Jim Kell
You should be able to manage this without surgery. I have a heel spur on my right heel. Actually the pain is not coming from the spur. The pain is from a condition called Plantar Faschiatis (I have spelled Faschiatis wrong) The tendon on the bottom of the foot has been pulled loose from the heel causing the bony spur growth. Tight bedding (sheets, quilts etc.) at the foot of the bed causes the toes to point down almost putting the foot in arch at night thus pulling the tendon loose. Your doctor should be able to prescribe a splint or device that will keep the foot straight while you sleep. Short of this you can do a stretching exercise first thing in the morning before your feet hit the floor. Take a towel, or long cloth. Loop it oveer the toes and ball of your foot, and pull it toward your face for about a minute at a time for 2 or 3 minutes each morning. After each pull put the foot on the floor,and flex the toes as if they were crawling. This will stretch the plantar, and help push it back in the position in which it was intented. I tried this, and in two days my pain was much better. I now have to do it occasionally. I also put a pillow at the foot of the bed under the cover to keep my toes from pointing down and pulling the plantar loose from the heel bone. Initially you can slow down the inflamation by taking a couple of Aleve two or three times a day. I have talked with several people who have had the surgury, and in most cases it doesn't work. The stretching can do a better job. Hope I have helped you. Good luck.