Chronic foot pain can certainly alter your lifestyle, interfering with your daily routine and causing you to give up activities that you love. There are numerous conditions that can result in nagging pain in your feet that won’t go away, and at the top of the list are those caused by trauma, overuse, foot structure, and disease.
Improper Healing of Traumatic Injuries
Many times people try to “just walk it off,” but if an ankle sprain, tendon or muscle tear, or even a fractured bone goes without treatment, there is a strong chance that the injury will heal incorrectly. The result is an injury from which you appear to recover, but that continues to cause you pain.
Bones need to be aligned in proper position in order to heal properly, and typically need the help of a splint or cast to do so. The surrounding muscles and tendons also need treatment to restore their strength and ability to support bones and move properly. You can’t just assume the problem will go away on its own. To avoid chronic pain, its essential that you receive medical attention if you sustain an injury to assure it heals correctly and does not continue to negatively impact your quality of life.
Some examples of foot trauma needing treatment include:
Overuse Issues that continue to be overused
Perhaps the most common cause of chronic foot pain, overuse injuries not given enough time to rest. Overuse injuries can end up becoming nagging problems that happen over and over again. Repetitive stress over time can lead to conditions that start out merely uncomfortable but grow to debilitating and painful problems. Proper time for healing is vital for recovery. If you strain your Achilles and just keep going, you’ll continue to strain it until eventually tendinitis sets in, or worse, the stretched and irritated tendon ruptures! Sometimes, powering through the pain can even result in additional issues, like arthritis. Giving your body the rest it needs will allow proper healing to take place and stifle the chance of problems going from bad to worse.
Examples of overuse injuries include:
Debilitating Diseases & Deformities
Sometimes your pain can stem from an underlying condition or inherited foot structure. Diabetes can wreak havoc on your feet, and arthritis can make joints ache and hurt with your every move. The height of your arch and other structural factors can also result in deformities and pain that you just can’t seem to shake. In these situations, treatment is crucial. Managing your disease with medication and proper diet and exercise, and taking steps to correct faulty foot structure and poor biomechanics will go a long way toward enjoying a full and active life free of pain.
Examples of diabetic issues include:
Examples of arthritis issues include:
- Gout
- Chronic joint pain
Examples of foot structure issues include:
- Flat feet pain and overpronation
- Development of bunions and hammertoes
- Ball of foot and heel pain due to high arches
Most injuries and conditions can be helped with conservative measures such as rest, ice, compression, elevation, physical therapy, and orthotic inserts. Laser therapy is another treatment option that can resolve painful symptoms. When all else fails, surgical intervention may be necessary. There are various procedures depending on the condition and its severity. Of course, in order to determine the best course of action for you, it is imperative that you come in for a visit, let us assess your problem, and discuss your options. That’s the first step toward ending your chronic foot pain! Call (303) 805-5156 today.