If you were able to remember your Science class, for sure, you know that our foot has 26 bones each. That is the one-fourth of the bones in your entire body. And despite how little they are, they can support the weight of your body, even when they walk, run or jump. Just imagine how cool is that, right? However, no matter how great our feet are to us, most of us take it for granted. We only take notice of it once our feet hurt. Or when you can no longer do the things you always do—that is very much true when you have gout on your foot, and you are in pain.
That is also probably the reason why you are here today. You would want to know why your feet hurt and what kind of foot problem you have. Well, lucky you since this article will discuss those, including their causes and treatment. So, keep your eyes peeled and carefully read those conditions.
Why do your feet hurt?
That is indeed a good question, and this is what we probably ask ourselves when our feet start to hurt. However, we always end up questioning our answers. So, why do our feet hurt, anyway? The answer is the weight and roughness it supports when you move or even stand. You see, our feet are no steel. Even if it is, it would eventually experience wear and tear. As you grow old, developing gout or experiencing pain in your footis something natural. However, even if it is, you should not neglect taking care of your feet. So, keep these foot problems in mind.
- Athlete’s foot
It is a fungal infection that happens because of poor foot hygiene. You see, not cleaning your feet well, and re-wearing dirty socks could lead to this condition. You could also develop one if your feet tend to sweat a lot or if you wear other people’s shoes.
Treatment
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Use antifungal soap.
- Apply some antifungal sprays powder before wearing shoes.
- Taking medication (It depends on the podiatrist’s prescription. It could be oral or application)
- Blister
This foot problem is so common that it happens whenever you are wearing a new pair of shoes. More so, when you are not wearing any socks. You see, new shoes, then to rub against your skins, especially if it is too tight for your feet.
Treatment
- Wearing socks reduces friction.
- Put some plastic strips on the areas you tend to develop blisters.
- If blisters occur, apply some antibiotic ointment and wrap it with a bandage.
- Try to buy shoes that are one index finger apart from your shoe size.
- Bunion
It is the bony bump that sticks out at the base of the big toe. At first, it does not ache, but as it gets bigger, the more painful it becomes. If it did, you might need to undergo surgery to remove that bony bump.
Treatment
- For earlier cases, taking over-the-counter drugs works.
- Wearing custom insoles.
- Applying some ice to the bony bump.
- Wear the right footwear size.
- Placing some pads or tape could reduce irritation.
- Achilles tendonitis
This foot condition could happen for various reasons. One of which is exercising without doing warm-up or standing for long hours. Either one could make you develop Achilles tendonitis, and it is more common as you grow older.
Treatment
- Compress the area with some ice packs.
- Undergo physical therapy
- Taking oral medication.
- As part of Achilles tendonitis treatment, you need to take more calcium.
Warning: If pain persists after all of these, you might need to undergo surgery.
- Nail fungus
Similar to Athlete’s foot, nail fungus could happen due to poor foot hygiene. However, it only gets worse as it becomes more irritated because of the fungi nesting beside or beneath your nails. You will notice you have this if the toenails have yellow spots and flaking.
Treatment
- Take some oral drugs (prescription from a podiatrist)
- Applying medical nail polish is also a nail fungus treatment.
- For severe cases, surgery is also necessary.
- Gout
Out of all the foot problems, gout is something that affects your mobility. The worse it gets, the more you are unable to move your body. You see, gout happens due to the buildup of uric acid. It usually increases if you drink so much liquor or food that is rich in uric acid.
Treatment
- Avoid eating seafood and red meat.
- Reduce drinking alcohol, especially beer.
- Drink a lot of water.
- Take medication on time without fail.
At this point in this article, you now know what kind of food problems you have. So, do not hesitate to see a podiatrist, especially if pain persists! Otherwise, you would not only be in a lot of pain, but your pocket might suffer, too.
Do your feet hurt?
If yes, then you might have Achilles tendonitis that needs treatmentright away. So, make sure to drop by at a podiatrist clinic like East Coast Podiatry Clinic. Or if you want, book an appointment at +(65) 6884 4123 and let them know when you are free. That way, they could schedule a podiatrist to examine your feet.
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