Medicine Information

"Foot Pain Relief At Last!"


"As an arthritis specialist, one area that I see people complain about more often than almost any other, is their feet." So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. "This is too bad because there are many treatments that can be helpful," Dr. Wei adds.

The foot is made up of 26 bones and 39 muscles...
The foot and ankle are designed to bear weight. The multiple joints in the feet are capable of adjusting to almost any terrain and the padding in the feet are designed to absorb shock.. The ankle joint allows the foot to move up and down, side to side, and inward and outward (inversion and eversion).

Not All Foot Pain Comes From The Foot!
Careful examination of the low back, hip, and knee should be performed because pain from these areas may affect the foot and ankle. In particular, pinched nerves in the low back can cause foot pain and weakness.

Ankle sprains are common- 25,000 people sprain an ankle every day! The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and prevent instability. Treatment of an acute sprain consists of rest, ice compression and elevation ("RICE"). Exercises to help stabilize and strengthen the ankle should be started.

Arthritis of the ankle may cause recurrent pain and swelling. Pain from arthritis typically is made worse by weight-bearing particularly on uneven ground. What this means is you should try to avoid excessive walking or running on uneven ground. Anti-inflammatory medication and proper foot support can do wonders.

Pain in the ball of the foot has many causes...

  • Foot strain occurs when a person "overdoes it." And the treatment is pretty straightforward. Rest.
  • Morton's neuroma (a benign nerve tumor usually located between the 3rd and 4th toes)
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome (pinched nerve in the ankle)
  • Arthritis.

Other common causes of foot pain include:

  • Stress fractures may occur after excessive walking.
  • Achilles tendonitis causes pain in the back of the heel. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medicines, rest, a heel lift, and gentle stretching.
  • Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medication, heel cup, orthotics, stretching, and local steroid injection.
  • Flat foot.

Muscle strengthening exercises and orthotics are helpful. Two other common problems are:

  • Osteoarthritis, particularly common in the big toe. The big toe will point out to the side. When bursitis alongside the great toe joint develops, this condition is referred to as a bunion. Treatment involves proper padding and footwear. In extreme cases, surgery is required.
  • Neuropathy. This painful condition is particularly common in diabetics. This occurs when the small nerves in the feet are damaged. Symptoms include burning, tingling, and pain in the feet - worse at night.

Well fitted orthotics (arch supports) can alleviate not only foot and ankle pain but pain in the knees, hips, low back, and neck!!

We often take the ability to walk for granted. This ability involves the use of two engineering marvels- our feet and ankles. Because of the tremendous amount of force transmitted to the feet with walking, unique problems may develop. Attention to proper preventative care, i.e., comfortable shoes, sox, hygiene, support, along with proper prompt medical care can really put the brakes on foot pain.

Dr. Wei (pronounced "way") is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com


MORE RESOURCES:

National Academy of Sports Medicine Launches New Course ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
CALABASAS, CA, Nov 21, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM; www.nasm.org), a leader in fitness training ...


PR Web (press release)

BodyLogicMD Sponsors American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
"It is a natural step for BodyLogicMD in terms of demonstrating our growth and support in the field of anti-aging medicine and bioidentical hormone therapy. ...
BodyLogicMD Opens Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Location in Chicago PR Web (press release)
all 12 news articles


University of South Alabama College of Medicine Chooses MDaudit(TM)
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
... WIRE) -- Hayes Management Consulting announced today that it will provide its MDaudit(TM) software to University of South Alabama College of Medicine. ...


WNCT

Three Employees Fired After Patient Chokes on Medicine, Dies
FOXNews - Nov 20, 2008
GOLDSBORO, NC — North Carolina officials have fired three employees and disciplined others in the death of a patient who was neglected for more than 22 ...
Firings a good first step in neglect case CharlotteObserver.com
all 38 news articles


BBC News

The uneasy link between war and medicine
BBC News, UK - 14 hours ago
Each portray the stark realities of war in their time, and show how medicine has struggled over the years to heal the injured. In one corner of the Wellcome ...
War and Medicine at the Wellcome Collection, NW1 Times Online
all 2 news articles


Sydney Morning Herald

The wrong medicine
TheDay, CT - 12 hours ago
If we had any reasonable expectation that a $25 billion federal loan would fix what ails the Detroit auto industry, we would support it. ...
Detroit bailout? No way! The Oregonian - OregonLive.com
Auto bailout must come with strings Visalia Times-Delta
United States needs to help automakers Vineland Daily Journal
all 1,496 news articles


Entry Level Finding Ways to Help Children With Cancer
New York Times, United States - 6 hours ago
She comes to the job with a master’s degree in Oriental medicine from Touro College and a lifelong love of cooking. On doing acupuncture on small children: ...


Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company to Announce Third Quarter ...
FOXBusiness - 5 hours ago
Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company, through its operating subsidiaries Tongjitang Pharmaceutical, Tongjitang Distribution, Tongjitang Chain Stores, ...


Overworked doctors would not recommend careers in medicine
SmartBrief, DC - 3 hours ago
A survey of primary care doctors indicates most feel overworked and would not recommend medicine as a career. Nearly half the doctors who responded to the ...


Research and Markets: This Global Research Report in Medicine and ...
MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
Nanomaterials, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics and nanoscience in medicine & biology represent the largest concentration of R&D. ...

Medicine - Google News

home | site map
© 2006