When you look at the structure of the foot, it is easy to see that the heel supports a lot of the heft of your body as you move around. Because that is the case, problems with the heel of your foot can leave you almost immobile or in pretty severe pain. Heel spurs are just one problem you can heave with your heel, but they are not an issue to be taken lightly. Here is a look at some of what you probably want to know about heel spurs. 

Will heel spurs go away on their own without surgery?

Heel spurs are the same thing as your natural bones, albeit a little less dense. However, these things do not simply go away on their own without some kind of treatment. Some people who are diagnosed with having a heel spur will feel pain for a while and then the pain will disappear, which causes the assumption that the spur is gone. Heel spurs can intermittently cause problems and pain as inflammation flairs up, so just because the heel stops hurting, it doesn't mean the spur is gone. 

Is it true you can have a heel spur and not feel it?

Heel spurs can absolutely be present without you knowing it, especially when the spurs initially start to form. The nerve bundles in the base of the foot or at the bottom of the heel are not quite as sensitive as they are in the rest of the body since your heel has to withstand your bodyweight while you walk. It is often only when the spur impedes on certain nerves or puts stress on tendons in the foot that a person will realize they have a problem. 

Are bone spurs a genetic problem?

There is some evidence that heel spurs and other types of bone spurs are a hereditary or genetic thing. However, the primary cause of bone spurs is joint damage. So just because your parents had heel spurs or spurs somewhere else on their body, you may never have an issue if you maintain a healthy weight and take care of your musculoskeletal system through proper diet and exercise. 

Heel spurs can be extremely life-altering if they grow and disturb surrounding bones and tissue in your feet. If you believe you have heel spurs, reach out to a medical office like Collier Podiatry PA today for advice.