If you’ve ever experienced pain in your feet, you know how quickly it can get your attention, and how fast it can make your life miserable. Here are some common afflictions of the foot that cause pain, ways to avoid them, and some treatment tips.
1. Flat Feet (or Fallen Arches). If you have flat feet, your arches lay down like boards instead of curving up into your ankle. It happens to a lot of people—sometimes during childhood development, because of aging, or after childbirth—and is often a painless condition. However, it can cause your ankles to bend inward, which can put pressure on your tendons, knees, even your hips and back.
If you suspect flat feet, see a foot doctor or an orthopedic surgeon. He/she can fit you with orthotics that can help support your feet and thereby the rest of your body, saving you a lot of aches and pains down the road.
2. Heel Pain. Heel pain can be caused by many different things, including heel spurs, stress fractures, nerve irritation, arthritis, or tendonitis. However, the most common cause is plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue (plantar fascia) that extends from the heel to the toes.
What causes this condition? Wearing nonsupportive shoes on hard surfaces for long periods of time, going barefoot too often (where feet are not supported), and having flat feet or high arches. Being overweight can make it worse, as can a lack of exercise.
If you suspect plantar fasciitis could be causing your heel pain, check with your foot doctor for a diagnosis. Treatment involves a combination of tactics, including targeted stretching exercises, supportive shoes, weight loss, and over-the-counter pain medications. Your doctor may also approve orthotics, night splints, and/or padding to improve walking comfort.
About the Author:
Dr. Shazia Amar is a foot surgeon in Brooklyn New York specializing in conditions of the feet. If you have a foot problem visit her at her Park Slope Podiatry office or her podiatry office on Newkirk Avenue in Brooklyn.
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