heel spur question

Isn't a heel spur like a piece of bone that sticks out?  I don't think they heal up.  I have one of those on my heel that is very painful when I flex my foot while running.  I notice it mostly when I'm going up hill.  I've been running with it for a couple of years now, and all I do differently is to be sure that my footstrike is mid-foot or slightly to the front.  I run up hills slightly on my toes to avoid the 'zing' I get if I don't. 

Good luck with it, I'll be looking forward to leveraging to any other replies you get to this question.

I don't think the symptoms of a heel spur and plantar fasciitis are different.  The only way to tell if a heel spur is present is by taking a radiograph.  Some physicians question how relevant heel spurs are because a lot of people who have a heel spur on a radiograph have no syptoms.

If it turns out you have plantar fasciitis, here is a nice article that parallels very closely what my doctor told me about mine: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2002/07_02/fields.htm

There is a section about when you can resume running.  In my case, I did not run for two months, but continued to bike, swim and use the elliptical machine.  I was not painfree when my doctor said I could return to running.  It took another 7 months for my symptoms to be 99.9% resolved (which is now).  Quite a journey to get the foot healed for sure. 

All different foot types can be affected with PF.  I have a relatively high arch with a very neutral foot strike so things like orthotics were not applicable to me.  Mine was caused by a very tight hamstring, calf, achilles tendon complex.  Lots of stretching was what got me on the road to recovery.  A sleeping sock helped a whole lot too.  This is not the case for everyone though.

Good luck with your foot.  I would say if it does not get better on its own in a couple weeks, you should see a doctor and make sure it is not something different.  As many of us with PF know, it can sometimes be a long journey to be pain free, but it can be done.

When you start running again, I suggest picking up a pair of Superfeet (green) insoles. They are pricey 35-40 dollars, but well worth it. I transfer them from my running shoes to my work shoes everyday. Also be sure your heel isn't striking first, try for a mid-foot strike. Keep up with the stretches and freeze a water bottle and roll your foot on it for ten minutes every day. Worked great for me.