Foot pain is among the most common types of conditions that people had to deal with over the past decades. Although some of them have already gotten used to it and regard it as a simple issue, foot pain may cause great harm and discomfort to a person if not properly treated.
Not just that, but those painful sensations and inexplicable aches you feel in your feet may indicate a severe health condition or might lead to one. So, it’s best to address them as soon as possible. When dealing with foot problems, you need to learn a thing or two about appropriate pain management to better resolve them. Also, you can continue reading this article for more info about foot issues.
Must-Know Things About Foot Aches
The feet serve an important role in locomotion and easier movement. Aside from that, these allow people to reach places and move freely without any hassle. But unless one’s already feeling foot aches, what are the measures they often take to care for their feet?
Without proper nurturing and attention, one’s foot health may gradually deteriorate. Foot aches, tingly sensations, and numbness are some of the most common concerns that many people may face as consequences of a lack of proper foot care. They may also suffer from extreme soreness and limited movement due to several foot problems.
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Typically, foot problems are often the result of sprains, injuries, slip and falls, and muscle strains. Aside from that, improper footwear, lack of footwork, diseases, and fractures may also lead to foot issues. Bone inflammation, bone spurs, plantar fasciitis, gout, bunions, osteomyelitis, bone infection, and tears in foot tendons and ligaments are other conditions linked to severe foot aches.
In most cases, the early symptoms of foot issues often manifest in one’s back, hips, ankles, and knees. Many experts also believed that several health conditions and body pains may be related to untreated foot issues. Particularly, the seemingly simple aches you feel in your heel or arch may hint at a certain disease or illness.
Foot Issues That May Indicate Health Conditions
Many people say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. But would you believe if one says that the feet are the window to one’s overall health? Believe it or not, many conditions and health issues have been linked to foot pains and heel problems.
For instance, many experts believe that one may experience painful sensations in the feet due to thyroid diseases. People may also suffer from foot pain due to degenerative changes in their backs or swollen nerves in their spinal cord.
To help you more, here’s a look at some of the most common kinds of body pains that might be related to foot issues:
1. Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most common concerns of many people, especially in the United States. Particularly, research shows that approximately eight million African Americans are affected by PAD, with 6.5 million of them being people aged 40 and above.
Peripheral arterial disease is characterized by the build-up of fatty substances in the leg’s arteries, which limits the proper circulation of blood and affects the movement of the lower legs and feet. This condition may also cause muscle cramps and numbness. Without proper medical care, PAD may cause great discomfort and foot aches, as well as poorly healed foot wounds.
Aside from that, take note that PAD might indicate heart ailments and brain diseases. Specifically, it’s been said that this disease increases the risks of stroke and heart attack since it affects blood circulation. Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol are considered vital risk factors of peripheral arterial disease.
To better prevent its risks, you can consider quitting improper lifestyle practices, stopping the use of alcoholic drinks and harmful substances, and taking medications.
2. Gout
Gout is widely known for causing an excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body. Particularly, this acid forms in the joints near the toes, which can cause intense pains. If not treated earlier, gout may also lead to kidney stones and kidney failure.
People suffering from gout are also at greater risks of experiencing episodic foot arches and heel pain. Opportunely, doctors and medical experts can treat gout with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Proper lifestyle practices, regular exercise, and a well-balanced diet may also help prevent gout attacks.
3. Discolored Toenails
Did you notice some of your toenails having a yellowish, white, or green discoloration? If so, then you might be suffering from nail discoloration. This condition is often associated with nail fungus, microtrauma injury, psoriasis, anemia, melanoma, and immunosuppression from chemotherapy.
Aside from that, discolored toenails are also said to pose significant impacts on one’s overall health. Particularly, people with discolored nails or fungal infections may have underlying diseases, including lymphedema, lung problems, or rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Diabetes
Aside from gout, another kind of health issue that affects many people all over the world is diabetes. It’s also reported that 34.2 million people are suffering from this disease, with half of them unaware of their condition.
Commonly known for the excessive levels of blood sugar in one’s body, diabetes could hamper the normal blood flow and damage the nerves and blood vessels. This disease is also known as the main cause of kidney failure, adult blindness, and lower-limb amputation. But besides that, another known consequence of diabetes is foot pain.
Specifically, people suffering from diabetes may experience decreased sensations in their feet and mild to severe numbness. As a result of the compromised blood flow, one may suffer from tingly sensations in their feet, as well as severe foot infections. There are also cases of leg amputation or toenail removal due to diabetes.
With its correlation with foot problems, diabetes is seen as a formidable condition by many people. Fortunately, this can now be managed with proper medications and foot exams by podiatrists and other specialists. One may also consider wearing supportive shoes and avoiding walking barefoot to prevent foot trauma. Lastly, one needs to quit smoking and drinking alcohol to prevent further endangering their health.
5. Neuropathy
People suffering from foot issues may also experience neuropathy. Generally, neuropathy refers to the damage of one or more nerves in one’s body. This condition often results in muscle weakness, aches, numbness, and tingling sensations in the affected areas. Typically, the symptoms of neuropathy start in one’s hands and feet, although they may manifest in other areas.
