Heel Spurs are extra growths of bone at areas where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone. In the foot and ankle they are common at the bottom and the back of the heel, and can be associated with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis.
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Sometimes heel spurs can be found on an x-ray of the foot or ankle and just be an incidental finding, without any symptoms such as pain. Other times, they can be associated with painful foot conditions.
PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Heel spurs can be associated with plantar fasciitis, a painful condition involving the ligament on the bottom of the arch that attaches to the bottom of the heel, the plantar fascia. This is usually referred to as “heel spur syndrome“, since the actual cause of pain is not usually the heel spur itself.
ACHILLES TENDINITIS
Heel spurs can also occur in the back of the heel where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel. They can be associated simply with pain upon pressure applied to the area, or in conjunction with Achilles tendinitis or tendinosis (thickened scar tissue) near the insertion of the tendon on the heel.
Conservative and surgical treatment are available for both conditions. Removal of the spur is not always necessary in all cases.