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Medical pages:
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Medical: Foot Pain - Plantar Fasciitis & Hammertoes
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is an injury affecting the soles of the feet, in particular, an inflamed fascia.
The fascia is the tough, fibrous band
of tissue that connects your heel bone to the base of your toes.
Women usually acquire this ailment, especially if they are overweight. People whose jobs require a lot of walking
and standing up are at risk from this ailment too. Those who are flatfooted or have unusually high arches are prone
to it as well. Too much running, walking, or exercising can also contribute to the problem.
Early indications
Plantar Fasciitis is first felt with a gradual and a rather mild pain at the heel bone. This condition is often
referred to as a stone bruise. This is commonly felt after a strenuous exercise, and it could recur if you stand
up after being seated for an hour or so.
Have you ever felt a severe pain in the heel of your foot after making a few steps right out of bed in the morning?
If you have, you may have this problem. Check with your doctor. Plantar Fasciitis may become
a chronic condition if left untreated.
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
- Take a rest. This is the very first treatment of this condition, and most of the other foot ailments for that
matter. Rest would keep the foot muscles from contracting and more adding pain to the area. And if there is any
inflammation, it is a must to keep weight off from that foot.
- Apply ice. Apply ice for 20 minutes 4 times in a day. Usually, it is applied after two to three hours.
Doing so will subsequently relieve the other symptoms.
- Take anti-inflammatory medication. There are over-the-counter medicines available for this ailment, but
consult with your doctor first. Ibuprofen is the most recommended medication.
Hammertoes / Bone Spurs
Hammertoes are also called bone spurs. The condition is described as the bending of the toe’s joints. The
bending is abnormal, and can arise from the pressure placed on the toes, most commonly to people who are fond
of wearing tight-fitting shoes.
Hammertoes have different symptoms. It can include pain on the toe as the person wears tight-fitting shoes.
There could also be a swelling of skin that is commonly known as corns. It can develop anywhere around the toes.
Sometimes, it can even be found between toes. Sometimes it comes soft rather than the usual hard, depending upon
its location. Calluses can also be seen either at the base of the toe or at the rounded edge of the foot.
Treatment for hammertoes
- Trimming of the corns and calluses. Do not do this yourself. This has to be done only by a healthcare
professional. If you do this by yourself, you might just develop cuts and eventually, infection.
- The padding of corns and calluses. A foot and ankle surgeon can give you pads that can shield corns from
being irritated. You can also opt to buy these at drug stores.
- Change your shoes. You should avoid wearing shoes with pointed tips, those that are too short for you, or
those with high heels. These types of shoes would only force your toes against the front end of the shoes.
- Injection therapy. There are some medications that can be injected which can ease the pain, as well as the
inflammation as caused by hammertoe.
- Surgery. When the hammertoe becomes too rigid, a surgery may be the only other option. This would outwardly
alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the condition.
These two foot ailments could accelerate to something more severe if not given proper attention. On the first
signs of foot ailments, it is always best to consult with your foot physician.
NEXT: Athlete's Foot, Ugly Nails, Burning Feet
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