Posts for tag: swelling
The most common cause for a persistently painful ankle is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. Other conditions that can lead to chronic ankle pain include an injury to the nerves that pass along the ankle joint, a torn or inflamed tendon,arthritis of the ankle joint, a fracture of bones around the ankle, inflammation of the ankle joint lining, or scar tissue buildup. These conditions can cause symptoms of pain on the outer side of the ankle, difficulty walking on uneven ground, difficulty walking in high heels, ankle instability,swelling, stiffness, tenderness, and repeated ankle sprains.
The first thing a doctor will evaluate is the history of your chronic ankle pain. This will help them determine the cause, as there are so many potential reasons for chronic ankle pain. Your doctor will also feel for tender areas and look for signs of swelling. They may have you move your foot and ankle to assess range of motion and flexibility. To test the sensation of the nerves, your doctor may administer a shot of local anesthesia. Your doctor may order x-rays of the ankle joint and foot to help view the bony alignment.
The podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates will tailor your treatment plan to your needs. Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, braces, local steroid injections, and casts. If conservative treatment doesn’t bring relief, surgery may be needed. Most procedures are done on an outpatient setting with six to ten weeks of post-op rehabilitation. Surgical options include removing loose tendon fragments, cleaning the joint or joint surface, and ligament repair or reconstruction.
Coming soon.
Have you ever dropped a heavy box on the top of your foot? Have you ever stepped into a small hole, falling, and twisting your foot? These two common accidents can result in midfoot or Lisfranc fracture-dislocation. Lisfranc injuries (named from the French doctor that first described the injury) occur at the midfoot. This area is a cluster of bones and joints that form an arch on the top of the foot between the ankles and toes. In total, five long bones extend to the base of the toes meet four bones projecting towards the rear of the foot. These bones are held into position by ligaments that stretch across and down the foot. The bone extending to the second toe is extremely important as it acts as a stabilizing force in the area but lacks ligaments to secure it to the first long bone. These two long bones may shift, break, or dislocate in a twisting fall.
Lisfranc fracture-dislocations are often mistaken for sprains. The top of the foot may be swollen and painful with some bruising. If the injury is severe, you may not be able to place any weight on the foot. Lisfranc injuries are often difficult to see on X-ray and can have serious complications if left untreated. It is important to see a podiatrist if rest, ice, and elevation do not reduce the pain and swelling within a day or two. At the doctor’s office, a podiatrist will evaluate the foot through a detailed physical exam and image study. If initial x-rays do not show an injury, a CTor MRI may be needed.
Treatment for a Lisfranc injury depends on the severity of the injury. If the bones have are still in alignment, a cast is typically used in addition to not placing any weight on the foot for six weeks. Unfortunately, surgery is often needed to stabilize the bones and hold them in place after they have become dislocated. Pins, wires, or screws may be used to restore normal position. After surgery, a cast and non weight bearing to the foot for six to eight weeks is typical. In both situations, arch support and a rigid soled shoe are commonly used until all symptoms have disappeared.
It is important to seek appropriate medical advice when rest, ice, and elevation do not resolve pain. It is equally important to follow doctor’s orders and refrain from activities until instructed. The podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates are trained in Lisfranc fractures and will help their patients return to normal activity as quickly as possible.
Every mile you walk places a tremendous amount of stress on your feet. The good news is your feet can handle a heavy load, but, too much stress may push them past their limit. The shoes you wear or surfaces you walk on can increase the stress level. Heel pain is one of the first signs that too much stress is being placed on your feet. A sore heel will usually get better on its own with adequate rest. The problem is that many people try to ignore the early signs of heel pain and continue the activities that caused it.
It is important to see the podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates right away to determine why there is foot pain and determine the proper treatment. The doctors will begin by asking where exactly the pain is located and when it began. Next, they will examine your foot, looking and feeling for signs of tenderness, swelling, and bruising. The doctors may ask you to walk, stand on one foot, or other physical tests that help determine the pain’s cause. Conditions that cause heel pain generally fall into two main categories: pain beneath the heel and pain behind the heel.
