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Introduction
Your feet are made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 112 ligaments, and an intricate web of muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue. They are the primary foundation and propulsion for the human body. A common ailment that affects many people is an acute or chronic pain that is located in the bottom of the heel. This is the place where the thick connective tissue on the sole of your foot (plantar fascia) inserts onto the heel. This condition is called plantar fasciitis. It is a result of overuse, weight-bearing activities, or an increase in activity. It can also be brought on by an underlying illness or a biomechanical defect in the foot. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis can begin with pain upon taking first steps in the morning or after prolonged sitting. The pain will subside after a few minutes of walking. During later stages of this condition, there may be pain as a result of standing for long periods of time. The pain may be aching or sharp, and it can be either localized or diffuse on the bottom of the heel. A frequent acute and severely painful injury is a tear of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) that connects the heel bone to the base of the toes. This can occur in an injury or often in conjunction with an acute increase in the intensity of the activity of the person. Plantar fascial tears can be detected in the same manner as plantar fasciitis. This is an injury that does not heal very well on its own, and it should be evaluated by a physician to determine the extent of the tear and how to best treat it.
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Understanding Foot Pain
Pain is a signal that your body sends to your brain to show that something is wrong. When a child gets too close to a hot stove, he/she is alerted with pain to move away, thus avoiding a burn. Pain from an illness or injury is a way of showing that something is not right and that medical attention is needed. As an athlete, the risk of injury is always a possibility, but a major change in the program can also bring on pain. There are two forms of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain is a sudden and severe discomfort caused by an injury but is short-lived. For example, bruises and fractures cause trauma to the body, but the pain is brief. Chronic pain is an indication of long-term disease and body damage. This type of pain can last many years and is difficult to manage because what you do to protect the problem one day can make it worse the next. An example of this is arthritis. Pain can be very complicated to understand, but a basic knowledge of the physiology can help an individual manage an injury. At the spinal cord level, pain messages from the body can be altered and switched to a lower priority. If your body sustains an injury, it is important to rest and perform a day of ice and elevation to avoid further injury and inflammation. By doing this, you are taking steps to change the pain message at the spinal cord level and avoid further injury. Ball of foot pain treatment is available in Singapore.
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Causes of Foot Pain
Pregnant women are at a much higher risk of foot pain due to the increased pressure placed on their feet. This is due to the gain of natural body weight and size of baby during pregnancy. The body weight shift during pregnancy can cause overpronation and lead to the flattening of the feet. Flat feet can result in severe foot pain and discomfort. This is usually temporary and goes away after childbirth. Women who have been pregnant will still be at a higher risk of developing flat feet or joint and ligament problems in the feet.
Obesity and overweight can lead to various associated conditions and diseases. Excessive body weight can put extra pressure on the feet, leading to damage of joints and bones in the feet. This will increase pain both in the short and long term. Compared to people of normal weight, there is a four times higher chance for obese people to develop gout during their lifetime. Gout is a heavily painful inflammation of the joints in the feet and hands. This is due to excessive body weight putting more pressure on the joints, and more fat tissue resulting in a higher production of uric acid. For more information about foot pain causes and treatment, contact an orthopaedic specialist.
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Treatment Options for Foot Pain
The most important aspect of the treatment of foot pain is to first determine the cause. For acute injuries, icing, rest, elevation, and immobilization are key. In cases of severe trauma, it is important to rule out a fracture, dislocation, or tendon rupture through the use of an X-ray and possible MRI. If a fracture or dislocation is found, you need to consult an orthopedic surgeon. In the case of a tendon injury, it is best to consult a podiatrist. If arthritis is the cause of pain, many medications can be given, but some can cause irritation of the stomach, so be sure to discuss with your primary care doctor. It is important to rule out gout since treatment differs. If an infection is suspected, it should be addressed immediately. This is also the case for people with diabetes who may have an infection, nerve damage, or vascular insufficiency. In those with systemic diseases, it is important to control the disease to alleviate pain in the feet. When treating chronic conditions, it is important to find the right modality. This can be in the form of physical therapy or the use of a certain medication. A common form of modalities is an orthosis. This can either be made with a felt mold of the foot or with a series of pads that aim to redistribute weight from pain areas. A change of shoe gear to a wider, deeper shoe can allow for more space and less pressure on the toes or nails. In severe cases of pain, a shoe can be made with a stiff sole and rocker bottom to decrease force through the bottom of the foot. This is also the case with the use of a cane, which takes force off specific areas of the foot. Many people feel that cortisone is a cure-all for pain in the foot and would like to have a shot immediately when they feel discomfort. Although many conditions can be cured with cortisone, it is not a good idea if the cause of pain was, in fact, an acute injury, and there are certainly cases where it is not a good idea. If a condition was chronic and non-responsive to other treatments, cortisone can be a good idea.
Injections should be done with ultrasound to ensure that the cortisone does not weaken a specific tendon, in which case a rupture can occur. A podiatrist or orthopedist can identify which specific conditions respond to injection. While it is best not to use any medication, whether it be over the counter or prescription, it is important to point out that it can be effective. This does not mean to go out and buy aspirin or ibuprofen for pain in the foot, as many conditions can worsen with medication, but there are cases where a chronic condition can be managed with the use of an NSAID. Any patient who is taking medication for a condition in the foot must discuss this with their primary care doctor to see if it is safe, as these medications can sometimes cause irritation of the stomach and/or liver. You can get your foot ankle pain checked by an orthopaedic surgeon immediately.
