Managing Your Chronic Foot And Ankle Problems
Foot and ankle pain can be a very disruptive issue for a person to experience. In addition to making it difficult for these individuals to do some of the activities that they enjoy the most, foot and ankle problems can even make it difficult for individuals to perform their work duties. These mobility issues can have a major impact on a person's quality of life, but individuals will often neglect to take steps to alleviate their chronic foot and ankle issues.
Assess Whether Your Shoes Are Impacting Your Pain
The quality of your shoes will play a major role in your foot issues. More specifically, individuals will often find that their shoes are not providing them with the amount of support that they need. This can lead to severe pain developing in the arch of the foot. Additionally, shoes that are not wide enough can put tremendous strain on the foot, which can increase the risks of injuries occurring. Depending on the shape of your foot and the weight distribution on it, there may be benefits to adding orthotic inserts into the shoes to enhance the support and cushion that your shoes provide your feet.
Manage Frequent Swelling
Some individuals will suffer from chronic swelling of their feet. This swelling can be extremely painful, but it can also be an issue that will potentially cause further damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the foot. Taking steps to reduce or manage the swelling that you may experience can be an important step for individuals that suffer from chronic foot pain. In particular, the use of ice when the swelling starts to occur can greatly reduce the amount of swelling that will occur. Additionally, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories can also assist with this need.
Seek Professional Treatment For The Foot And Ankle Pain
For many individuals, taking these basic steps can greatly reduce the severity and frequency of their issues with chronic foot and ankle pain. However, others may find that their issues persist. If this is the case for you, it may be beneficial to seek care from a foot and ankle doctor. These medical providers will be able to assess the foot and ankle to determine the cause of the damage. Once they know the problem with the foot, they will be able to create a treatment strategy. Depending on the particular cause of the issue, surgery may be necessary to heal the foot and restore the patient's mobility.
For more information, contact your podiatrist.
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