Heel Spur (Plantar Fasciopathy)

Symptoms of heel spurs may include pain, inflammation, and swelling at the front of your heel. The affected area may also feel warm to the touch. The symptoms may spread to the arch of your foot. Eventually, a small bony protrusion may be visible.

Some heel spurs may cause no symptoms at all. About 50 percent of people with heel spurs experience pain from them. You may also not see any changes in soft tissues or bones surrounding the heel. Heel spurs are often discovered only through X-rays and other tests done for another foot ailment.

It’s difficult to diagnose a heel spur on your own. This is because the symptoms are similar to other forms of heel pain and foot problems. You’ll need to see a specialist, such as orthopedic surgeon or a podiatrist, for a proper diagnosis. Your orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist can then detect a heel spur through an X-ray.