At a glance
Severe heel pain from a bone spur, with the foot unable to touch the floor — swelling, inflammation and pain fully resolved.
Presentation
A 57-year-old patient came to the clinic with severe pain, swelling, and inflammation in her left heel, caused by a bone spur. The pain was so intense that her foot couldn't touch the floor — making even standing and walking a daily ordeal.
Diagnosis
The pattern combined Qi blockage, phlegm-dampness, and inflammation (heat) collecting at the heel. In TCM, a stubborn, inflamed area like this reflects circulation that has become congested and clogged with damp accumulation — which explains the swelling, the heat, and the unrelenting local pain. Moving the blockage and draining the dampness and heat was the goal.
Treatment
Treatment combined acupuncture with an external herbal soak:
- alternating scalp and palm points — used to relieve the pain quickly by working through the body's pain-modulating areas
- UB-58 (Feiyang) and KD-3 (Taixi) — paired Bladder and Kidney points that support the heel and lower leg
- KD-4 (Dazhong) and KD-5 (Shuiquan) — needled toward the heel bone to address the pain directly at its source
Alongside the needling, the foot was soaked in Dr. Haixia Ni's herbal formula to reduce the swelling and inflammation from the outside in.
Result
The swelling and inflammation resolved. As healing progressed, the pain began to move around the foot — a sign of returning circulation — before fading completely. The tight muscles and sinews in her leg loosened back to a normal, comfortable state, and her foot could carry her weight again.
This reflects an individual patient experience, not clinical trial data.
Results vary from person to person depending on the condition, its severity, and how an individual responds to treatment. TCM and acupuncture are not a substitute for care from your physician or another regulated health professional. If you’re dealing with a serious or urgent symptom, please see a doctor first.