Can a heel spur cause lower back pain?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 06, 2026
Bone spurs do not necessarily lead to lower back pain, but they are a common cause of it. With proper care and treatment for bone spurs, you can relieve your pain and regain movement. Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are bony growths that can develop on the spine due to wear and age.
Can a heel spur cause back pain?
Bone spurs typically cause back pain one of three ways: Joint inflammation. Bone spurs of the joints of the spine (facet joints) can cause adjacent vertebrae to grind against each other, resulting in friction and inflammation. The inflammation can lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.
What kind of pain does heel spurs cause?
Heel spurs can happen as a reaction to stress and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. Over time your body responds to the stress by building extra bone tissue. This extra tissue becomes a heel spur. Most people don't feel pain from their heel spur, but when they do, the pain is like plantar fasciitis pain.
What is the fastest way to heal a heel spur?
Heel spur treatments
- Ice packs after walking and exercise.
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin.
- Injections of anti-inflammatory medications such as cortisone.
- Stretching exercises, especially before bed.
- Physical therapy.
- Resting your feet.
What will happens if heel spurs are left untreated?
If you let a heel spur go untreated, you will feel pain every time your heel hits the ground – even if you try to walk softly. Initially, the heel pain is intermittent; but as it progresses, it could become constant.
28 related questions foundCan you get rid of a heel spur without surgery?
The only way to get rid of heel spurs entirely is by having surgery to remove the growths. However, doctors typically reserve surgery for cases that do not respond to any other treatments. According to the AAOS, surgery is a last resort because it can lead to chronic pain.
What is the difference between plantar fasciitis and heel spur?
Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel as a result of a tight or strained plantar fascia tendon. A heel spur is a calcium deposit that causes a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. It can also cause sharp pain in the heel, but this is more rare.
What vitamin is good for bone spurs?
Vitamin K2 plays an important role in joint health. When soft tissue or joints are damaged due to injury or stress, the body responds with inflammation and repair. This process can result in scar tissue accumulation and over many years can build up causing bone spurs and permanent damage.
Does cortisone shots help heel spurs?
For individuals with chronic pain from heel spurs, corticosteroid injections are a good option. Cortisone is produced naturally in the body as response to stress. A synthetic version of the hormone may be injected into the side of the heel in order to reduce inflammation.
How do you dissolve bone spurs naturally?
How to dissolve bone spurs naturally
- 1 – Stretching. Stretching your toes, feet, and ankles can alleviate pressure and strain whether you experience a toe bone spur or a heel bone spur. ...
- 2 – Footwear. ...
- 3 – Ice packs. ...
- 4 – Vitamins and supplements. ...
- 5 – Massage therapy.
Will losing weight help heel spurs?
Losing excess body fat might be the simplest, smartest way to lower your risk of developing painful heel spurs. These calcium deposits can form when strain, stress, and pressure bear down on your feet over a long period of time.
How do you treat bone spurs on the heel of your back?
Treatments for heel spurs and associated conditions include exercise, custom-made orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and cortisone injections. If conservative treatments fail, surgery may be necessary.
Does weight gain cause heel spurs?
Excess weight puts extra stress on all of your bones and joints, and your feet are no exception. Being overweight or obese can increase your chances of developing heel spurs due to the increased pressure on your feet. If you're overweight, losing weight may result in experiencing less foot pain.
What does a bone spur on the spine feel like?
Bone Spurs in the Low Back (Lumbar Spine)
Dull pain in lower back when standing or walking. Pain, numbness, or tingling into the buttocks and back of the thigh(s) Weakness in one or both legs. Pain relief when bending forward and flexing at the waist, such as leaning over a shopping cart or over a cane.
How serious are bone spurs on the spine?
On your vertebrae, bone spurs can narrow the space that contains your spinal cord. These bone spurs can pinch the spinal cord or its nerve roots and can cause weakness or numbness in your arms or legs. Hip. Bone spurs can make it painful to move your hip, although you might feel the pain in your knee.
Do bone spurs need to be removed?
Bone spurs don't go away unless you have surgery to remove them.
How painful is a cortisone shot in the heel?
The injection itself is mildly painful, and your doctor will usually add a numbing agent to the cortisone shot itself, or numb the area prior to injecting you.
How long does it take for a cortisone shot to work on a heel spur?
Generally, a cortisone shot takes 4-5 days to start working. However, we often say you should leave about a week before an event for the cortisone shot to work. Also, you need to be aware that cortisone can cause a flare of pain in the first few days.
Does prednisone help heel spurs?
Corticosteroids rapidly reduce any swelling in those tissues and can provide pain relief from the bone spur for a few weeks to a couple of months.
Does magnesium help with heel spurs?
Heel Spur Aid
Since magnesium is key to bone health, Epsom salt can be a great natural remedy for a heel spur. A heel spur is caused by displacement of calcium on the bone that forms on the underside of the heel. Heel spurs can be mildly to extremely painful.
Can Too Much Vitamin C cause bone spurs?
Cause bone spurs
According to the Arthritis Foundation, one study found that the presence of very high vitamin C levels in the body increased the likelihood of a person developing painful bone spurs.
What foods cause heel spurs?
Causes of bone spurs in the heel
Contributing foods and ingredients include high-fructose corn syrup, soda, apple juice, fluoridated water, other refined sugars, and animal protein. Virtually any fast-food meal sets the stage for making the body prone to kidney stones.
Does walking make heel spurs worse?
Depending on your specific circumstances, walking may help your heel pain, or make it worse. If you experience excruciating pain while walking, try to rest as much as possible until the pain subsides.
Can a chiropractor help heel spur?
In extreme cases, steroid injections and surgery may be necessary, but heel spurs usually respond well to conservative chiropractic treatment.
What can a podiatrist do for heel spurs?
If your podiatrist determines that a heel spur is, in fact, the source of your discomfort, they will have numerous treatment options available, including:
- over-the-counter and prescription medication for pain and swelling.
- physical therapy.
- new shoes.
- custom orthotics for cushioning and support.