Have You Seen Your Foot Doctor Lately?

Non-Surgical Treatment For Common Foot Issues

Not all foot issues are going to require surgery. Some can be treated using non-surgical treatments. A lot of foot issues are caused by wearing the wrong type of footwear. Read on for a few common foot issues that may be treated using non-surgery treatments. 

Bunion

A bunion is the protrusion of the bone in the toe that causes your toes to turn in towards the other toes. It usually affects the big toe, but it can affect the pinky toe as well. The toes are then squished together, which can leave your feet very uncomfortable. If you have a bunion, it may have been caused by the shoes you wear. If you wear shoes that are too tight and squish your toes, the friction around your toes can cause the bunion. Try wearing shoes that aren't so tight or narrow, and instead wear shoes that offer more room. Using a device to pull the big toe back into position can also help treat a bunion. Talk to a podiatrist about how to treat your bunion.

Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is usually caused by wearing shoes that are too tight, as well as from cutting your toenails at an angle, rather than straight across. The nail begins to grow inward towards the skin, instead of growing straight across. This can be a very painful issue to deal with, and it should be treated properly. Clipping your nails straight across and changing your shoes can help, although your podiatrist may have to pull up the nail or insert a piece of cotton to help treat this if clipping them correctly isn't helping.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the tendon in the foot is tight. This can cause pain in the heel or up towards the back of the calf. You may feel the pain when you first wake in the morning, or like you're walking on pins and needles. Treating this pain can be done by wearing the right shoes that offer plenty of support in the arch and heels. Weight loss can also help, as excess weight can cause this foot issue. Using medical tape can also help with this, as the tape can offer you the extra support you need. Talk to your podiatrist about using tape and how it should be used to treat your plantar fasciitis.

Not all foot issues are going to require surgery, and you may not even need pain medication to heal from these foot issues. A few changes and proper treatment can help you heal from these common issues. Make an appointment with your podiatrist if you are having any of these or other foot issues. Contact a podiatrist for more information.