and heel spurs together. If you’re diagnosed with both conditions, your treatment routine will target both problems at once.
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are both painful conditions, but your pain can go away with conservative treatment measures. Contact us to make an appointment to diagnose and treat heel pain.
