Foot pain can really slow you down and make everyday activities difficult. Whether it’s a sharp pain in your heel or a dull ache in your arch, foot pain can be frustrating.
Thankfully, there are several methods to relieve foot pain. Let’s understand why your feet might hurt and what you can do to find relief.
Common Causes of Foot Pain
Knowing why your foot hurts is the first step to making it feel better. Here are some common reasons:
Plantar Fasciitis
When the tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel to your toes becomes inflamed, it can cause a sharp pain near your heel.
Achilles Tendinitis
When the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone gets inflamed, it can make the back of your heel hurt and feel stiff. This often happens to runners and athletes who do intense activities.
Arthritis
Diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the joints in our feet, causing them to hurt, swell up, and feel tight.
Bunions
Bunions are bumps that grow on your big toe’s joint and can hurt a lot. They make your toe point inward.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bones of your foot that can happen when you use your feet too much or play sports that put a lot of pressure on them. Recovery from these foot injuries can take a long time.
Flat Feet
Flat feet, also called fallen arches, happen when the curve on the bottom of your foot goes away, making it flat against the ground. The fallen arch can cause pain and discomfort in your feet and legs.
Immediate Relief Steps
If you’re experiencing foot pain, here are some immediate steps you can take for relief:
- Rest: Take a break from activities that make your foot hurt. Give your feet some time to heal.
- Ice: Apply an ice pack to the painful foot area for about 15-20 minutes a few times a day. This can help reduce swelling and numb the foot pain.
- Compression: Use a bandage to wrap your foot snugly, but not too tight. This can help control foot swelling.
- Elevation: Keep your foot raised above the level of your heart when you’re resting. This helps reduce swelling.
Long-Term Solutions
For long-term relief and to prevent future foot pain, consider these tips:
- Wear Comfortable Shoes: Ensure your shoes fit well and provide good support and cushioning. Avoid wearing high heels and shoes that are too tight.
- Stretching Exercises: Regularly stretch your calves, Achilles tendon, and the bottom of your foot. This can keep your muscles and ligaments flexible.
- Orthotic Inserts: These special shoe inserts provide extra support and cushioning to the foot. They can be helpful if you have flat feet or other structural problems.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Extra weight puts more pressure on your feet. Keeping a healthy weight can reduce the extra strain on your feet.
- Strengthening Exercises: Strengthen the muscles in your feet and legs with exercises like calf raises and toe curls. Stronger muscles can better support your foot structure.
When to See an Orthopedic Doctor for Foot Pain
Sometimes, foot pain can indicate a more serious problem that needs medical attention. You should see an orthopedic doctor if:
- The pain in the foot is severe and doesn’t improve with rest.
- You have foot swelling that doesn’t go down.
- You notice redness and warmth in the foot, which could indicate an infection.
- You have trouble walking or putting weight on your foot.
Foot Pain Treatments Offered by an Orthopedic Doctor
Orthopedic doctors are highly skilled in identifying and treating problems with bones, muscles, and joints. Some of the treatments they may provide for foot pain include:
Immobilization
If there’s a chance of getting hurt again, the doctor might use special braces or casts to keep your foot still while it heals. This helps it get better without any extra strain.
Physical Therapy
An orthopedic doctor might recommend seeing a physical therapist to help with your foot pain. The therapist will create a plan with exercises to make your foot muscles stronger and more flexible, which can reduce pain and prevent future problems.
Medications
Sometimes, regular pain medicine isn’t enough. Your doctor might give you stronger medicine that can help manage the foot pain better.
Injections
If the pain is really bad, your orthopedic doctor may give you an injection to help reduce swelling and make you feel better. For example, corticosteroids are strong at fighting inflammation.
Surgery
When other treatments don’t work, foot surgery may be needed. Surgical options can correct structural problems like bunions or repair damaged tissues and tendons.
Foot Pain Treatment in Dover, NJ
At Orthopedic Associates of West Jersey, we understand how debilitating foot pain can be. That’s why our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic specialists are dedicated to providing comprehensive and individualized care to help you find relief from foot pain.
We prioritize conservative treatment options but are also skilled in performing advanced surgical procedures when necessary to restore your mobility and alleviate foot pain.
To learn more about foot pain treatments or to set up a consultation with our orthopedic doctor, call us today at (973) 989-0888 or use our appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
