Having healthy feet is essential for everyday activities. Unfortunately, many common foot problems can cause pain, discomfort, and even mobility issues. Fortunately, these issues can be treated by a qualified podiatrist. In this blog post, we’ll cover seven common foot problems and their treatments.
1. Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most common type of heel pain. It is caused when the ligament on the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed due to overuse or injury. Treatment options include rest, icing the area regularly, stretching exercises, wearing custom orthotics, or taking anti-inflammatory medication.
2. Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons at the back of your ankle that can cause pain and stiffness. Treatment for this condition typically includes rest, physical therapy to strengthen your calf muscles and tendons, or a cortisone injection to reduce swelling.
3. Bunions
A bunion is an enlargement of bone at the base of your big toe that causes it to angle toward your other toes instead of pointing forward as it should. Treatment for bunions usually involves wearing wider shoes with more room for your toes to move freely and using special pads at night to keep your feet aligned properly while you sleep. Surgery may also be necessary if symptoms do not improve with other treatments.
4. Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail occurs when your nail grows into the skin around it instead of growing straight out from the base as it should. This condition can cause redness, swelling, and extreme pain if left untreated for too long. Treatment involves removing part or all of the affected nail and any surrounding tissue that may have become infected due to bacteria getting trapped beneath the nail bed.
5. Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a condition caused by damage to nerves in your feet and legs, which can lead to burning sensations or even numbness in certain areas depending on how severe it is. Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking if you are a smoker and controlling blood sugar levels if diabetic, as well as medications such as antidepressants or anticonvulsants that help reduce nerve pain specifically. Physical therapy may also be used in combination with medications in some cases.
6. Heel Spurs
Heel spurs are calcium deposits on the underside of your heel bone, causing sharp pains when standing up after periods of sitting down. Treatment usually involves rest, ice, physical therapy, steroid injections, shoe inserts, or surgery if all other options fail.
7. Flatfeet
Flatfeet occur when one or both arches on the bottom of each foot collapse inward, leading to stability issues during walking or running. Treatment usually involves wearing custom orthotics designed specifically for flatfeet, physical therapy exercises designed to strengthen muscles around ankles and feet, weight loss (if necessary), stretching every day, icing regularly after exercise sessions, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium (if needed), and using arch supports while sleeping at night time.
New York City's Trusted Foot Doctor & Surgeon
Many common foot problems can lead to chronic discomfort and lack of mobility without proper care from a podiatrist who specializes in treating them correctly according to each patient’s needs. At New York Foot Center, we understand this better than anyone else – so please contact us today if you suffer from any foot problem so we can provide relief. Don't wait any longer – take control of your foot health today!
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