The Importance of Ankle and Foot Care

Do you develop chronic pain from prolonged walking and trauma in your ankle and foot? Unfortunately, the ankle and foot are most of the over-used parts of the leg and are prone to trauma; the ankle is a joint located in the foot’s talus, a part of the lower limb. You should look for a Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute expert who can treat the pain and help you cope with trauma. Proper foot and ankle care is important for chronic pain management; read on to learn more.

Why Do You Have Pain In My Ankle Or Foot?

Most of the pain experienced around the foot and ankle regions is short-term and mainly caused by soft tissue injuries, such as strains and sprains. The ankle and foot sprains happen to almost everybody at some point; however, they gradually heal over time, and some can take a few months; you won’t need medication for the sprains and strains; a simple self-care measure can do.

On the other hand, long-term pains that seem to worsen or last longer than a few months could be due to underlying conditions or a complete structural change in the foot or ankle. These kinds of pains need medical attention. The ankle and foot pain may result from arthritis, blood vascular disorders, nerve damage, badly fitting footwear, and osteoarthritis.

How to Treat Foot and Ankle Pain

You can treat soft-tissue injuries easily with the help of home self-care tips and medical treatment. Pain-relieving medicine such as paracetamol can do or the gel and balm applied to the affected area to relieve pain. A little rest while elevating the injured foot can prevent swelling; wrapping a bandage to compress the injured area to avoid further injuries can help.

Long-term pains and severe tissue injuries caused by underlying conditions such as diabetes would need diagnosis by a healthcare professional. They will look for swellings or structural changes; most of these can be done without x-rays, scans, and blood tests. Medical prescriptions can be done for mild tissue injuries. Surgeries for tissue alignments are usually the last option when special treatment cannot help. Most foot and ankle surgery aim to correct the position of the joint by resetting the bone structure. An operation may be recommended to correct hammertoes, remove neuroma, remove bunions to reshape the toe and relieve pain.

Causes of Ankle Pain

·         Achilles tendinopathy is caused by damage to tendons; tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bone.

·         Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the inner side of the heel, the muscle that supports the arch that spreads the weight evenly through the foot. The muscle should help you run, stand and walk without difficulty.

·         Bursitis- bursa is small pockets of fluids found in between bones, joints, and tendons. Repeated rubbing and friction build up in pressure, making the affected bursa inflame.

·         Neuroma causes sudden burning pain that feels like a stab. An irritated or damaged nerve causes it. Adding a cushion or a soft sole on shoes can ease this kind of pain; wearing comfortable shoes can also help.

Ankle and foot pain results in the overuse of the legs, wearing ill-fitting shoes and trauma. Fortunately, acute pain will subside with time, but chronic pain persists and you might need home pain relief remedies and medical treatments. Good luck finding the right treatment for the ankles and the feet.