Heel Spur Treatment
in Calgary

A heel spur shows up on an X-ray, but it is not always what hurts. We treat the pain around the spur — and most people never need it removed.

  • Same week Appointment availability
  • Non-surgical Spurs rarely need removal
  • Custom Orthotics made for your foot

10k+ Satisfied Clients

Understanding the condition

A bony growth on the heel bone

A heel spur is a calcium deposit that forms on the underside of the heel bone, where the plantar fascia attaches. It builds slowly over months or years in response to repeated strain, and can reach up to about half an inch in length.

Many heel spurs cause no pain at all and are only found on an X-ray. When they do hurt, the pain usually comes from the irritated soft tissue around the spur — often plantar fasciitis — rather than the bone itself. That is why treatment focuses on the tissue first.

Heel Spur Treatment in Calgary at Achilles Foot Clinic

Why it happens

4 things behind most heel spurs

Heel spurs develop from long-term strain on the heel, usually alongside plantar fasciitis.

  1. Repeated Strain

    Running, jumping and long hours on hard surfaces pull on the heel where the plantar fascia attaches.

  2. Excess Body Weight

    Extra weight increases the load on the heel bone and its attachments with every step.

  3. Poorly Fitted Shoes

    Shoes with little arch support or cushioning leave the heel to absorb more impact.

  4. Arthritis & Heel Bruising

    Inflammatory arthritis and repeated bruising of the heel can both encourage bony growth.

  • 25+ Years

    Serving Calgary patients

  • 3 Podiatrists

    “Specialized foot and ankle care

Know the signs

When a Heel Spur Becomes Painful

Painful heel spurs cause pain under the front of the heel, often sharp with the first steps of the day and aching after long periods of standing. The area can feel warm, swollen and tender to press.

Because spurs tend to grow and discomfort can increase over time, it is worth having heel pain assessed early rather than waiting.

  • Pain Under the Heel
  • Morning Heel Pain
  • Swelling & Warmth
  • Tender to Touch
  • Ache After Standing

What to Avoid

  • Hard, flat shoes with no cushioning
  • Walking barefoot on hard floors
  • High-impact exercise through pain
  • Self-treating with unproven devices

How we treat it

Three routes, depending on how stubborn it is

Your podiatrist examines the heel and, if needed, arranges an X-ray to confirm the spur and check for other causes. Treatment targets the inflamed tissue around the spur.

Surgery to remove a spur is rarely needed and is only discussed when long-term conservative care has not helped.

  • Conservative care

    Calming the tissue around the spur

    Stretching, heel cushions, strapping, ice and footwear changes to reduce pressure and inflammation.

    • First visit
    • Home exercise plan
    • No downtime
  • Advanced therapy

    For pain that persists

    Shockwave therapy, injections or, in rare cases, surgery may be considered after months of conservative treatment.

    • Assessment first
    • Options explained
    • Recovery plan provided

FAQs

Heel spur questions, answered

Common questions about heel spurs, pain and treatment options.

Do heel spurs go away?

The bony spur itself usually stays, but the pain around it typically settles with treatment, and many spurs never cause symptoms.

Do heel spurs need surgery?

Rarely. Most painful heel spurs improve with stretching, orthotics and other conservative care.

How are heel spurs diagnosed?

Through an examination of the heel and, if needed, an X-ray that shows the bony growth.

What is the difference between a heel spur and plantar fasciitis?

A spur is bone; plantar fasciitis is irritation of the soft tissue. They often occur together, and the tissue is usually the source of the pain.

Can orthotics help heel spurs?

Yes. Orthotics cushion and support the heel, reducing pressure on the spur and the tissue attached to it.

Patient Experiences

Trusted by Patients Across Calgary

See how personalized podiatric care at Achilles Foot Clinic has helped patients reduce pain, improve mobility, and feel more confident with every step.

5/5

Real patients. Real experiences.

Based on verified patient reviews

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Went to two podiatrist prior to this clinic, so I was coming in very informed and able to identify my specific issue. This seemed to be helpful to the doctor and he was able to discuss more well rounded options. I'm really surprised by the poor reviews here. Front desk ladies seemed to be busy and straight to the point, I see no issue with that at a busy clinic. Had to pay the $100 fee upfront but this was told to me when the clinic called to confirm appointment, I was well informed on the cost

    Tropical Trowel 4 months ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Dr. Gatenby & his team are simply amazing. They have been very helpful and effective in treating my foot pain because of which I have been limping. Thank you!

    Milan Sengupta 3 months ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Dr. Mann is an exceptional doctor and he has been continuously empathetic and helpful with the treatment of my ankle. 10/10 recommend him for any of your foot related injury/treatments.
    However, whenever i try to call the clinic, there is lot of waiting, then they still don't pick up and take you straight to voicemail.

    Srishti Dugar 4 months ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Needed a short notice appointment for my mom, who has dementia. They were able to get us in the same day and Dr Rory was AMAZING. My mom’s toenails needed to be trimmed and she had a bit of an ingrown nail and he was able to take care of all of it. I was super grateful as I live out of province.

    Sam S 6 months ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I had a great experience with Dr. Gurbir Mann. He saw me last minute for a fracture in my foot and I felt at ease the whole time during my appointment, he was friendly, calm and explained everything thoroughly to me. I am very grateful for how well I have been taken care of

    Emma Park 2 months ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Dr. Mann is the best! Always answers all my questions and has plenty of solutions for me to keep moving. Always very thorough, explaining every procedure and very gentle. Just the best! Thank you!

