
What's the Difference Between Heel Spurs & Fissures?

Foot problems are common; they affect 75% of Americans at some point in their lives.
Heel spurs and heel fissures, in particular, can take a toll on your feet if not treated. At Foot and Ankle Care of Passaic in Lodi, New Jersey, Dr. Sean Rosenblum and the rest of our team provide expert care for your heel pain.
The first step is understanding your condition. Here’s an explanation of heels spurs and heel fissures to help you determine the cause of your heel pain.
What are heel spurs?
A heel spur is a bony protrusion on the bottom of your heel. Heels spurs might be caused by:
- Strains on the muscles in your foot
- Repeat tears of the membrane that covers your heel bone
- Over-stretching the ligament that goes from the bottom of your heel to the ball of your foot (the plantar fascia)
Heel spurs don’t usually cause discomfort, but if they do, you could feel a sharp pain in your heel when you get out of bed, which becomes a dull ache later in the day. The same scenario can happen after sitting for long periods of time and then standing up.
How do you treat heel spurs?
Depending on the severity of your pain, we can treat your heel spurs nonsurgically with physical therapy, orthotic devices, night splints, medications, or cortisone injections to take away inflammation.
Over 90% of people with heel spurs overcome their pain with nonsurgical remedies. If your heel pain persists, we can surgically remove your heel spur or release your plantar fascia.
What are heel fissures?
Heel fissures are cracks in your heel. If they go untreated, bacteria can get into the cracks and cause infection.
You can moisturize your feet with lotions that contain softening agents to remove dead skin. They should have ingredients such as salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, or urea.
Before going to bed, wash your feet well, pat them dry, apply an oil-based cream, and put on thin socks. These actions can help you avoid the onset of fissures in your heels.
What can you do about deep heel fissures?
If your heel fissures are deep, start to bleed, have redness and swelling, and cause pain, come in to see us at the Foot and Ankle Care of Passaic.
Dr. Rosenblum and our team can evaluate your condition, treat you with antibiotics, and get you on the road to recovery quickly. We also provide helpful ways to prevent your heels from cracking.
Don’t ignore heel pain
If you have symptoms of heel spurs or heel fissures that cause concern, we can help you. To schedule a consultation about your heel pain, call our office at 973-218-5720 or book an appointment online today.
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