The foot is an important yet often neglected part of the body. Our feet bear our body weight as we walk, run, or carry things, and they are common areas for injuries and chronic pain. When a foot injury or condition develops, your go-to physician should be an orthopedic foot doctor, also known as a podiatrist.
In this blog, we will discuss reasons to consider seeking orthopedic foot care.
A Recent Foot Injury
Sudden injuries to the foot include dropping something heavy on the foot, falling and twisting the foot or ankle, and sports-related injuries. Foot injuries such as sprains and fractures can happen in a variety of situations, and when they do, it is best to see an orthopedic physician who can devise a treatment plan that will relieve your pain and heal your injury effectively. Depending on the severity of your injury, surgery could be necessary. Most sprains don’t require surgery and are treated with rest, a brace for extra support, and a gradual return to activities. Fractures, or broken bones, don’t require surgery if the break is clean and only require a cast to set bones in place, so they heal properly.
You may think that the level of pain you’re in corresponds to the type of injury you have, and that sprains are less painful than fractures. However, sprains can easily be mistaken for fractures, and vice versa. It is hard to tell the difference without diagnostic imaging, so it is important to seek orthopedic foot care for every injury in order to get the right treatment to heal it properly.
Unexplained Foot Pain
Not all pain can be explained by an injury or trauma. Sometimes, an area of the body can start hurting without an apparent cause. It’s even worse when that pain becomes chronic and lasts for weeks or months. Long-lasting pain is known as chronic pain, and it can interfere with your daily life. Common causes of chronic foot pain include arthritis, bunions, complications from diabetes, and nerve conditions like Morton’s neuroma, and plantar fasciitis.
If you’ve recently developed foot pain and you don’t know why, it is best to see an orthopedic foot specialist, because they can use your medical history and other conditions you may have to diagnose the cause of your foot pain and create an appropriate treatment plan.
Braces Or Orthotics
Braces and orthotics are helpful medical support devices that doctors prescribe during rehabilitation from an injury or as a supportive device to wear when chronic pain flares up. For instance, if you’ve recently gotten a cast off after a foot or ankle fracture, your doctor may tell you to use a brace when you first return to physical activity, because the bone is not as strong as it was before the break, making it more likely for re-injury. The brace gives you extra support and protection, so you are less likely to re-injure yourself.
It is important to get a brace that fits well and isn’t putting extra strain on your joint or injury site. Orthopedists can look at different braces and determine how supportive they are based on the way they were built. They often have specific brands and models they recommend and trust, so it can be valuable to get their recommendation when returning to sports or physical activities post-injury.
Orthopedic Foot Care At Watauga Orthopedics
At Watauga Orthopedics, we offer medical care for all these podiatric needs and more. We have 20 doctors, over 15 mid-level providers, and over 15 physical therapists across our three locations who are eager to help you get back to your life pain-free.
To schedule an appointment, call us at 423-282-9011, or fill out ournew patient appointment request form.
