Elderly woman swollen feet putting on shoes
While you may not give your feet much thought, it impacts your entire body when they hurt. If your feet are causing your pain and discomfort, it prevents you from moving properly, and sometimes it can immobilize you completely. When this happens, it hurts the health of your whole body. Lack of physical exercise causes your body to lose strength. In turn, when your body loses strength, you tend to move less. It becomes a vicious cycle.
If you’ve been suffering from foot pain and are unsure how to fix it, we can help. Here are some common food conditions and how to remedy them.
5 Common Foot Conditions
There are some common foot ailments that can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Some foot conditions can share similar symptoms, and we advise you to seek professional medical treatment for an accurate diagnosis. But, the following list of common foot conditions can help you determine what may be causing your pain.
Bunions
If you’ve noticed a bony bump at the base of your big toe, you’re likely suffering from bunions. These bumps happen when the bones in your foot get out of place. You may notice that your big toe is overlapping the ones next to it. This misalignment causes the joint of your big toe to stick out. The skin in this area can also be inflamed.
You may also see some corns or calluses develop on your foot where the toes are rubbing together. Bunions can cause ongoing pain, or the discomfort may disappear for a while and then reappear. This condition can also inhibit the movement of your big toe.
Many times bunions happen because of your foot shape and structure, a deformity in your feet or arthritis.
There are a few treatment options if you’re suffering from bunions. These include wearing bunion padding or shoe inserts. This can help prevent irritation of your condition by your foot rubbing against your shoes. You can also use ice to keep the swelling down and take pain medications like Advil or Tylenol. For conditions that cause significant pain, you may want to consider surgery. It’s best to discuss this option with your medical professional.
Ankle pain
Ankle pain can be disabling. It includes any and all discomfort around your ankle, including stiffness. When your ankle is injured, there may be some swelling. You could have difficulty standing on your feet when you have ankle pain. Conditions that include ankle pain are considered foot conditions, many of which you can get relief from reasonably quickly. Most ankle pain comes from injury or arthritis. It includes conditions such as fractures, sprains, gout, and infection. Treatment involves rest and cold packs to reduce the swelling and pain. It can also include forms of physical therapy to help work the muscle and make it stronger. For more significant problems, you may also get braces, splints, injections, and even surgery.
Ankle pain can be more common for those over 65 years of age, those who are very physically active, and those who are obese.
To help prevent ankle pain, it’s essential to have shoes that offer adequate support. You should avoid footwear such as flip-flops, sandals and shoes that are very loose. Also, remember to wear proper gear and footwear when you are playing sports.
Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles Tendinitis happens when you strain the Achilles tendon, which is the group of tissue that connects the muscles in your lower leg to your heel bone. It occurs when you overuse and injury the tendon, for example, if you only play sports on the weekend or if you’re a runner who boosts the intensity of your workout. The condition often begins with a mild ache in the affected area. If you continue the activity, you’ll notice the pain worsen. If you have severe pain in the lower leg area, it is possible you’ve torn the tendon.
To prevent Achilles Tendinitis, it’s important to stretch before engaging in physical activity, increase your intensity level slowly over time, and select footwear that offers the right amount of cushioning and firm arch support.
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain is one of the first signs of Plantar Fasciitis. Many patients complain about stabbing pain during their first steps in the day. The pain can decrease throughout the day. However, it can return after long periods of sitting or standing. It is caused by inflammation of the tissue between your heel and toes. Slight tears to this tissue cause inflammation, and too much stretching and tearing of the tissue can irritate the condition. You’re more likely to suffer Plantar Facsciitis if you are involved in sports that put a lot of pressure on your heel, like ballet or aerobic dance or long-distance running.
Corns/calluses
Unsightly and painful, corns and calluses happen when your skin experiences ongoing friction or pressure, such as from shoes that are too tight. These thick and hardened layers of skin often develop on the feet and toes. Corns are tiny and have a hard centre and inflamed skin around them. They most often appear on the tops or sides of your toes. They can cause pain if pressed. Calluses come in different sizes and shapes and are larger than corns. You’ll most often find them on the soles of your feet. While some patients can find relief when they remove the source of friction, others may need treatment for the discomfort. To prevent corns and calluses, wear shoes that have enough room for your toes and use pads for areas of your foot that rub against your shoes.
Pedorthic Services for You
Pain and injury in your feet can seriously impact your life. You may not be able to move correctly or at all. If this happens, it puts your general health at risk as physical activity and movement are important to do every day. When you suffer from foot pain, it is almost impossible to stay active. This can cause your body to lose strength.
At CWG Footcare, we will help you get relief and get back on your feet. If you’ve been suffering from any foot condition or injury, let us help you. Contact CWG Footcare today.
Recent Comments