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A Bone spur is an extra abnormal growth of bone on the bone joints. This condition is also medically referred to as osteophyte. A bone growth in itself does not cause any pain, the pain occurs when this protrusion rubs against tissues and nerves around it.

There can be several reasons for the foot spurs to occur:

• Foot bone spurs are usually a response to the pressure and stress that the foot may have experienced over a prolonged period.
• Foot bone spurs may also be a result of ageing bones. With age, cartilages, the slippery tissues that cover the bones at foot joints are found to be wearing away. Over time, this may lead to pain, swelling, and extra growth of bones around the edges where the cartilage has gone missing.
• Bone spurs may also form in the feet due to tightening of ligaments. It can happen due to too much of stress, ill-fitting footwear, or obesity. Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the ligament at the bottom of the foot is stressed and inflamed. When this happens, the bone tries to mend itself and protrusions start to grow at the points of wear and tear.

Foot bone spurs may not always be harmful and can remain undetected if there are no external symptoms. If there is no pain or restriction of movements, no treatment is necessary. But when the bone spurs cause pain and limits your range of motion, you will need to seek advice from a doctor and undergo medical treatment. There are no specific treatments available for remedying foot bone spurs. The medical treatment usually consists of medication (to ease and manage the pain) and surgery (to remove the bone spur). Usually, home remedies are not quite effective in treating foot bone spurs. You can only try relieving the pain with ice pack treatment and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is also possible to improve your condition with a little bit of appropriate exercise, if your foot bone spurs are a result of plantar fasciitis. Since the bone spur is caused by the leaching of calcium, many people have found relief after taking calcium supplements. As with all other medication and supplements, you should talk to your doctor before you start a course.

However, it is always better to prevent foot bone spurs rather than treating it when it occurs. You should follow a few preventive steps to minimize the chances of foot spurs.

• Wear comfortable and well-fitting shoes only.
• Reduce the amount of physical work with growing age. Of course, you should remain active, but do not over-stress yourself.
• Manage your body weight so that your feet are not under constant pressure.