Re: Heel spurs....

[Guest guest]

Vicki: My husband had to have them surgically removed - recovery was a few months - but it worked and now he is fine - healthy and no pain whatsoever.

Bernadette

Heel spurs....

What can be done for them? I can hardly walk. I have been fighting this for too long and don't know what the heck to do.

Thanks,

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Not an option for me...I have no insurance, and no time to recover. I

am re-opening our BBQ stand next week after being closed & having to

move last January.

I was hoping to try something natural on my own.

Thanks,

Vicki

>

> Vicki: My husband had to have them surgically removed - recovery was

a few months - but it worked and now he is fine - healthy and no pain

whatsoever.

>

> Bernadette

>

[Guest guest]

Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 8:08 PM

> Not an option for me...I have no insurance, and no time to recover. I

> am re-opening our BBQ stand next week after being closed & having to

> move last January.

> I was hoping to try something natural on my own.

Just a quick thought, Vicki; what about good ol' apple cider vinegar?

Asssuming you're familiar with the protocol which is usually 1-2 T in 8 oz

of water---frequently with honey added to make it palatable.

I'm guessing you could also rub it into the spurs whenever convenient.

The principle is that the acetic acid in the vinegar would help break down

the calcium deposits which the spurs are made of.

Here's one site I have bookmarked:

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html

This may be rather simplistic sounding, and will probably take awhile, but I

do believe it will work.

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Here's information I have gathered about bone (heel) spurs from various

sources.

Hope something helps.

Samala

Bone Spurs are most commonly found on the heel, as well as on the neck,

shoulders, spine and hips. Bone spurs are associated with chronic

inflammation, which can cause calcium to accumulate near joints and tendons

as seen in arthritis, tendonitis and spurs. Chronic inflammation can cause

calcium to deposit on the edge of a joint or where a tendon attaches to bone

With time, an outgrowth or osteophyte may develop. These spurs can irritate

surrounding tissue, which may lead to pain, weakness and atrophy. Clinical

studies in China have shown that, although bone spurs are difficult to treat

in conjunction with Acupuncture, a combination of Osteophyte Powder, 701

Plaster and Tendon Soak is the best remedy for bone spurs! This is a

combination I have treated hundreds of patients with and seems to work on

75% of the cases I have treated.-- Pacholyk (ALT)

A friend of mine had a heel spur and her chiropractor told her to get one of

those wooden roller foot massagers--the kind that look like dumbbells with

knobs in the middle part, and roll her foot in ONE direction as she watched

TV at night. So, she did this, rolling out and then dragging the roller back

with her toes and rolling again, over and over. She said within 2 weeks the

spur and the pain was gone, and that she has told others of this and they

have all reported that it worked for them.

My mother had spurs in her heels. She took two bottles of the herb hydrangea

They are gone and have not come back. --Sherry L. Stoll (Alt)

I recently learned of a great exercise for this. I have had it for years and

have done everything from stretching my foot on the stairs to downward

facing dog..which works, but not like this. You use a wooden dowell (sp?)

that is about a 4 inches wide and about an inch thick. You roll your foot

back and forth on the dowell to start getting the " kinks " out, then you roll

it back to the very edge of your heel and stop there if it doesn't hurt too

much....when you stop, shift your body weight onto that foot and breathe for

about 5 breaths. Then move the dowell up very slightly and do it again...

being sure to put as much weight on it as you can bear. Keep doing this very

gradually until you get to the front of your foot. It has worked wonderfully

for me!! Just remember to be kind to yourself while your doing it because

there are going to be sensitive spots so if it's painful don't put your

weight on it. IT may be best to do it on the spots that are not painful and

over time you will be able to get all of the foot. My yoga instructor

recommended doing this twice a day. Especially in the morning when your foot

is the most sore, but I like to do it at night before I got to bed because

when I wake up it's not as painful to walk. I guess you have to figure out

what's best for you.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is often recognized when there is heel pain that is

present on first putting weight on your feet. This pain usually gets better

with movement but returns again when you sit or lie down for even a few

minutes.

*Take Rhus Tox 30c twice a day for relief and wear only shoes with good arch

support.

*Try to avoid going barefoot during the healing process.

*Lose weight. Added weight adds extra pressure per square inch to the

surface of the feet. Stretching the plantar surface of the feet are

imperative for the healing process.

*These exercises are for stretching and strengthening the muscles of the

foot and ankle.

