Overland Park Office - 10701 Nall Ave., Suite 120, Overland Park, KS 66211
Blue Springs Office - 1050 South Outer Road, Blue Springs, MO 64015
Dr. Sheldon Fleishman's Blog
Overland 913-381-5515
Blue Springs 816-228-9393
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Posts for: May, 2016
“My feet are killing me!” Anyone who’s ever experienced foot pain or discomfort has probably said these words before. If you’re over the age of 50, you may have found yourself saying these words quite often. Millions of Americans experience foot pain every day and for many that pain is caused by arthritis. To celebrate May as Arthritis Awareness Month we have four ways to you help ease arthritic foot pain.
Our feet are made up of 28 bones, 30 joints and even more muscles, tendons, and ligaments that all work together to provide us with support, balance, and mobility. For people with arthritis these three things are often difficult to maintain. Arthritis is the general name used to describe more than 100 different types of joint pain and joint disease. More than two-thirds of the American population under the age of 65 has arthritis. The most common type of arthritis, known as osteoarthritis, is caused overtime by the overuse of joints. Arthritis causes the cartilage in between the bones at your pivotal joints to wear away, which means your bones grind against each other, causing pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis often causes degeneration of cartilage at your big toe.
When arthritic pain affects your feet, walking and completing every day task can be nearly impossible. Although arthritic foot and ankle pain are conditions that won’t go away, these four strategies can provide some relief.
- Select the right shoes. Wearing shoes that provide comfort and support is key. Your shoes should be wide enough so that they don’t press on any bunions or calluses you may have. Shoes that have good arch support are essential to stabilizing joints that are moving more than they should be.
- Foot Stretches. Exercising your feet can help increase flexibility and mobility when you have arthritis. Good stretching exercises will involve you stretching the Achilles tendon, as well as the tendons in the balls of your feet and toes.
- Foot massages. Kneading the balls of the foot and your toes sometimes can provide arthritis relief.
- Use orthotic devices (canes, braces or shoe inserts). Depending on what your specific problem area is, one or all of these devices can help you find relief. Many people find comfort from shoe inserts because they can correct misalignments and help distribute weight more evenly over the bottom of your feet.
There’s no one way for those who suffer from arthritic foot pain to find relief. But working with your doctor can help you to find long-term relief options.
If you or someone you know experiences foot or ankle pain caused by arthritis, podiatrist and foot specialist Dr. Sheldon Fleishman is ready to help you find relief from arthritic pain by creating a specific treatment plan for you. To learn more about arthritic foot and ankle pain treatment, contact one of our convenient locations today. Blue Springs Office: (816)-228-9393 or Overland Park: (913)-381-5515.
Last month National Foot Health Awareness Month, which is the perfect time to provide you with tips on how to keep your feet healthy. We spend a lot of time on our feet during our lives. In fact, we walk over 75,000 miles by the time we reach age fifty.
With so many miles on our weary feet, it’s no surprise that 20% of the U.S. population experiences a foot problem each year.[1] Proper foot care is vital to patients recovering from a foot injury or foot surgery, those with diabetes or other illness as well as those who simply have tired feet after a long day. Dr. Fleishman offers these foot care tips to keep your feet healthy.
Healthy Foot Care Tips
- Inspect your feet daily to check for injuries, cracks, peeling or dry skin. This is especially important for diabetic patients to avoid infection.
- Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes, to avoid fungal infections.
- Wear shoes that provide good support and a low heel. If you wear flats, sandals or high heels, regularly alternate with shoes that have good arch support. The shoes you wear should provide enough space without rubbing or squeezing your toes. Use of shoe inserts can help provide arch support and cushion the feet.
- Replace your walking shoes every 6 months to avoid foot and heel pain. It’s time for new shoes when the inside of the shoe begins to wear and lose support.
- Stretch your feet, ankles and lower legs before exercising to keep your muscles strong and to help avoid injury.
- Don’t go barefoot in public places where you may suffer cuts leading to infection or contract athlete’s foot or another fungal infection.
These foot care tips not only benefit your feet, keeping your feet healthy has a direct effect on your overall health.
If you experience foot or ankle pain or injury, seek medical attention immediately. Leaving foot injuries untreated can result in improper healing that can cause reoccurring pain, limited mobility and development of arthritis in joints. Call Dr. Sheldon Fleishman at one of his convenient locations to schedule an appointment today.
Locations:
Blue Springs, MO (816)-228-9393 or Overland Park, KS (913)-381-5515
[1] The American Podiatric Medical Association
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