    Danette Charteris 3 months ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent service at the front desk.
    Convenient ways to make appointments.
    The Podiatrist is friendly, welcoming and treated our minor child with patience and respect.
    Wheelchair accessible location with above and underground parking options.
    Definitely would go back if needed.

    Kirkland Family a year ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Dr Mann was awesome! Very friendly and got me in and out in no time. Making an appointment was very easy got one just a few days after calling thank you for the amazing service Achilles!

    Tommy Salimaki a year ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I went there because i had an ingrown toe nail and it was getting really bad and was hurting me a lot. I did not have to wait long and was able to book an appointment through call for the following day.The staff there took really good care of me and especially Dr Rory who performed the surgery for me. Throughout the surgery he reassured me that it was going to be painless and was fast which helped me to calm myself down. It indeed was quick and painless. I highly recommend going to this clinic as the staff there are really nice and things get done really quickly. I will be going back there again if I have anymore injuries/problems in the future!

    Sujan Sunuwar 2 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I never thought I would be bringing a teen to a foot clinic but after 18 months of hell with my son's feet we were off to Achilles foot clinic this week. I was absolutely blown away by the customer service. My son was nervous and the doctor took immense care to calm him down. They took breaks. Easily put in the freezing with no pain. This was night and day to any other medical experience we have had. Highly recommend this clinic for being on time, affordable, clean, filled with loving smiling faces and ready to cater to all sorts of needs. 100% recommend. Will not go anywhere else in the future but Achilles' Foot Clinic.

    Sarah Pittard 2 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I saw Dr. Gatenby today after stepping on a piece of glass. I don't know how this clinic could receive anything less than 5 stars. Everyone is so friendly and efficient. From the reception, to the nursing staff and especially Dr. Gatenby. The clinic is clean, well run and he was able to remove a piece of glass from my foot with no complications. Thank you!

    Megan Hudak 2 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    My son had an appointment with Dr.Gatenby and can’t say enough good things about the clinic. They were able to get us in quickly and Dr.Gatenby was one of the nicest doctors we have seen in the city. He solved my son’s issue quickly and explained the procedure to him as he worked. Would definitely recommend this clinic to anyone with foot issues.

    Kathryn Ludlow 2 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    The entire process was easy, pleasant and efficient. Booking was easy, and I visited Dr Gatenby. His manner is professional and personal. It was obvious he enjoys his profession and serving people!

    Bruce Renton 2 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I called and was able to make an appointment very quickly to be seen by Dr. Gatenby about an infection in my cuticles. The doctor was incredibly nice and helpful, and even when he had to do a procedure on my toes and my anxiety was going crazy, he reassured me and helped me calm down and feel much better. The ladies at the office are also all incredibly nice. I couldn’t recommend this clinic enough, seriously great staff and great doctors!

    Maria Gomez 3 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I wish I hadn’t waited so long to see Dr Rory about my ingrown toenails .
    He is the most kind caring and gentle of doctors. I have been putting up with pain and discomfort for way too long because I was nervous about having surgery to fix the problem. Dr Rory Gatenby put my fears at ease straight away and he and his team took care of me from start to finish. If I know of anyone looking for a great foot clinic team to take care of them I will highly recommend they go to see Dr Rory Gatenby. He is the best and my surgery was nothing to be worried. I can’t say enough about my whole experience

    Jacky Mcnally 3 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    So far. So great! A+ I've been to another foot clinic in the nw, this location explained my situation fully addressed my issue and set me up with a plan moving forward. I saw Dr.Purych regarding some foot pain, heel pain and corns. Solved. Thanks a bunch!

    Chad Olmstead 3 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Definitely 5 stars for this place! First off, I had called to get an appointment and the receptionist was amazing. She had empathy for my concerns and was able to get me in the next day. We met with Dr Mann, amazing again. His bedside manner was impeccable, he was very informative and understood my concerns and eased my mind very quickly. And lastly the reception staff again were great again to deal with in person with their friendly attitudes and fast responses. I definitely enjoyed my experience at this clinic and the friendly, informative service was great to see!

    Danielle Shupenia 4 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I will never not reccomend Archilles foot clinic. I had an incredible experience here a few years ago with Dr Mann. I waited years to deal with my ingrown toenails after watching my brother's horrible recovery at another place, but Dr. Mann was absolutely wonderful, and I regret waiting so long. My ingrowns have never come back thanks to Archilles. I send all of my friends here when they have ingrown toenails because of how much I appreciated my experience here.

    Kayla Volk 4 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I was very impressed with Dr. Mann. He takes the time to actually explain what's going on with your feet. Very personable and professional. Finally I found someone to help me about my bunion. Highly recommend.

    Gloida Martinez 4 years ago

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I had to shop around before I found Achilles .... because of the painful, expensive and lengthy treatment plans I was being offered by other clinics. At Achilles, I can truly report that the problem was painlessly resolved in only a few visits ... at fraction of the cost (and pain!). I received excellent treatment from Dr. Purych ... who successfully treated my long standing, stubborn plantar wart problem. I have no hesitation in providing this clinic a "five stars plus" review ... for their professionalism and focus on their patients.

    Patrick Reilly 6 years ago

Serving Calgary & Nearby Communities

Expert Foot Care Close to Home

Achilles Foot Clinic welcomes patients from Calgary and surrounding communities with personalized care for foot and ankle pain, injuries, and ongoing conditions.

Our Service Area

  • Calgary
  • Airdrie
  • Okotoks
  • Cochrane

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