The spur isn't usually the problem. The fascia is.

Usually not. Research has shown that the bony spur itself is rarely the source of pain. The actual cause of "heel spur pain" is typically the inflamed plantar fascia or surrounding soft tissue — and many people with visible heel spurs have no symptoms at all.

This is why heel spur surgery is rarely necessary or effective. Treating the underlying plantar fasciitis with conservative care, advanced therapies, and biomechanical support resolves the pain in the vast majority of cases. If a previous provider recommended surgery to remove the spur without first exhausting conservative options, getting a second opinion is worth your time.

No — heel spurs themselves don't disappear once they've formed. However, the pain associated with them almost always resolves with appropriate treatment of the underlying plantar fasciitis. The spur can remain visible on X-ray indefinitely without causing any symptoms.

This is one of the most important things for patients to understand. Many people see a heel spur on imaging and assume it needs to be physically removed for the pain to go away. In reality, the spur is just a bony marker of long-term fascia strain. Once you treat the strain, the pain resolves — even though the spur is still there. Patients who go years without symptoms while still having the spur on imaging are very common.

Almost never. Heel spur surgery is rarely necessary or effective because the spur itself is usually not the source of pain. Surgical intervention is reserved for the rare cases of severe, treatment-resistant heel pain that hasn't responded to comprehensive conservative care, and even then is typically combined with plantar fascia release rather than spur excision alone.

Conservative care including custom orthotics, stretching, footwear changes, and advanced therapies like radial shockwave or regenerative medicine resolves the vast majority of cases. If a provider has recommended heel spur surgery without first walking you through a thorough conservative care plan, that's a sign to seek a second opinion. Surgery should always be a last resort, not a first option.

A heel spur is a bony calcium deposit on the heel bone, while plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue. They often appear together but are distinct conditions. The plantar fasciitis is typically what causes the pain — the heel spur is a marker of long-term fascia strain.

Many patients have one without the other. Plenty of people have visible heel spurs with no symptoms at all, while others have severe plantar fasciitis with no visible spur. When both are present, treatment focuses on the plantar fasciitis. Resolving the inflammation typically resolves the pain even though the spur remains visible on imaging.

Yes, most major insurance plans cover heel spur evaluation and treatment, including office visits, imaging, injections, and conservative care. Table Mountain Foot & Ankle accepts most major insurance plans, Medicare, and workers' compensation.

Specific coverage varies by plan, particularly for advanced treatments like radial shockwave therapy or regenerative medicine, which are sometimes considered elective. Custom orthotics may be partially covered depending on your plan and diagnosis. Our front office team verifies your benefits before your appointment.