Plantar Fasciitis is one of the common reasons why many of you may feel pain in the bottom of the heel. Nearly 2 million patients need Plantar Fasciitis treatment every year globally. The condition typically occurs when the plantar fascia, a strong tissue band that supports the arch of your foot, becomes irritated or inflamed due to various reasons.
Too much pressure on the plantar fascia can damage the tissues around it, causing heel pain. Plantar fasciitis can sometimes lead to calcaneal spurs, also known as plantar heel spurs. These are bony projections that form on the heel bone. Both conditions are related and often occur together. Calcaneal spur remedies work best when opted in the early stages.
Calcaneal spurs can also be caused by factors other than plantar fasciitis, such as being overweight, unusual walking patterns, poorly fitted shoes, high-heel footwear, and chronic strain on the feet. Complete heel pain relief is achievable within 9 to 10 months of treatment. Physical therapy, supportive shoes, and orthotics can help speed up the healing process.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis and Calcaneal Spur
As already mentioned, the plantar fascia is a tissue band that absorbs shock when walking. It provides support to the arch of the foot. This thin, long ligament connects your heel bone to the base of your toes. Tension or a small tear on the fascia may lead to plantar fasciitis, and repeated stretching or tearing can lead to severe inflammation or irritation.
Common Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors of Plantar Fasciitis
You may experience stabbing pain at Plantar Fascia (on the bottom of your foot near the heel). Other Plantar Fasciitis symptoms includeworsening pain when you take the first few steps after awakening. It is usually triggered when you stand for a long period or get up after sitting for a long time. But in many cases, the causes of Plantar Fasciitis remain unclear.
In many people, Plantar Fasciitis causes heel spurs. Although the reason for Plantar Fasciitis is not always obvious, several factors can increase your risk of developing it. These include age (as plantar fasciitis is most common in the 40 and 60 age group), obesity (which puts extra stress on your feet), and prolonged walking or standing on hard surfaces.
Plus, running and other high-impact sports, ballet, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes and arthritis can also be risk factors for this condition. One of its major complications, heel spur symptoms, may also coexist in many cases. However, it is unclear whether these spurs are a secondary response to inflammation of the plantar fascia.
Calcaneal Spur: Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors
What is a calcaneal spur or heel spur? Calcaneal spurs generally develop as your body responds to inflammation of a ligament or tendon at its attachment point to the bone. Calcaneal spur Ayurvedic remedies can deal with repetitive microtrauma of the plantar fascia that results in an inflammatory reaction, triggering new bone formation.
But this condition does not always cause heel pain, as many may think. Calcaneal spur symptoms are similar to those of plantar fasciitis, with pain typically being worse in the morning and after prolonged sitting or standing, or when running or jumping on barefoot. Movements can gradually reduce the pain, but it may return if you again walk or stand for a long time.
Risk factors for calcaneal spur include obesity, jobs that require prolonged standing, flat feet, and overtraining. As we age, the plantar fascia becomes less flexible due to the thinning of our heel’s protective pad, which increases the risk of plantar heel spurs. However, calcaneal spur treatments are only needed if they cause significant pain or discomfort.
Ayurvedic Perspective on Heel Pain
Usually, heel spurs and related pain are caused by plantar fasciitis, and Ayurveda offers holistic treatment approaches with dietary and lifestyle adaptations to make walking pain-free and normal. According to the understanding of ancient Ayurvedic scripts and texts, heel pain results from the imbalances in the Vata and Kapha doshas.
The aggravation of Vata in the ankle-foot region is caused by walking on hard, uneven surfaces, and engaging in activities like running and jumping barefoot. Popular plantar Fasciitis Ayurvedic treatments include Abhyanga oil massage, Swedana heat therapy, Avagaha foot soaking therapy, Poultice and Bandaging, and Panchakarma.
Ayurvedic treatment for heel pain also involves applying herbal pastes to the feet. These can balance the Kapha dosha and reduce pain and inflammation. Commonly prescribed Ayurvedic medicine for heel pain may include Ashtavarga Kashsyam, Sahacharadi Kashsyam, Guggulutiktaka Kashayam, and Gulkuchyadi Kashsyam.
You can also try several natural remedies for Plantar Fasciitis, as calcaneal spur Ayurvedic remedies worked best and have shown positive results, especially in the early stages of the condition. With the help of an Ayurvedic practitioner, you can also use remedies like murivenna, kottamchukkadi thailam, and dhanwantharam thailam.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
It is one of the main conditions causing heel pain, and other possible reasons for heel pain may include nerve compression in the foot or the back, stress fracture of the calcaneus, and loss of the fatty tissue pad under the heel. However, plantar fasciitis can be easily distinguished from other conditions based on an examination by a physician and your medical history.
