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If you are experiencing any kind of foot pain, do not ignore it. Instead, see your Houston podiatrist at once to have the pain taken care of in the most effective way possible.
People who suffer from undisclosed foot pain and injury often tend to avoid seeing a doctor due to the costs involved, but it is the best way to take care of any foot problems before they become worse and you cannot avoid it any more. If you aren’t sure about what type of foot pain you have, your podiatrist should determine this for you so you know how to treat it.
There are actually a number of different ways in which a podiatrist can treat foot problems, and not all of them are things that patients have access to on their own. With that said, here are all the ways that podiatrists can treat foot pain and problems.
Prescriptions
There are many cases where a doctor realizes that a foot can heal on its own, but it would heal at a very slow pace. When more advanced methods are not required to treat a foot problem, the doctor will prescribe a medication to the patient that can treat any pain they might be experiencing. The medication can also help with conditions such as swelling or itchiness that may or may not be related to pain, but also comes with whatever foot problems you might have. You can also consider over-the-counter medication, but prescription medication is considered more effective and helpful with many types of ongoing foot problems.
Physical Therapy
Recovering from a foot injury requires the foot to rest so that the injury isn’t aggravated. However, the foot also needs to exercise at times so that it does not weaken. A regimen of physical therapy prescribed by a physician can include daily exercises and stretches, massages, ultrasound, hot and cool packs, and more. Proper physical therapy can be used to help the foot regain its range of motion, strength, balance, flexibility, and can also reduce swelling and pain. Physical therapy is recommended for people recovering from foot injuries and problems such as trouble standing up and walking.
Shoe Advice
Sometimes, problems with our feet are caused by a specific shoe that we might wear one day. Notable shoes that can cause problems or make the foot vulnerable to problems include high heels, sandals, and tight-fitting shoes that cause discomfort in one way or another. If your doctor finds the shoe you wear to be a problem, he or she would recommend a different kind of shoe for you so that the problem does not recur. Oftentimes, the podiatrist will even show you to a specific shoe ideal for people with past foot problems.
Orthotics/Walking Aids
In order for patients to still be able to move while recovering from foot pain and injuries, the doctor may also prescribe orthotics or walking aids. These aids can come in many forms, from splints to braces to boots, so that the person is still able to walk without putting much weight on the injured foot. As the foot’s condition improves, the walking aids are often switched to smaller aids, such as from a walking boot to an insert that is worn inside the shoe.
Laser Treatments
For abnormalities on, under, or around the foot, such as warts, the go-to treatment option from podiatrists will be a laser treatment. The podiatrist will either numb or freeze the infected area first before severing the wart from the foot with a special laser. Depending on the location of the abnormality, the patient should require medication and a minor walking aid following the treatment for a few days at the most.
Surgery
When no other methods can treat foot problems, such as fractures and torn muscles or tendons, surgery will be required to realign and repair what has been broken inside the foot and/or leg. With surgery, patients require the longest time of recovery compared to other methods. Depending on what is injured inside the foot, it can take from one to two and a half months for injuries to completely heal and for the foot to be in walking condition again. Recovery following surgery may also require a combination of the previous treatment options, including medications and walking braces. Consider hammertoe surgery in Houston to effectively treat any and all severe foot problems.
These are a handful of different treatment options that podiatrists consider for patients, and as you might realize, it is often a combination of methods that are used to help a foot recover from pain or other problems. Be sure to see your podiatrist for any lingering and undisclosed foot issue that you may be having.
In case of an unexpected foot injury, the author of this article suggests Nagler Foot Center.
