Given that about three out of every four adults in the United States experience foot pain during their lifetime and the mere act of aging can put you at an increased risk of developing foot problems, it is important to be familiar with some of the more common foot problems that might be causing your discomfort. Therefore, being familiar with the following facts about specific foot abnormalities is likely to be quite useful when you are speaking to your podiatrist about your pain.
Osteoarthritis And Your Foot Pain
Although it's common to associate osteoarthritis with bent fingers or difficulty typing, the truth is that osteoarthritis may also manifest as damage and swelling of the joints and surrounding cartilage of your feet and ankles. Arthritis can be described as an inflammation of the joints and osteoarthritis can be defined as arthritis that exacerbates with age or as the result of extensive use of a specific area. Since the average person will walk more than 100,000 miles by their 80th birthday, it is easy to see why osteoporosis impacts so many older people.
Fortunately, there are treatments for osteoarthritis, even though there is not a cure for it yet. Options include the use of injectable or oral steroids, over-the-counter or prescription pain medications and the use of braces or supportive devices the minimize the stress on the affected areas. In some instances, physical therapy is recommended.
Peripheral Vascular Disease And Its Impact On Your Feet
Peripheral Vascular Disease, which is also known as Atherosclerosis and PAD, is thought to affect 20% of people over the age of 70. It manifests as arterial blockages that limit or cut-off entirely the blood flow within the arteries and symptoms include foot wounds that are slow to heal, pain when walking that dissipates soon after resting and cold feet. Unfortunately, many people have no symptoms of the disease and older persons who smoke, have high blood pressure or diabetes are at increased risk of developing PAD. Therefore, your physician should check for changes to your health that could result from it on a regular basis, because those blockages can result in disability or death.
Common treatments for PAD include treating the contributing factors to its development through medication, surgery and light exercise. If you have the disease, your podiatrist may work with your primary care doctor or another specialist to minimize your pain and allow you to engage in light exercise. For instance, non-healing wounds can keep you off your feet, as might the hot and cold sensations.
In conclusion, chronic foot pain impacts the lives of many people in the United States. Since it's possible that your chronic pain could be addressed easily, but your pain could also indicate a more serious concern, you should never just live with pain. As a result, it is best to speak with your podiatrist about the information shared above and start the process to a life free of unexplained and untreated foot pain. For more information, visit websites like http://www.yourfootdocs.com.
