About Heel Spur Surgery
Heel Spur which in medical terms is called as plantar fasciitis is quite a painful condition of the foot. The pain caused due to a heel spur may make it difficult for an individual to walk and any movement of the foot may result in excruciating pain for the individual. While there are many conservative methods available for treatment of a heel spur but they are not always effective. Whenever an individual presents to an orthopedist with symptoms of a heel spur the management begins with pain relievers and antiinflammatories. Once they are deemed ineffective then steroid injections may be given to the foot area which may provide temporary relief from the symptoms of plantar fasciitis or heel spur.
If all the conservative measures fail in relieving the symptoms of heel spur then as a last resort surgery is recommended for treatment of a heel spur. There are various surgeries available for treating heel spurs but the most preferred procedure is called the endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. This procedure requires two small incisions made on either side of the heel. Through these small incisions a small camera is inserted to allow the surgeon to inspect the area and identify the bone spur. Once the spur is identified, the surgeon detaches or cuts the heel spur from the bone with the help of a knife allowing the heel to be stress free and provide space for new fascia to grow around the space that is created after removal of the heel spur.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Heel Spur Surgery?
Heel spur surgery is basically done as an outpatient and has minimal risks and hence is most preferred. The recovery time following heel spur surgery (endoscopic plantar fasciotomy) is also quite less and the patient may be able to go back to normal activities in the shortest possible time period.
The patient undergoing a heel spur surgery may be allowed to ambulate as soon as he or she recovers from the anesthesia effect. However, in most of the cases patients are recommended not to put excess pressure on the heel and to restrict their day to day activities.
It is highly recommended that the patient remain off foot for the first week after a heel spur surgery. Once the wound is healed in about a week, and is on Band-Aids over the incisional area, the patient will be prescribed a supportive walking shoe. In some cases, the surgeon may prefer to cast the patient or provide the patient with crutches for ambulation. In about two weeks, the sutures are removed and the patient is allowed to wet the surgical area.
It normally takes about 3-4 weeks for the patient to walk normally with minimal discomfort following heel spur surgery. The return to work status following heel spur surgery is quite variable and depends on type of work the person does and the physical demands of the job. If the individual has more of a sedentary type of job then they can return to work within a couple of weeks after surgery. For a person whose job involves standing and walking multiple times during the job, it may take about four weeks to return to work and carry out job duties effectively after a heel spur surgery.
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