The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Foot Wrapping
Posted by Leta (Bolton, NC) on 01/30/2009
★★★★★
I have been suffering from pain in my heels for about two years. Since that time I had a child and gained weight and it really became unbearable. I figured it was heel spurs because my mama always suffered from them. I went with my daughter Christmas shopping right before Christmas and was unable to stand up for very long after a few hours of shopping. I had to continously sit down and I knew it was time to get help. I had previously purchased inserts for my shoes over the internet over a year ago and it helped but they had wore down and I didn't use them this day.
The next business day I scheduled an appt. with the foot doctor only to find out what I already knew BUT it wasn't the bone spur causing the pain. The muscle under the foot becomes weak over the years and with the added weight it would become inflamed. The doctor told me he would wrap my feet with tape and I thought, "he must be crazy", tape is not going to help my pain. I figured I would have to have shots in my heels like my mama did years ago. After he wrapped them, it felt strange and it was really tight. It was uncomfortable at first and he told me to wear them for 5-7 days without getting them wet. Again, I thought, "he must be crazy". I put my shoes on, left and that evening noticed I had less pain. The next day, even more less pain. Well, by the fourth day, I had little to no pain BUT they were beginning to smell because you weren't suppose to get them wet, and of course, I did when I washed. (I tried wrapping my feet in plastic, didn't work). So I took the tape off and thought, well, now what. I had went to Texas with my husband and wouldn't be back to NC for three weeks so I knew I had to do something. I first tried wrapping my feet with sports tape but just about cut my circulation off so I got on the old faithful internet and came across Duct Tape. Yes, duct tape. I wrapped my feet around the arch, snug but NOT tight. I wrapped it from one side of my foot, around the ankle to the other side. It worked a MIRACLE! NO pain all day long.
I went back to the doctor after I got back to NC and told him what I done. He was surprised the duct tape didn't tear my skin but I told him I used the generic kind at a dollar store and it worked wonderful. I would then get in the shower and let the water loosen it up and take it right off. Please keep in mind, I use the exercises they tell you to do to help alleviate the stress on the muscle and my feet are doing much much better. I still have to wear the tape and do the exercises and DON'T go barefooted and my feet aren't hurting like they were. I can go all day long and at the end of the day, they feel fine. Also, he had prescribed me pain medicine which I did not take after two days of using the tape.
Hope this helps. Leta
Gelatin
Posted by Mike (Moses Lake, WA) on 03/23/2009
★★★★★
My wife has had painful heel spurs off and on for yrs. Now when they start she goes to the grocery store and buys her favorite jello, which contains gelatin of course, and proceeds to make a cup of hot jello tea. She uses 1 heaping tablespoon of jello in a coffee cup everyday and usually gets results in 2-4 weeks. She stays on it for for a while longer then stops until the next time usually a year later.
Golden Raisins
Posted by Carolyn (Hobbs, Nm) on 08/28/2009
★★★★★
This sounds farfetched but it works. It is an old remedy handed down many generation. I've had both feet operated on and had many problems including heel spurs. I don't know why this works it just does. Eat a small handful of golden raisins twice a day and you will see a difference in just a matter of a few days. It must be golden raisins not the dark ones.
Thanks,
Carolyn
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Cathy (Vernon, Bc, Canada) on 02/17/2011
★★★★★
I had a heel spur for three years and tried hundreds of dollars in remedies to no avail. Then heard about grapefruit seed extract. I happened to have a small bottle. I applied a few drops to my heel, put a bandaid on to keep the extract on my heel and then went to bed. The next morning it was almost gone, did the same on the second night, next morning completely gone.
Infrared Heat
Posted by Ruthel (Troup, Tx) on 02/14/2017
★★★★★
I went to a foot doctor. Had heel spur. He put infraredheat on my heal two or three times and it was cured. Nothing else. Thank God he was not into doing surgery as it seems that was the normal.
Iodine Grid Painting
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 04/11/2021
★★★★★
Iodine grid-line painting on the heel is a popular Russian remedy for heel spurs. Paint vertical and horizontal iodine lines on the heel daily for 3 weeks. Lugol's 2% is used.
I use this on my hips and joints and it does work! I can't find anything (in english) as to why it works. If you speak russian, there is plenty. Here is a TV Show from Moscow I found about the use of iodine in russian medicine but I can't understand it.
