Symptoms of Bone Spur in the Foot

Risk Factors
Pain
Walking
Other Symptoms
Treatment

Written by Karen Carter

28 August, 2019

Fact Checked

A bone spur is a bony projection that occurs along the edges of bones in the body. The bone spurs themselves are not painful, but they can cause pain by rubbing against nerves and bones. Most bone spurs cause no symptoms and may remain hidden for years. Bone spurs seem to occur naturally without any health condition as a cause 1. Bone spurs on the foot causes chronic irritation to nerves, muscles, and foot bones. A bone spur on the foot is one of the most common orthopedic conditions.

Risk Factors

There are certain risk factors that are common to people who develop bone spurs. These risk factors include people with flat feet, extra-high arches, obesity, sudden weight gain and tight Achilles tendons. People who do a lot of running also tend to develop bone spurs.

Pain

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Bone spurs in the foot is usually noticed because of pain that develops in the bottom of the foot. The pain is usually worse in the morning and improves throughout the day. This painful tenderness on the bottom of the foot may be replaced by a dull ache when the foot is rested.

Walking

A bone spur in the foot makes walking difficult. The pain increases when walking for a long period of time. Standing for a long period of time becomes more difficult as well with this type of bone spur.

Other Symptoms

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Bone spurs tend to affect one foot. If the pain is in both feet then it is usually not caused by a bone spur. Mild swelling around the area with the bone spur usually occurs accompanied by redness.

Treatment

Bone spurs can get better with treatment. Anti-inflammatory medications can be prescribed. Physical therapy like heel stretching exercises can be done to help relieve the pain. Night splints and shoe inserts can also be worn. Sometimes a short leg cast can be worn for three to six weeks. This is a cast that resembles a ski boot and stops below the knee. Steroid injections are also an option for relief though they are very painful. If all the treatment options fail then the bone spur can be removed through surgery.