Conventional Plantar Fasciitis therapies and treatment methods;
- Stretching exercises and physical therapy: Stretching focused on the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon is one of the best treatments to reduce Plantar Fasciitis pain. A physical therapist can suggest possible stretching exercises, such as calf stretches or plantar fascia stretches, depending on what they think will work best for you. You should repeat these exercises several times a day at home.
- Rest, activity modification, and orthotic aids: While practicing heel pain exercises, it is important toreduce weight and stress on your foot. If possible, change to a more shock-absorbing exercise surface. Your doctor may also suggest switching from jumping or running to cycling or swimming.
- Shock wave therapy: In this technique, low-energy or high-energy shock waves are delivered to specific areas, creating microscopic trauma. This triggers a healing response from your body. It is commonly used for plantar calcaneal spur treatment.
- Steroid injections: Usually, calcaneal spur exercises provide effective relief from both plantar fasciitis and heel pain. However, if your symptoms continue after 1 or 2 months of treatment, your doctor may recommend steroid injections to reduce inflammation.
What are the Ayurvedic therapies practiced for heel pain relief?
- Abhyanga (oil massage)
- Swedana (heat therapy)
- Avagaha (foot soaking in warm herbal oils)
- Agni Karma (controlled cauterization)
- Dhara (medicated oil dripping)
- Herbal remedies
Preventive Measures and Lifestyle Modifications
There are certain dietary and lifestyle change recommendations you need to follow. These changes can help speed up the healing process. Along with heel pain exercises, maintaining a healthy weight is important since obesity is a risk factor that may increase the likelihood of recurrence or complications, making even walking difficult.
During your treatment, your doctor may recommend some daily tips for managing heel pain, such as;
- Applying athletic tape to your foot to support ligaments and muscles.
- Switching to shoes for Plantar Fasciitis with arch support.
- Trying orthotics to cushion the heel.
- Wearing night splints to continue stretching your foot while sleeping.
- Take proper rest after work, especially if your work involves prolonged standing or walking on hard, uneven surfaces.
Wear well-fitted, supportive shoes and strictly avoid high-heeled footwear. You can also soak your feet in warm salt water multiple times a day to reduce pain and inflammation. Regularly use ice packs and flaxseed packs, and apply coconut oil to the heels.
Other home remedies to reduce heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis may include;
- Applying a warm brick to the feet
- Alternate hot and cold compresses
- Rolling a tennis ball under the feet
- Warm water fomentation with Himalayan salt
- Wrap calotropis or castor leaves on the feet
- Immerse the sole in sour buttermilk
Foods to Eat During Your Ayurvedic Heel Pain Treatment;
- Green leafy vegetables
- Pumpkin seeds
- White beans
- Bens, beets, carrot, onion
- Basil, garlic, betel leaves
- Red-colored rice
- Ghee
- Raisins, almonds, dates
- Long pepper, cinnamon, ginger
Foods to avoid;
- Junk food
- Processed grains
- Sugar
- Saturated fats
- Hot, sweet, and spicy foods
- Refrigerated foods
When to See a Specialist
Immediately consult a physician if your heel pain and discomfort don’t get better on their own in a week or two. A sharp, stabbing pain in the heel or arch that does not subside with rest is the first red flag that indicates Plantar Fasciitis on foot. If these symptoms of Plantar Fascia are present, we can say that inflammation has likely started.
If the inflammation grows severe, particularly in cases of Plantar Fasciitis with calcaneal spur, immediate medical attention is needed. Left untreated, the condition may worsen, and walking can become challenging. If the heel pain persists or other Foot Fasciitis symptoms, such as swelling and redness, appear, consult your doctor.
After reviewing your symptoms, your doctor may examine your foot and look for the following signs;
- Flat foot or high arch.
- Symptoms of other conditions such as calcaneal stress fracture, plantar nerve entrapment, or Achilles tendinitis.
Physicians may take X-rays to rule out other causes of heel pain, such as arthritis or fractures. As part of non-surgical treatments, they may recommend casting for a short period to keep your foot from moving. More than 90% of patients recover with the therapies above-mentioned, although some may need surgical procedures such as gastrocnemius recession.
Overall, Plantar Fasciitis and treatment require a holistic approach that combines medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes. Since plantar fasciitis develops and can become complicated due to extreme stress on the feet, particularly on the tissue band called the plantar fascia, incorporating stretching exercises can help prevent the condition from worsening.
Calcaneal spurs are bone growths that typically occur at the bottom of the heel bone, and it is usually associated with plantar fasciitis. Common risk factors include age, obesity, and walking or standing on hard surfaces. As people between the ages of 40 and 60 are particularly vulnerable, non-surgical Ayurvedic calcaneal spur treatments are considered the best options.