Unlike many foot conditions, bone spurs may not cause any symptoms at first. In fact, many people do not even realize that they have bone spurs until an X-ray (often taken for another reason) reveals them. You may experience pain related to bone spurs. Individuals in the New York City area can make an appointment to visit the Best Foot Doctor for help in identifying possible bone spurs in their feet.
Symptoms of Bone Spurs in Feet
Bone spurs are the body’s response to injury or illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis. Some people are also genetically predisposed to develop them over the course of their adult lives.
Bone spurs occur in and around joints and are an extra outgrowth of bone, the body’s way of trying to protect joints. Unless they start to press up against a nerve or muscle, they may not have any symptoms. If you check carefully, you may notice a small lump underneath the skin. This could be a bone spur, but it could also have other causes. It is important that you consult with a podiatrist if you suspect that you may have bone spurs in your feet or ankles.
Preventing Bone Spurs in Your Feet
There is no clear way to prevent bone spurs from occurring, especially if they grow due to genetic factors. However, there are a few things you can do that may help keep your feet healthy and prevent them from occurring.
- Choose good footwear with plenty of room in the toe box for your feet to move around. If you aren’t sure what a good-fitting shoe feels like, get fitted for new shoes by a professional. Wearing socks, especially thick socks, can help prevent your feet from rubbing on your shoes.
- Adopt a well-balanced diet that includes calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones strong and healthy.
- Get regular exercise to keep your muscles and bones strong.
- Because obesity can be a factor in developing bone spurs, a healthy, active lifestyle that prevents weight gain can help prevent bone spurs.
Following these four tips for preventing bone spurs may not completely prevent them from occurring, but it can heighten your chances of keeping them at bay for longer.
Treatment for Bone Spurs in Feet
How you should treat bone spurs depends heavily on the cause. If you are not sure what is causing the bone spurs, a podiatrist can help you identify the best way to treat them and prevent them from worsening.
There are four main ways to treat bone spurs.
- Pain treatment – if your bone spurs are causing you pain, try over-the-counter pain medication. Keep in mind that these types of medication should not be taken for an extended period of time. If your pain does not subside after a month, it is time to talk to a doctor. Steroid shots may also be an option for pain relief.
- Rest – if bone spurs are causing pain when you are on your feet, resting may help. You can also use heat or ice to help improve the area.
- Physical therapy – This may improve your body’s handling of bone spurs.
- Surgery – if other treatment methods are ineffective and the bone spurs continue to grow or cause pain, you may need surgery to remove them.
Find a Bone Spur Foot Doctor in New York City (NYC)
If you are suffering from bone spurs or believe you may be developing this condition, you should schedule an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as possible. Best Foot Doctor utilized state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic resources to identify painful bone spurs. Our team can walk you through treatment options and help you understand how to navigate this condition. You can give our offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens a call to schedule an appointment.