How do you treat bone spurs?

I have a question for a podiatrist or a person with foot knowledge. My question is about bone spurs - heels.?

• I know a person who has bone spurs on both heels of his feet and he now has another bone spur coming in on his left heel, besides the one that is already there. He gets frequent cortisone injections in the heels so he is able to walk and get around because the heels become so inflamed and full of inflammation. Is it possible that bone spurs can grow again after surgery to remove them? What's the point in having surgery to remove them if they can grow back and here you go again with the same problem? My friends doctor told me he only does surgery on bone spurs as a last resort before everything else fails. Thanks for the answers on this issue.

• Answer:

  According to my podiatrist, yes they can grow back. They can be hereditary or simply develop because of a bad walking gait. My podiatrist prefers to not do surgery, but give shots. Shots should also not be given too often, but instead your friend probably needs to wear better shoes (all the time) and probably a good shoe insert prescribed by his doctor. The problem will continue to reoccur unless the cause is dealt with. I have terrible feet (was just at my podiatrist yesterday) and can understand the pain. He will keep going in circles unless he can figure out a solution. Ask him to check into very good shoes/inserts if he already hasn't. Also, my podiatrist taught me how to properly tape up the sides of my foot so that I don't cause the problem to get worse. It really helped, and I teach everyone I know with bad feet. I hunted for a picture on the web for how I was taught. It is amazing how well it works. Please suggest it for him.