Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, so instead of typing out a long blog that dives into one specific foot condition, we’re going to quickly cover a number of foot and ankle ailments and provide care advice for each. Obviously this is just general advice and any concerns should be brought to a foot specialist in your area who can view your foot in person, but these care guidelines will be helpful for a lot of people dealing with non-complex versions of these injuries. Enjoy!
Treating 10 Common Foot Injuries
Here’s a look at 10 common foot and ankle injuries, and some general treatment guidelines for each:
1. Sprained Ankle – Sprained ankles occur when your ankle rolls to one side, stretching out the supportive ankle ligaments. Minor to mild sprained ankle heal well with rest, ice and gentle stretching or physical therapy.
2. Chronic Sprained Ankles – For recurrent ankle sprains, you’re going to want to set up a consultation with an ankle instability specialist like Dr. Silverman. Sometimes they respond to conservative care, while other times a minimally invasive ligament reinforcement operation is required.
3. Stubbed Toe – Jamming your toe on a chair or piece of furniture can be painful, but if a fracture does not occur, rest, ice and limited weight bearing can help it heal.
4. Toe Fractures – If that toe trauma resulted in a fracture, head to a foot doctor to learn more about the break. Most toe fractures will heal without surgery, but if there’s more going on or the fracture is unstable, more hands-on care may be necessary.
5. Athlete’s Foot – This fungal infection is common in athletes and people who go barefoot in locker rooms or public areas, and you want to dry to keep your foot cool and dry to help defeat the infection. Anti-fungal creams or lotions also help.
6. Plantar Fasciitis – This is caused by inflammation to the plantar fascia under our heel, and conservative care is recommended at the outset, although the condition doesn’t always respond well to this treatment. If not, surgery is typically very successful.
7. Toe Cramps – Cramping is usually due to controllable factors like diet, exercise and water intake. Focus on improving these factors, and your cramps should resolve.
8. Diabetic Feet – If you have diabetes, caring for your feet is a must. Conduct regular foot inspections, clean any wounds and be sure to manage your blood sugar levels.
9. Ankle Fracture – Some stable ankle fractures heal well with rest and limited weight bearing, but if the surgeon is concerned that the joint won’t heal correctly, surgery can ensure everything fuses as it should and the joint is stabilized.
10. Bunions – Bunions occur when a bony prominence forms on your big toe joint. The sooner they are treated, the better the respond to conservative care, but moderate to severe bunions can be taken care of with a minimally invasive surgical operation.