There are more than 200 bones in your body that provide structural support while protecting your organs. There are 26 bones alone located in each foot. Bones are made up of protein, collagen and calcium, and it’s possible that additional tissue can form on top of them, called bone spurs.
If you have a bone spur on top of your foot, there is a way to reduce the issues that are causing symptoms. While bone spurs can’t go away without surgery once they’re formed, the right treatment can help reduce symptoms that are impacting your overall quality of life so that a procedure may not be needed. However, an untreated bone spur on the top of your foot can affect your everyday routines.
Read on to learn about the effects of an untreated bone spur on the top of your foot. We’ll also discuss treatment options worth considering.
4 issues that may come from leaving a bone spur on the top of your foot untreated
A bone spur on your foot can develop when your body is trying to heal from an injury by trying to add more bone to the area. It can also be caused by joint damage from osteoarthritis or overuse. While many bone spurs don’t cause any symptoms, some can lead to pain while walking, swelling, and reduced joint mobility. Treatment can address and alleviate these symptoms to improve your overall quality of life.
If left untreated, a bone spur on top of your foot can cause effects such as:
Persistent pain — Pain when you’re standing or walking is one of the most prevalent symptoms of having a bone spur on the top of your foot. If a symptomatic bone spur is left untreated, the pain may worsen or become ongoing in the surrounding area, which can lead to everyday discomfort that impacts your daily activities. This is particularly true if the spur presses against surrounding muscles or nerves.
Muscle weakness — Branching off the previous point, a bone spur on top of your foot that presses against surrounding nerves can lead to muscle weakness. If the bony growth puts pressure on your nerves, it affects the function of the surrounding muscles, leading to weakness. Muscle weakness in your foot can affect your walking ability, as well as cause tingling sensations that may be uncomfortable.
Joint damage — If you have a bone spur on the top of your foot, the edge can rub against the surrounding tendons and ligaments. This friction can cause inflammation and pain in your foot joints during movements. If left untreated, the ongoing friction over time can lead to degradation of the joint, furthering the severity of osteoarthritis, if that’s one of the contributing factors.
Reduced mobility — Reduced foot mobility is a potential symptom of having a bone spur on the top of your foot. If the bony growth isn’t given the right treatment, the reduced mobility can worsen with time, leading to a restricted range of motion that can impact your everyday activities. For example, a lack of mobility in the foot can make it difficult to complete the correct movement patterns during sports or even maintain balance, increasing the risk of a fall.
Treatment for bone spurs on top of the foot
If you have a symptomatic bone spur, talk to your orthopedic doctor about the safest and most effective treatment options.
Here are treatment options that can help a bone spur on top of your foot:
Hot and cold therapy — If you’re looking for a way to experience temporary symptom relief from your bone spur at home, alternate between ice packs and hot compresses. Ice works to numb the area and reduce inflammation that’s contributing to your symptoms. Heat can help by decreasing stiffness in the affected area and facilitate healing in the damaged joints by increasing blood circulation.
Footwear changes — Proper footwear can make a significant difference in helping to improve your bone spur symptoms. It’s important that your shoes aren’t too tight on the top so that there isn’t excessive pressure being placed on the bony growth. You can also use orthotics or inserts in your shoes that can absorb the shock with every step to reduce your pain.
Physical therapy — A physical therapist can help you not only reduce the pain, but also improve the overall quality of the surrounding area, such as increased mobility, strength and flexibility. They can guide you through exercises that boost the strength of the muscles that are affected by the growth. Stretches, such as heel raises, can help improve your joint range of motion.
At KC Rehab, we want to help you live your life to the fullest, and that means using the right treatments to address conditions that may get in the way. If you have a bone spur on top of your foot, we can help alleviate symptoms that are impacting your overall quality of life.
We’ll design a personalized treatment plan that may include targeted exercises, manual therapy and lifestyle adjustment recommendations.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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