Monthly Archives: February 2013

Bone Spur on top of the foot: Causes, symptoms and treatment

I once had a friend who was always complaining of pain on her foot. The pain got so bad that one day she had to return home when the pain became unbearable after she went for morning walk.

I then advised her to consult with an orthopedic surgeon. After diagnosis, doctors discovered the problem was bone spur. He prescribed some pain killers and then plenty rest.

On getting home, I spent the whole night on the internet trying to better understand bone spur.

I must say I was shocked when I discovered that bone spur was nothing more than an extra growth of bone.

In medicine, bone spur is known as osteophyte. Bone spur is mostly responsible for the pain felt in the leg which accompanies old age. Interestingly, bone spur doesn’t only affect the legs; it affects just about any area on the skeletal structure, with the joints being the most affected.  On its own, bone spur does not cause any sort of pain. It only does when adjacent muscles, nerves and tissues get compressed.

Causes of bone spur on top of the foot

Wearing pressure and rubbing shoes for a protracted period of time is the major cause of bone spur. Bone spur also affects the posterior part of the heel bone. Bone spur is what follows when the tendons get pulled by pressure. Bone spur when it affects the foot also causes complications like flat foot which makes the foot align improperly. People suffering from osteoarthritis suffer bone spur the most. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition which causes the cartilage to break up, resulting in extra growth on the bone.

Physical activities like running, dancing and walking which strains and stresses the foot also causes bone spur. Obesity and frequent wearing of tightfitting shoes increases the chances of developing bone spur.

Symptoms of Bone spur on the top of the foot

As earlier discussed, bone spur can develop just about any spot on the skeletal structure. The commonest symptom of bone spur is the developing of bone overgrowth atop the foot, or when protracted pain is felt on the foot.

Bone spur has the same physical appearance as a hard lump which can develop on the foot, finger joints and areas with very little skin covering. Detecting bone spur is sometimes difficult because it doesn’t cause any sort of pain. Pain due to bone spur immobilizes the foot, with such pain causing walking difficulty. Bone spur sometimes causes the top foot to get swollen, which will then make the skin atop the foot to redden and become tender. The pain may make wearing shoes difficult.

Treatment of bone spur

Treatment for bone spur on top of the foot just like other forms of bone spurs is conservative. To avoid pains and difficulty in walking, it is best to commence treatment of bone spur very early.

Before treating, it is important to first rid every form of inflammation from the affected foot. To do this, apply ice at least two times a day on the affected spot.

Take some few days to give your leg plenty rest. Do away with tightfitting footwear.

Linseed oil can also be used for the treatment of bone spur. To treat, apply the oil gently on the affected spot. Wait for 30 minutes and then place a heated pad and leave for 30 more minutes. Caution must be exercised when applying the heated pad to avoid injuries.

Applying turmeric mixed with a teaspoon of honey will also help. Consume this mixture first thing every morning and watch the bone spur fade away.

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