Skip to main content

Common Causes of Chronic Foot Pain

I have tendinitis in my feet... I first experienced the problem many years ago, and was able to resolve it with the help of a podiatrist and some custom orthotics.  Years later, the problem has re-emerged, and believe you me, it's no party.  I am still trying to find my custom orthotics but in the meantime Dr. Scholl's is doing a pretty good job.  I decided that it might be a good time to write about a few conditions that cause chronic foot pain.  It seems to me that I've known a lot of folks over the years who have had the problems I am about to describe.






Tendinits 

Tendinitis, as the name implies, is the inflammation of a tendon.  My personal problem with tendinits involves the tendons in the top of the foot...the achilles tendon could also be affected by tendinits.  

The usual clue that tendinitis is present is pain, and possibly inflammation.  This can be caused by overuse; in my case I spend a lot of time on my feet, so it's no wonder there is a problem.  The treatment involves rest and ice packs.  I opted to try Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Inserts for my shoes and for me, they've done a world of good.  If home remedies don't work out, then it's time to visit the podiatrist.

Bunion

 A bunion is a bump on the outside of the big toe; it forms when the bone or tissue at the base of the toe moves out of place.  If this part of your foot is red, swollen or painful, it might be due to bunions.
There is some genetic component to bunion formation,  but wearing shoes that are too tight or squeeze the toes together can also be a factor.  Podiatrists treat bunion in a number of ways: medication, padding and taping, physical therapy, orthotics, and/or surgery are some examples.

Heel pain

 There are many causes of heel pain, but here we will focus on plantar fascitis--inflammation of a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the ball of the big to the heel. The condition may be worsened by wearing shoes that do not have adequate support.  Sometimes walking or resting makes the condition feel better temporarily but does not offer long term relief.  Treatment can involve many of the same things as bunion: good shoe fit, orthotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy.  In some cases, surgery may be necessary.


 Source: APMA.org; Dr. Scholl's; Wikipedia


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately?  Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members.  Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain.  This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story.  Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube
Post a Comment
Read more

The Multimodal Approach to Pain Management

OK..so if you've been following this blog you will notice that there are a good number of ideas to help manage chronic pain.  You might ask yourself, "Which one of these ideas is best for me ?" I would suggest that you might try any number of these things, depending on your level of ability/disability, health care team recommendations, and your personal interests.  There are a number of reasons for doing this: 1) The patient is in control..with few exceptions, it is your decision what to try/not try and how many different things you want to experiment with at any time. 2) Non drug pain management ideas do not have any of the drug interactions or side effects that medications have.  You may have to set limits or modify activity according to personal circumstances, but usually it does not hurt to try any of them. 3)You usually do not need a prescription for most of the ideas I have described.  There are a few exceptions, such as physical therapy.  There ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus.  You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour...
Post a Comment
Read more