Йод - польза или вред? Здоровье. (01.04.2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq59IhHOu4Y
Maybe someone reading this can translate this and add to my post.
Lemons
Posted by Lucy (Santa Cruz, Ca) on 06/08/2010
★★★★★
HEEL SPUR...too much uric acid in the system. I had to alkaline, and there is several ways to do that, but I chose lemons. I watched a doctor on a talk show who said he took 5 lemons per day for his health. I did 1 lemon in water three times per day. I don't remember how long it took, maybe a week and the spurs on my heel were gone.
Magnesium
Posted by Ellie (Evansville, Wi) on 01/25/2011
★★★★★
I had bone spurs several years back.. I looked up this.. What caused it I found that magnesium and calcium are not in balance and it calcifies.. So I started to use magnesium oil.. I sprayed it all over my body and I soaked my feet in warm water and magnesium oil just to below the ankles.. Every day for 30 days. 10 drops in water every.. I swear by this.. I also make my own now.
Magnesium with Calcium, Vitamin D3
Posted by Harry (Canada) on 06/19/2017
★★★★★
Magnesium with Calcium and vitamin D3 supplement works for me. I have been a type two diabetic for 20 years now. I recently developed heel pain in my left foot. I had a MRI done and it is a heel spur. I take two pills once a day and in two weeks I am noticing less pain and more comfort when walking. I do not drink milk and I am on insulin therapy with metformin. I am 52 and bike daily and play softball twice a week. I hope this helps someone. I also tried Magnesium Oil and it made it worse for me.
Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin C
Posted by Malu (Houston) on 05/08/2020
★★★★★
My son had a painful heel spur. The doctors offered little help. He used magnesium, potassium and vitamin C, in capsules. In three days the pain subsided, and in 2 weeks it was all gone. He is a big man, so he used a pill of each, twice a day. I don't know the mg of each, but it pretty standard. Hope this will help someone. Thank you.
Massage
Posted by Denise (Sydney) on 05/29/2016
★★★★★
Heel Spurs:
I have a friend from Africa and he said to
- Get a rock 1/2 the size of your heel and put it on the gas cooker to make it really hot.
- Put a sock on your foot and then put your heel on the rock and keep it on for as long as you can.
- Do this three times in a row. Keep doing it for three weeks and it will be gone for ever.
I have tried it for the last week and it works. I have had a heel spur for two years and it was so painful.
Good luck, Denise
Massage
Posted by Peterp (Melbourne, Victoria) on 04/16/2013
★★★★★
I have had a heel spur for 9 months and went and had a remedial massage ( it was hard) on the calves and hamstrings. One hour treatment and the pain in the heel was gone.
The spur was chronic and I done hours of research, nowhere did I read about getting a massage till my massuer mentioned it. Makes sense as all the muscles are interconnected and the massage loosened the tight muscles.
Massage
Posted by Gerhard (Romeo, Michigan Usa) on 12/11/2010
★★★★☆
I have had ongoing issues with heel spurs for 15 years. They come and go, but currently I have had extreme pain from one for almost a year. In the past, my podiatrist could help with cortisone, inserts, brace, therapy, etc. , but no luck so far this time. One thing that has helped is freezing a soup can in the freezer. When frozen, roll the sole and heel of your foot back and forth over the inflamed area, and this does provide some welcome relief for a while. I do it for about 20 minutes every evening. Good luck!
Massage
Posted by Luanne (Morris, Illinois) on 12/11/2008
★★★★★
I had an extremely painful heel spur and elected to go with chiropractic treatments. My chiropracter worked on the muscles and tendons with ultrasound and simple massage. She said the problem was the tendons, ligaments, etc. and that I was loosing the arch in my foot. To get it back she suggested getting a golf ball and rolling it along the arch of the foot (ball on floor, roll with bottom of foot) to work out the tightness and inflamation. This is fairly painful when inflamed, so be prepared(no pain, no gain) After about 6 weeks the pain went away and I have been fine since. By the way, the spur is still there(saw it in an x-ray recently), it just isn't bothering me.
MSM, Magnesium, ACV
Posted by Vicky (Atlanta) on 10/10/2016
★★★★★
I had heel spurs for 2 years and was getting steroid shots. Thank god for EC. I used 1,000 mg of msm, 1,000 mg of magnesium and 2 Apple Cider Vinegar tabs, daily, Within 1 week I was completely healed.
