Do you believe it’s common to have sore feet at the end of the day? Because your feet transport you wherever you need to go, those with chronic foot pain experience persistent suffering and reduced quality of life. It’s critical to pay attention to foot discomfort since it can lead to significant health problems if ignored.
The Physical therapy staff can help you deal with your discomfort, whether it’s caused by plantar fasciitis, gout, or something else, in addition to diagnosing and treating your issues. Physical therapy professionals will walk you through every step of the diagnostic and treatment process.
What causes chronic foot pain?
A variety of factors can cause chronic pain in the foot. Lack of mobility, inappropriate footwear, an underlying ailment, or an accident are possible causes. Foot discomfort can impact the rest of your body, including your ankles, knees, hips, and back, depending on its severity.
The following are some frequent causes:
Spurs on the bones
Stress fractures
Broken foot or toe
Bunions
Gout
Plantar fasciitis
Rheumatoid arthritis
This isn’t a complete list. This isn’t even close to the end of it. If you don’t know where the pain originates, it might be challenging to identify chronic foot discomfort without going to the center of physical rehabilitation.
Arch pain
According to experts, if you’re experiencing discomfort in the arch of your foot, it might be due to aging, weight gain, overuse, stress, or a neurological problem. Overpronation is a fancy way of stating that the outside of your heel contacts the ground first as you walk, which is a typical cause of arch discomfort. Overpronation damages your tendons, muscles, and ligaments over time, resulting in persistent foot discomfort.
Heel ache
Do you have a lot of discomfort in the heel of your foot? Heel spurs or plantar fasciitis can produce this type of discomfort. It may ache more in the morning, and you may even have pain in your arch.
Ball of foot pain
Discomfort in the ball of your foot may be caused by an overuse ailment called metatarsalgia, which produces severe inflammation. Morton’s neuroma, a thickened piece of nerve tissue between the base of your toes, is a less common cause of discomfort in the ball of your foot. Women are more likely than males to develop this ailment due to regular high heels or tight-fitting shoes.
Toe pain
Gout is the most prevalent cause of toe pain. Gout is an arthritic condition that affects your toes and causes pain and swelling. It most commonly affects the big toe. Another typical foot issue that appears on the outside of your foot is a bunion. A bony mass develops near the big toe. Tight-fitting or uncomfortable shoes can cause a bunion, and heredity may also play a part.
Treating chronic foot pain
The underlying problem determines the treatment for your foot discomfort. The pain usually goes away after the root issue is resolved.
Remedies at Home:
On your own, you can attempt a few cures. Mild foot pain can be relieved with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as well as various topical analgesics like gels or creams. During the day, rest and ice your feet. Consider getting a foot massage to improve circulation, relieve stress, and relax muscles. Wear comfortable and supportive shoes without placing too much strain on your feet.
The use of orthotics
Orthotics are braces, supports, padding, and specific footwear for those who suffer from chronic foot pain or other foot and ankle problems.
According to a specialized physiotherapist, improper footwear or ill-fitting footwear can lead to chronic discomfort.
The elastic characteristics of the soles of athletic shoes deteriorate with use and aging. A reasonable rule of thumb is to change your shoes every six months or more frequently if you wear them frequently. According to physical therapists, replacement insoles can help with energy absorption and foot support.
Medications
Over-the-counter medications can only do so much. Seeing a podiatrist for persistent foot pain has the advantage of prescribing more potent medicine. The Arthritis Foundation lists the most effective treatments for arthritis and helps with constant foot pain caused by other illnesses. Consult your podiatrist about the following topics:
Biologic response modifiers – A biologic response modifier may be the best therapy for edema caused by bursitis or rheumatoid arthritis. Each drug inhibits a specific phase in the inflammatory process while leaving the immune system unaffected.
Gout meds — These, too, may help with bursitis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms since they “lower uric acid levels in the blood to avoid recurrent bouts of joint pain and inflammation.” According to The Arthritis Foundation, “others are designed to treat the pain and inflammation of an acute attack.”
DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medicines) — Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients benefit from DMARDs, which are medications prescribed to relieve arthritic pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs are commonly used pain relievers. Although some are accessible without a prescription, a podiatrist may be required to prescribe them.
Altering Your Way of Life
Your Physical therapist will ask about your lifestyle during your consultation. This enables him to determine if these factors impact chronic pain. The podiatrist will most likely suggest a few lifestyle adjustments if this is the case. These should be implemented right away.
receive frequent massages
take minerals and multivitamins
soak in hot water when pain comes
decrease weight
stretch before vigorous activity.
Physical Therapy
When coping with chronic foot discomfort, you may not want to exercise or even move much, but physical therapy may frequently be therapeutic. Your podiatrist will determine if this is an appropriate treatment option, for example, going to the center of physical rehabilitation.
Exercises may be offered to strengthen the strength and stability of the afflicted region and rectify muscular imbalances. Activities that develop flexibility will keep or improve a muscle’s length.
Surgery
A podiatrist can change the dose of a medication. The physical therapist might suggest different exercises. However, you should expect some pain at the start of biological treatment.
Surgery may be the only choice if the other therapies aren’t working and the intolerable pain.
The cause of your chronic pain will determine the sort of surgery you have. Bunions and hammertoes, for example, may usually be reversed if identified early enough. Some operations are performed outpatient, while others are more involved.
