Bone Spurs

What are Bone Spurs?
Bone spurs are calcifications that forms along the edges of bones. They are also called osteophytes, and form around joints where bones meet each other. They can also form on any bone in your body and are usually caused by joint damage associated with osteoarthritis, a degeneration of the cartilage at the joint level. These bony lumps or projections can from at the attachment of a tendon or ligament. These outgrowths of bone can be tiny, large, pointed or smooth and are usually caused by local inflammation, such as from degenerative arthritis or tendonitis. Bone spurs develop in areas of inflammation or injury of nearby cartilage or tendons as the body’s response to damage and are condition largely associated with aging and arthritis.

In the foot, bone spurs commonly form around joints of toes, metatarsals, back of heel, bottom of heel and top of foot. The most common of the spurs occur in the calcaneus or heel bone and are associated with plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis.

Strain and inflammation of the plantar fascia leads to swelling and eventual formation of a heel spur is on the underside of the heel bone slowly over a period of months to years. The plantar fascia stretches where it’s inflamed, causing repeated micro tearing of the membrane. This damage and injury encourages bone formation which can extend forward by almost half-inch in more severe cases. This can be seen on xray and in the absence of a visible osteophyte, this painful condition is referred to as “heel spur syndrome”.

Retrocalcaneal osteophytes, or bone spurs on back of heel can develop within the achilles tendon and are intratendinous. The achilles becomes tight and causes a chronic tugging to the heel bone. The spur can cause damage to the attachment of the tendon. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, and bony bump along the back of the heel. Activity and certain shoes can make these symptoms worse because of rubbing and friction of the bone against the shoe. As bone spurs become larger, wearing shoes becomes very challenging.

Bone spurs can also form on the top of the foot usually from excess rubbing and friction of shoes that cut across the midfoot. Toes and metatarsal joints are also susceptible to formation of spurs especially when a person has hammertoes and bunions. This causes the joint to become stiff, rigid and decreases the range of motion.
Some risk factors of heel spurs include age, decrease flexibility, diabetes, excessive stress from walking abnormally such as when a person has very high arches, or flat feet, or pes planus. Increase in body weight or recent activity levels. Wearing old, worn out shoes, or ill fitting shoes can encourage bone spurs to form in feet.