Heel Spurs Symptoms

You may or may not experience any symptoms with your heel spurs. It is normally the inflammation felt in the tissues around your heel spur that cause discomfort.

Heel pain is one of the first things you may notice, especially when pushing off the ball of your foot (stretches the plantar fascia). This can get worse over time and tends to be stronger in the morning, subsiding throughout the day; although it does return with increased activity.

A sharp, poking pain in your heel that feels like you're stepping on a stone can often be felt while standing or walking. You will sometimes be able to feel a bump on the bottom of your heel, and occasionally bruising may appear.

Diagnosing

Your doctor will take your medical history and will examine your foot and heel for any deformities and inflammation (swelling, redness, heat, pain). He/she will analyze your flexibility, stability, and gait (the way you walk). Occasionally an x-ray (check for arthritis, bone spurs and joint inflammation) or blood tests (rule out diseases or infections) may be requested.