Homeopathic Approach to Calcaneal Spur in a Postmenopausal Woman

A patient named Ms. P.S. (Patient ID: 31467) contacted Life Force Homeopathy on 26th September 2023, with a complaint of heel pain for the last 6 months. The pain was very sharp with a burning-like sensation and was only in the left heel. The pain gradually progressed after menopause. The patient was dependent upon allopathic medicines for 2 months, then she discontinued them.

A calcaneal spur, also known as a heel spur, is a bony growth that forms on the underside of the heel bone (calcaneus). It usually develops where the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot, attaches to the heel bone.

Here are key points about calcaneal spurs:

Causes:

• Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia was a common cause of calcaneal spurs. When the fascia was overstretched or irritated, the body formed a bony spur in response to the strain.
• Repetitive Stress: Excessive walking, running, or standing, especially on hard surfaces, contributed to the development of heel spurs.
• Poor Footwear: Wearing shoes that didn’t provide adequate arch support or cushioning increased the risk.
• Obesity: Excess weight adds stress to the feet, leading to the development of spurs.
• Age: Heel spurs became more common as people aged because the natural wear and tear on the feet increased.

Symptoms:

• Pain in the Heel: The most common symptom was a sharp pain at the front of the heel, especially with the first steps in the morning or after prolonged rest.
• Tenderness: The heel feels tender to the touch, particularly on the underside.
• Inflammation: Redness or swelling was present in the heel area.

Physical Generals: The patient was a vegetarian by nature with average perspiration. She liked spicy things more and had an aversion towards lady’s fingers. She had attained menopause a few years back.

Family Background: The patient was a homemaker whose spouse was doing business, and she survived with 2 sons.

Mental Generals: The patient was very mild in nature with no major happenings in life. She was introverted by nature and didn’t react much in any situation. She was happy with her family and had a good relationship with her husband.

She was prescribed constitutional medicine along with Dr.Shah''s research-based medicines based on her physical and mental generals.

Follow-Ups:

• On the first follow-up (7/11/23), the pain was not much better, and the burning sensation was still present.
• On 10/2/24, the severity of pain had reduced, and the burning sensation had come down drastically.
• By the third follow-up (12/4/24), the patient felt 70% better; there was no pain or burning sensation. The patient could walk freely.

The patient''s family thanked Dr. Shah and the entire Life Force family for making her condition better. She was very happy.

Homeopathy approached conditions like calcaneal spurs (heel spurs) based on the holistic principle, which meant that it didn’t just focus on the physical symptom (in this case, the pain or the bone spur itself) but also considered the person''s overall physical, emotional, and mental state. Homeopathy aims to stimulate the body''s natural healing abilities to promote balance and health.

- Case study written by Dr. Remya Nambiar, an associate to Dr. Rajesh Shah, MD