Before you start these exercises:

Do a warm-up. Warm tissues are more flexible than cold tissues and are less

likely to be injured. If you are participating in sports, it is very

important to warm up and do stretching exercises before your sport. Warming

up and stretching will increase the flexibility in your plantar fascia and

decrease the chance of injury and inflammation. Stretching exercises before

getting out of bed Many people with plantar fasciitis have intense heel pain

in the morning, when taking the first steps after getting out of bed.

Stretching or massaging the plantar fascia before getting up can often

reduce heel pain when rising. Other steps that can help reduce heel pain

when taking the first steps after getting out of bed include:

Wearing a night splint while you sleep. Night splints hold the ankle and

foot in a position that keeps the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia

slightly stretched. Massaging the bottom of your foot across the width of

the plantar fascia before getting out of bed.

1. Stretch your foot by flexing it up and down 10 times before standing. Use

a towel to stretch the bottom of your foot.

Exercises to do each day

Stretching and strengthening exercises will help reduce plantar fasciitis.

2. Stretching exercises should create a pulling feeling, but not pain.

Stretching exercises include: Use a rolling pin or tennis ball. While

standing, roll the rolling pin or ball with the arch of your foot.

3. Use a towel (towel stretch). Place the rolled towel under the center of

your foot, holding the towel at both ends, and gently push your foot into

the towel.

4. Calf stretches. To stretch the Achilles tendon, lean forward against a

wall, keep one leg with the knee straight and heel on the ground while

bending the knee in the other leg. Hold this position for 10 seconds, and

try to do this stretch 3 to 6 times a day.

5. Combination plantar fascia/calf stretch. Stand on a step with the front

part of your feet, keeping your heels free. While holding onto the rail,

slowly lower your heels. Hold this stretch for 10 seconds, then bring your

heels back to a level position. Repeat this stretch 10 times.

Strengthening exercises include:

6.Towel curls. While sitting, place your foot on a towel on the floor and

scrunch the towel toward you with your toes.

7. Marble pick-ups. Put marbles on the floor next to a cup. Using your toes,

try to lift the marbles up from the floor and put them in the cup.

Exercises to avoid

Some exercises may aggravate your heel pain. One example is exercise that

involves pounding of the foot against a hard surface and repeated motions,

such as running or jogging. This type of exercise should be avoided to rest

the plantar fascia. You may want to take a pain reliever such as a

nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as aspirin or ibuprofen,

to relieve inflammation and pain. Some people take NSAIDs at least 30

minutes before they exercise to relieve pain and allow them to participate

and enjoy the exercise. Other people take NSAIDs after they exercise. After

exercising, ice your heel for about 20 minutes to help relieve pain and

inflammation. You can easily become dependent on NSAIDS. Be careful.

Bleeding gums, ulcers or any other kind of excess bleeding could be a sign

of too much NSAIDs intake. These suggestions have worked for me and my

patients. You must be diligent about this as well as losing weight. It will

make all the difference in the world. -- Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Though I have not been able to try this yet personally, I have heard some

very amazing results performed by 's Seal. I would make a DMSO

tincture of this herb's root and apply it to the area, topically, and also

take it in tincture form, orally. Read Wood's page on it at:

<http://www.tcwellness.com/article.php?id=143> Also: <http://www.herbcraft

org/solseal.html>

Straight castor oil worked for my 85 year-old father. It works nicely if the

oil is in a glass jar and you can soak it in hot water for 10 minutes before

you use it. I'm also personally having a lot of success with organic aloe

vera juice orally, 2-6 ounces a day. Some effort should be made to massage

or stretch the plantar fascia to treat the cause. Increased Magnesium intake

would also be good as well as avoiding potatoes, tomatoes and dairy in the

diet to reduce acidity.

[Guest guest]

I want to second Sharon's motion about Apple Cider Vinegar, but to add that

it is best to use Bragg's or equal. In addition to helping with all sorts of

arthritic complaints, you get the added benefit of the live culture in such

vinegar. The only thing to watch out for is this- when those calcium

deposits come loose and go to your kidneys, or if you have unknown small

kidney stones or calcification, be not surprised by sudden intense kidney

pain. I was driving when it hit me, but I was lucky to be in a lightly

traveled 35 mph zone. I kept it between the sidewalks:)

Rub DMSO on the afflicted area. Take MSM. Take magnesium, at least in

citrate form.

About 4 years ago, I had x-ray evidence that bone spurs were diminishing

after doing these things.

Just in case anyone is not clear on what a bone spur really is, it is the

creeping calcification on your ligaments, where they attach to bone.

Daddybob