If the pain is greatest under you heel, you may have a condition causing inflammation in that area. A stone bruise occurs after stepping on a hard object such as a rock or stone. The object can bruise the fat pad on the underside of the heel and pain gradually reduces with rest. Plantar fasciitis typically occurs after too much running, jumping, or stretching of the tissue band that connects the heel bone and the base of the toes. The pain is centered under the heel and is most intense with taking your first steps after resting. A heel spur is another cause of pain and can form from long standing plantar fasciitis. An x-ray may be used to visualize the boney projection from the heel.
Pain behind the heel is generally due to the Achilles tendon. This condition is called retrocalcaneal bursitis and is an inflammation of the insertion of the Achilles tendon into the heel bone. People often develop this by running too much or wearing shoes that rub or cut into the back of the heel. This irritation can cause a slow increase in skin thickness, redness, or swelling. A bump that is tender and warm to touch may also develop. Pain is most severe with first activity after resting. It is not uncommon for the pain to be so severe that normal shoes cannot be worn. After taking x-rays, a podiatrist will prescribe stretching exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, and icing.
Septic arthritis is an extremely painful infection of a joint where germs infiltrate a joint and cause damage that leads to severe pain, warmth, and swelling. Bacteria and other microorganisms are the cause of septic arthritis and commonly target the knee, hip, or ankle. In the United States, 20,000 cases are reported each year in mostly young children and older adults. Septic arthritis is considered a medical emergency, as the microorganisms can destroy the joint in a few short days or can spread to other areas of the body.
There are four main causes of septic arthritis. The first is called contiguous spread. This occurs when a preexisting bone infection travels down the bone and reaches a joint. Direct implantation of bacteria can occur when a puncture or stab wound occurs in the joint. Heamtogenous source of septic arthritis develops when an infection enters the bloodstream from another area of the body and reaches a joint. The last cause takes place after joint surgery and is due to contamination.
Septic arthritis typically causes extreme discomfort and difficulty using the affected joint. Signs and symptoms can include fever, severe pain especially when moving the joint, swelling, joint warmness, and redness. Medications for other types of arthritis may mask the pain and fever. It is important to seek a doctor if these signs develop. It is especially important if signs and symptoms of infection such as fever and chills occur, as this may indicate a severe infection. To diagnosis septic arthritis, a doctor will consider the clinical presentation, vital signs, x-rays, and blood labs. Generally, septic arthritis is treated with joint aspiration, removal of infected tissue, and antibiotics.
Adult-acquired flat foot is a condition that results in a fallen arch and the foot pointed outward. This condition is most common in women over the age of 40. A variety of foot problems can lead to adult- acquired flat foot deformity, but the most common cause is a gradual stretching out of a tendon near the ankle bone, known as the posterior tibial tendon. This tendon is the main stabilizer of the foot arch. While the cause of the stretching is not fully understood, many doctors believe that wearing high heels and standing or walking for long periods may add to the problem. Other risk factors include obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
People with flat foot experience different symptoms depending on the cause. Pain and swelling may be felt on the inside of the foot and ankle. This pain points to involvement of the posterior tibial tendon. The pain may increase with activity and high intensity activities such as running can be very difficult. As the condition worsens, the arch can collapse causing the heel bone to move placing pressure on the outside of the ankle. This can cause outside ankle pain and arthritis of the ankle joint.
The posterior tibial tendon is one of the most important tendons of the leg. It starts at a muscle in the calf and travels down the inside of the ankle and attaches to bones on the inside of the foot. The main function of this tendon is to support the arch. If the tendon becomes inflamed or torn, the arch will slowly collapse. Inflammatory arthritis can attach the ligaments, as well as, the cartilage in joints. Arthritis can cause pain and changes to the shape of the foot. Injury to the ligaments can cause joints to fall out of alignment and cause flat foot. The last major cause of adult-acquired flat foot is diabetes. People with diabetes or with nerve loss can have arch collapse.
Adult-acquired flat foot is a very common problem affecting the foot and ankle. The good news is orthotics and braces can help most people. Those who have tried orthotics and braces without any relief, surgery can be an effective way to reduce pain and deformity. Your podiatrist is specially trained in treating flat foot and will create a custom treatment plan.