If you have intermittent, nagging, or chronic foot pain, it is so important to know the right treatment to alleviate the pain. The wrong treatment could make the condition worse.
An experienced orthopedic doctor can conduct a thorough assessment of your feet and explain how best to keep your foot pain under control.
Let’s talk about some of the main causes of foot pain and the best remedies, and where you can go in Dover and West Jersey to finally achieve relief from your foot pain – so you can get back to the active lifestyle you enjoy.
What Are Common Causes of Foot Pain?
Your foot pain may originate in an acute (sudden) problem, or as a result of a chronic (ongoing) disease or injury. You may have discomfort due to:
- Overuse injuries, such as plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the connective tissue between the heel and toes, usually causing heel pain)
- Sprains (overstretching or tearing of a ligament, which connects bone to bone in a joint)
- Strains (overstretching or tearing of a muscle or a tendon, which connects muscle to bone)
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Stress fractures (hair-thin cracks in a bone, such as due to osteoporosis)
- Spurs, especially heel spurs (calcified projections of bone)
- Achilles tendonitis (inflammation or overstretching of the Achilles tendon, the thick cord between the calf muscles and the heel)
- Arthritis in the foot
- Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes
How Should You Treat Foot Pain?
If your foot pain or ankle pain is mild, it is ideal to first try the traditional RICE protocol:
- Rest – Give your foot a break by staying off of it as much as possible, and avoiding or limiting your usual strenuous activities.
- Ice – Apply an ice pack on your foot for 15 minutes at a time several times a day, to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Be sure to wrap the ice pack in a towel in order to prevent direct skin contact, which could cause frostbite.
- Compression – Apply gentle compression on the hurting area, and support your foot with an elastic ACE bandage. Be sure not to wrap it too tightly, which would cut off circulation.
- Elevation – Whenever you’re sitting or lying down, keep your foot elevated (propped) above heart level to help reduce swelling. What this does is to harness the natural force of gravity, pulling the fluids away from the hurting area and back to the heart.
Everyday foot pain management can include:
- Wearing supportive shoes, with adequate room in the toes and with low heels (avoid pointy toe boxes and very high heels)
- Selecting footwear of the appropriate function for your given activity
- Losing weight to alleviate pressure on the heels, arches, and balls of the feet
- Planning short periods of rest and stretching throughout the day, especially if you are on your feet a lot for your profession
If your foot pain or injury continues to worsen and does not begin to improve within about two weeks, it is in your best interest to see a skilled orthopedist for an evaluation and treatment.
Orthopedic Doctors in Dover, NJ
Here at the Orthopedic Associates of West Jersey, our medical team comprises board-certified orthopedic specialists who know how to provide an efficient and accurate evaluation and proper treatment for your musculoskeletal pain. Your orthopedist can assess your feet to determine the cause of your foot pain so that an appropriate and effective treatment can be administered or prescribed for you.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic physicians, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (973) 989-0888, or request an appointment by filling out our online form. We look forward to being your solution for foot pain relief!
