Some people deal with foot pain as a part of life, but foot pain gone untreated can make the road to recovery even longer. Ever had foot pain that is not bad enough to see a doctor, but hurts bad enough that it keeps your from some activities like running or biking? This commonly occurs when the person thinks it will get better over time. Only to find out the pain keeps getting worse.
A lot of times not getting correctly diagnosed and treated can lead to the injury becoming more severe. It can go as far a a small limp to not being able to walk at all. Some common foot problems are as follows.
1. Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is irritation and inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone. It causes pain and stiffness, especially in the morning.
Achilles tendinitis is set off by:
+ Improper warm-up or over training.
+ Increasing your running speed too quickly
+ Suddenly adding hills to a level running routine
2. Blisters
Blisters are small pockets of fluid that collect within the upper layers of skin. You usually get them on your feet where skin rubs against your shoe or where two toes rub together.
3. Bunions
Bunions are bumps on the side of a misaligned toe or joint. A bunion on the big toe starts when the toe leans toward the second toe. The bump becomes swollen and tender. It also occurs on the little toe from sitting cross-legged for long periods of time (tailor’s bunion). Common causes include:
+ Genetics (bunions sometimes run in families)
+ Wearing tight-fitting shoes
4. Corns and calluses
Areas of thick, dead layers of skin build up and irritate underlying tissue. Corns and calluses are most common on the big toe and fifth toe. Soft corns may also appear between the toes.
Corns and calluses are caused by:
+ Repeatedly wearing tight, poor-fitting shoes
+ Problems with walking, flat feet or loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot
+ Toe deformities, such as claw toe or hammertoe
5. Hammertoe
This is a bend in the middle joint of the second, third or fourth toe so that it resembles a hammer. A hammertoe may develop along with painful corns and calluses. Without treatment, a hammertoe can become set and require surgery.
Do not let foot pain control your life. Come see the Indiana Foot and Ankle Specialists at Achilles Podiatry
Achilles Podiatry
1-800-Help Foot
