Condition
Bone Spurs
Bony growths around the heel that may or may not be the actual source of pain.
What It Is
Understanding Bone Spurs
Don’t be fooled — bone spurs are not necessarily the cause of heel pain. In fact, people have had bone spurs show up on x-rays and they have no pain at all. However, some bone spurs can cause compression and damage to the soft tissues beneath the spur. Reduced or altered loading can be helpful, but our go-to treatment is again Softwave — Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy because of its superior soft tissue healing capabilities.
Specific and enlarged bony spurs prominent on the back of the heel can actually be what is called Haglund’s Deformity. Thankfully, we have been able to save patients with this condition from surgery.
Symptoms
What You May Be Experiencing
- Localized pain at the bottom or back of the heel
- Tenderness over a visible or palpable bony prominence
- Pain that worsens with standing, walking, or certain footwear
- Irritation at the back of the heel where shoes contact (Haglund's pattern)
- Aching that builds with cumulative loading throughout the day
The Problem
Why Traditional Treatments Often Fall Short
Many providers focus on the spur itself when the real driver of pain is the irritated soft tissue around it. Cortisone shots mask symptoms temporarily, and surgical removal of the spur is invasive and doesn’t address why the tissue became overloaded in the first place.
Our Approach
How SoftWave® Helps Bone Spurs
SoftWave® shockwave therapy heals the soft tissue being compressed and irritated by the spur, improves circulation, and addresses the underlying loading issue. We’ve helped many patients — including those with Haglund’s Deformity — avoid surgery entirely.
FAQ
Bone Spurs — Common Questions
Do I need to have the bone spur removed?
Usually no. The spur itself is often not the pain source — treating the surrounding soft tissue resolves the pain in most cases.
What is Haglund's Deformity?
It’s a prominent bony enlargement on the back of the heel that can irritate the Achilles and surrounding tissue. SoftWave has helped many patients avoid surgery for this condition.
Will the spur ever go away?
The spur may remain visible on imaging, but the goal isn’t its removal — it’s eliminating the pain and restoring function, which SoftWave reliably does.
Plantar Fasciitis
Sharp heel pain — especially with the first steps of the day.
Learn More →
Baxter's Neuropathy
Entrapment of the inferior calcaneal nerve under the heel — often mistaken for plantar fasciitis.
Learn More →
Achilles Tendinopathy
Pain, degeneration, and inflammation where the Achilles tendon meets the heel.
Learn More →
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