Don't Let These Painful Foot Conditions Keep You Off Of Your Feet
You can wake up with one of these foot conditions and have pain so severe that you can't put weight on your foot. Your feet are under a lot of stress and when overworked or injured, they can respond with intense pain that keeps you from working, exercising and enjoying your day. Here is what you need to know about these common foot problems and how to manage them before they disable you.
Achilles Tendonitis
This is inflammation of the large tendon that attaches your calf muscle to your heel. The tendon is responsible for being able to move your foot up and down. Repeated irritation of this tendon can cause it to become red, painful and swollen. You may not be able to move your foot or put weight on it.
Causes of Achilles Tendonitis
This condition can flair up for several reasons:
- poorly fitting shoes rubbing on the tendon
- improper warm up before exercising
- overworking the tendon
- sports injuries that stretch the tendon and create small tears in the tissue
Treating this Foot Pain
To gain some immediate relief from the pain:
- hold an ice pack on the tendon for several minutes
- slowly move your foot up and down to stretch the tense tendon
- take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen
If this condition reoccurs, visit a podiatrist, like Procare Physical Therapy, who will diagnose the extent of the tendon injury. They will recommend some treatment options, such as:
- custom orthotics to support your foot and ankle while the tendon is irritated
- physical therapy to strengthen the calf muscles and make your foot more resistant to this type of injury
Plantar Fasciitis
This condition often strikes when you first get out of bed. The bottom of your foot burns and you may not be able to step down on your foot. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of a band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel to the base of your toes.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Similar to Achilles tendonitis, thus painful condition can be cause by:
- shoes that rub on the bottom of the foot
- insufficient warm up of your foot before exercise
- overuse of the foot during work or exercise
- sports injuries that damage the tissue band
Treating This Foot Pain
For immediate relief:
- hold an ice pack on the bottom of the foot for several minutes
- curl your toes up and down slowly to stretch out the tense tissue band
- take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen
If this condition repeats itself, a foot doctor will evaluate the potential causes. Some of the treatment options they may offer include:
- a shoe insert to support the bottom of your foot
- physical therapy to strengthen the foot muscles
For severe plantar fasciitis pain that doesn't go away, your doctor may recommend a steroid injection in your foot to relieve the inflammation. This will give you some relief while other treatments are being tried.
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