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September 27, 2000
Question:
I am 33 years old and in overall good health, about two months ago I was diagonsed with a bone spur in my heel. The pain was terrible, he prescribed vioxx to releave the inflamation, as I have had a pepitic ulcer. The medicaton worked very well but after 8 weeks, the pain has come back, only now it also shoots a sharp pain up the back of my leg, and not only when I first get up to walk. It will start hurting anytime. Is it possible that the spur has caused further damage?
Doctor's Reply:
Heel pain is one of the most common conditions treated by the foot specialist. It is due to the gradual change in the way your foot functions. It is frequently aggravated by tightness in the calf muscles. Tightness in the calf causes the foot to flatten. This stretches the ligament in the arch of the foot. This ligament called the Plantar fascia is attached into the heel bone. Over time this causes a spur to form on the bottom of the heel. It is important to realize that the spur is not what is causing the pain. It is the excessive pull of the Plantar fascia that causes the pain. Treatment consists of cortisone injections., calf muscle stretching and orthotics. Make an appointment with a podiatrist in your area They will be able to get to back to normal activity in no time.
 Kirk Koepsel DPM
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