Welcome to my blog! My name is Geoff. I have always been a sporty kind of chap. I love to go long distance running and I also play football and rugby. One day after a long run, I had a terrible pain in my foot. I thought I had just been overdoing it a little bit, so I decided to rest up. A week later, it was no better. I was still in a lot of pain and had to drop out of a couple of football matches. My doctor sent me to see a podiatrist who examined my foot and explained I had damaged a ligament. The podiatrist helped me to get back to full health. I decided to start this blog to explain the importance of good foot care.
If you experience unexplained pain in your feet, you might have an underlying problem. For example, gout starts to attack your foot before moving to other joints. Other complications such as neuromas are localised at the feet, making it difficult to walk. But with timely response, you can minimise the effects of these conditions.
Take a look at common foot disorders that require attention from a certified podiatrist.
Heel Pain
Heel pain occurs due to the inflammation of the plantar fascia (a ligament that connects your heel with the front part of your foot). Common causes of plantar facia inflammation include high arches, prolonged standing periods and being overweight. Oftentimes, this pain worsens in the morning when you get up or start walking after sitting for some time.
Plantar fasciitis can be treated using over-the-counter drugs or applying ice on the affected area. However, if these remedies don't work, you need to see your podiatrist for further examination. Depending on the severity of your pain, they may also give you a steroid injection to reduce the inflammation.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic condition that makes your joints swell. In severe cases, the areas around your joints may turn red and sore. Since your foot has several joints, this condition can significantly affect your feet's normal functionality.
Therefore, if you notice any swelling around your foot joints, see a podiatrist as soon as you can. They will recommend a proper medical prescription to relieve your pain. Your podiatrist can also recommend a therapy treatment plan for you, such as aquatic or physical therapy. They can also advise you to use orthotic footwear to ease the strain on your foot joints.
Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edges of your toenail, especially the big toe, grow into the surrounding tissue or skin. Besides being painful, an ingrown toenail may contain pus oozing out of the affected area. Common causes of an ingrown toenail include injury, excessive feet sweating, wearing tight-fitting shoes or cutting your toenails incorrectly.
To prevent ingrown toenails from getting worse, you need to wear comfortable shoes and practice good foot hygiene. Also, trim your toenails straight to prevent your nails from digging deep into the surrounding tissues. If that doesn't work, a podiatrist can remove parts of your toenail or the entire nail to keep it from causing you unnecessary pain.
Foot problems are uncomfortable, and you cannot ignore them for too long. If you do, they may become severe and cause you serious problems. Therefore, if you experience any of the conditions discussed in this post, consult your podiatrist right away. They can provide more information regarding podiatry services.
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