My name is Tony Richards and when I turned 40 years old I began having unusual health symptoms including a powerful thirst and numbness in my hands. I went to see my doctor and after running tests he determined that I had diabetes. My doctor prescribed medicine for my condition and he also told me to make some lifestyle changes or the diabetes would get worse. I didn't want that to happen so I began researching ways to control diabetes. After implementing these ideas, my condition actually got better and I was able to reduce the amount of medication I was taking. If your doctor has diagnosed you with diabetes, it's very beneficial for you to read my blog so your condition doesn't worsen. I hope that by following this blog, it will help you to control your diabetes too.
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A heel spur is a bony projection that forms off the bottom or base of your heel bone, or calcaneus. Many times, the pain and discomfort of heel spurs can be managed with orthotics, NSAIDs, and a good routine of icing. However, when these treatments render themselves ineffective, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the heel spurs. Here's a look at what you can expect from that surgery.
Where will the surgery be performed?
Heel spur surgery is usually performed by a sports medicine doctor or a podiatric surgeon, which is a surgeon who specializes in issues related to the feet and ankles. Most of these surgeons work in ambulatory surgical centers that are located outside of hospitals since most of the procedures they perform are planned and not emergencies. A heel spur removal, specifically, is not a very major or involved surgery, so it will almost certainly be performed at a surgical center and not in the hospital.
Will you be awake during heel spur surgery, and what happens?
In most cases, your surgeon will use a local or regional anesthetic during heel spur surgery. This will make the leg to be operated upon numb. You won't feel a thing during the procedure, but you will be awake. There are a few advantages of taking this approach rather than giving you general anesthesia. For one, you will recover and be able to go home faster. Also, there is a much lower risk of side effects.
Once your leg is numb, your surgeon will make a small incision in the bottom of your foot. They will then grind down the heel spur — the calcium deposit that is causing you pain. If a tight ligament is contributing to the formation of your heel spur, the surgeon may also make a small cut in that ligament to release it. Your foot will be stitched shut, and you'll be given a wrap and a boot to protect your foot as you heal.
What is the recovery process like?
During recovery, you will typically need to wear a protective boot and mostly stay off your foot for about two weeks. You will then slowly begin to put more weight on your foot. After about a month, you should be able to walk a reasonable distance, and you should be fully back to normal after about three months.
Throughout this whole healing process, you will be icing your foot and taking NSAIDs to reduce inflammation and pain.
If you have a stubborn heel spur that won't respond to non-invasive treatment, then surgery is often the best choice. Now that you know the basics, you can approach your procedure with confidence. For more information about what services an orthopedic surgeon can offer, contact a local orthopedic office.