Whether you regularly get your 10,000 steps in each day or spend more time sitting rather than standing, foot problems can arise for no other reason than because you walk on this earth. Prevention is the best answer, but since that doesn’t always work no matter how careful you are, managing pain is the next best scenario for these common foot problems.
Plantar Fasciitis
The pain caused by the inflammation of the ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot is more common if you’re overweight, a long distance runner, or simply on your feet frequently; however, anyone can develop this burning feeling in their heel. Some doctors will suggest surgery, or a corticosteroid shot if the pain is acute, but less invasive treatments are more common. Popular treatments include daily stretching, resting, icing, or shoe insoles for plantar fasciitis.
Bunions
If you’ve noticed a painful growth on the outside of your foot near your big toe, you may have developed a bunion. Bunions can form from wearing shoes that are too tight and are more common in women. Surgery is an option in extreme cases, but more common treatments include bunion pads and ice packs.
Heel Spur
On an x-ray, a heel spur looks like a shark’s tooth growing out of the underside of your heel. Bone spurs are caused by a calcium buildup that occurs with the repeated microtears that happen on the ligaments covering the underside of the foot. The pain can be sharp or dull. Doctors often recommend night splints, shoe inserts, physical therapy and surgery only as a last resort.
You only get two feet in life, so it’s important to take the best possible care of them. Your first choice for dealing with foot problems should always be prevention, but sometimes even the best care can’t prevent discomfort. At that point, your best bet is managing the pain.