People suffering from neuropathy may also encounter foot ulcers, sores, clogged arteries in the legs or feet, and peripheral nerve damage. Lastly, some of the risk factors of neuropathy include obesity, pregnancy, tendonitis, fracture, and sprain.
6. Swelling Toes
Although some people may consider foot problems as trivial aspects, know that they can cause various health issues and illnesses if not treated earlier. Particularly, it’s been said that foot issues may increase the risks of gout, deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis infection, systemic arthritis, or neuropathic arthropathy (Charcot joint).
Not just that, but people who’ve been constantly suffering from foot aches may become more susceptible to rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. Additionally, many people believe that swelling toes is considered among the common symptoms of benign health issues such as venous insufficiency, renal disease, and congestive heart failure.
7. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Talking about health conditions related to foot problems, some of the most common diseases one may think of are rheumatoid arthritis and osteomyelitis. Between these two illnesses, the former one proves to be a dire condition that could affect many people in many aspects, including their movement and locomotion.
Many experts believed that rheumatoid arthritis may cause gradual deterioration of joints and bone health. It may also affect up to 1.3 million people, of which 90% of them may experience symptoms of foot pain. For starters, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refers to the weakening of the natural defenses of the body. This condition also affects the immune system, which makes it mistakenly attack the joints.
Consequently, it may cause painful sensations and swelling around the joint area. Mild to severe foot aches are common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. People who are suffering from RA may encounter severe pain starting from their toes, then to the rest of their feet and ankles. RA may also cause deformation of the toes and feet.
8. Subungual Hematoma
As mentioned earlier, the discoloration in your toenails may indicate mild to severe health problems. Although it’s rare for people to develop melanoma, this condition is considered the deadliest skin disease that may lead to death. Similarly, it’s not a common occurrence, but nail discoloration may be related to melanoma.
In most cases, people may develop brown or black streaks of bruises in their nails, which can cause a subungual hematoma. Subungual hematoma is known as bleeding under the nails and may indicate health issues.
9. Foot And Ankle Pain
Ankle pains and foot aches are also common conditions related to other health issues, including a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis. The painful sensations in one’s feet and legs can also be linked with diabetic arthropathy and arthritis, which may hamper one’s locomotion and ability to maneuver their body.
Depending on the severity of the ankle pain, people may also feel numbness and painful sensations anywhere near the ankles. There might also be swelling and stiffness, which can limit their movement.
10. Morton’s Neuroma
Feeling tingly all over your feet and legs? If yes, chances are you’re suffering from several types of foot issues, including Morton’s neuroma. It’s also called intermetatarsal neuroma since it’s located in the ball of the feet near the metatarsal bones. Some of the most common causes of Morton’s neuroma include compression, excessive foot trauma, and skin irritation.
These are often related to peripheral neuropathy, spinal stenosis, diabetes, chemotherapy, and B12 deficiency. But aside from that, the tingling sensations in one’s feet may indicate spinal issues and may lead to degenerative spine conditions if not treated earlier.
Middle-aged women are considered the most at risk for this condition, not to mention women who love to wear killer heels. If you’re starting to notice such instances happening more often now, then it’s high time to consult a specialist as you might be experiencing benign symptoms of neurological conditions or nerve damage.
Dealing With Foot Problems
Threats of foot pains and other related issues are still present despite one’s efforts to prevent them. Although it can be challenging to deal with foot aches, there are plenty of available alternatives one can consider to efficiently get through them, including taking medications and undergoing treatments and therapies.
Apart from that, here are some simple yet effective measures you can do to treat foot issues:
- Take Medications
In dealing with foot problems, one of the most common alternatives you can consider includes taking medications. But before that, it’s best to always consult a doctor or a physician to avoid endangering your health.
They may either recommend you to take over-the-counter oral analgesic medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, or paracetamol. Also, some physicians may use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to treat common foot issues. You may also try home remedies like foot massage, foot stretches, and other foot care tips. Through them, you can obtain better results.
- Undergo Therapies
Aside from taking medications, you may also undergo massages and acupuncture therapies for your foot problems. Also, you can execute the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) alternatives for foot issues and injuries.
- Seek Podiatry Care
If you think that none of the abovementioned options seem to work, then it’s high time to seek professional help from podiatrists to manage your foot issues. Since they’re the ones who specialize in foot health, it’d be a great help to consult one if you’re having a hard time dealing with painful feet or heels.
Depending on your condition, podiatrists may recommend the use of orthotics and other artificial devices to support your injured foot and promote foot health. You can also choose whether to use splints or braces and choose from rigid, semi-rigid, and soft insoles for your feet.
- Consider Surgery
The last alternatives would be surgery. This option is often advised to people with severe foot conditions that may prevent them from moving freely and performing basic activities. Some of the most common types of procedures for foot problems may include osteotomy, fracture repair, joint fusion, and arthroscopic debridement.
Takeaway
With many things to consider and numerous risks to be mindful of, many may have a hard time dealing with foot problems. Not just that, but it’s important to know that even the simplest foot aches may indicate severe health conditions.
To better resolve such issues, there are many ways one can do to properly care for their feet. These may include seeking podiatry care, learning proper foot care, undergoing treatments and surgeries, and taking medications. Also, you can consider the abovementioned tips to obtain better results.