I haven’t been able to run for the past few months. Here’s the reason: a 4mm long heel spur under my left foot. Lesson: stretch your calves!!
If you’re fascinated, the higher resolution version is here.
I’m working with an ART therapist to release the tension in my calves and get them back to their normal length. Also working on restoring the length to the fascia in my foot. Hopefully by eliminating the cause, my body will re-absorb the spur and I’ll be able to run again. We’ll do another x-ray in 2 months to compare & contrast. If it’s not getting better in 6 months, I’ll go see a surgeon. In the meantime, no running, some biking, lots of swimming, stretching & strengthening.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
Park Slope, Brooklyn
There is some evidence that the bony heel spur that you see on the xray has little to do with the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Even if you could wave a magic wand and make the bony spur go away, you probably wouldn’t feel any better. Even when you do feel better, the spur doesn’t go away, so your xray idea probably would make you have unnecessary surgery.
The conclusion: don’t rush into having someone take it out (it doesn’t sound like you are rushing, so that’s good).
Several years ago, I had pain in my right heel - on the backside, where the achillies attaches (I guess). Pretty painful in the morning. One morning, navigating gingerly down the dark stairs, I misjudged the last step, thinking I was at floor level rather than a step up. As I was falling forward, with my right foot leading, it was all slow motion and I was thinking of the horrible pain I’ll feel when I land. All prepared for it, my foot landed. There was a cracking sound, but no pain. In fact no pain whatsoever! Pain all gone. I could walk normal.
Months later, I needed a foot xray for something else. It was quite obvious a good sized protrusion had broken off. Still, my right heel is rather pointy and I have to be careful about getting blisters back there.
