Your feet ache. What are the common causes of foot pain and discomfort, and how can you heal them? At Cascade Foot 
Center in Salem, OR Dr. James Lisle, Dr. Lee Poston and Dr. Trevor Tippets examine sore, aching feet, uncover the reasons for the problem and recommend the best possible solutions. Would you like some relief?
Feet and how we use them
Your lower extremities--feet and ankles, that is--experience a huge amount of wear and tear just from everyday activities, never mind sports, long hours at work and more. It's not unusual to experience foot pain. In fact, 77 percent of Americans over the age of 18, have painful feet to one degree or another, says the American Podiatric Medical Association.
If you're one of these individuals, your foot doctors can help. Whether you have a congenital or acquired foot deformity or medical condition, Drs. Lisle, Poston and Tippets will examine your feet, analyze your gait (how you walk) and take X-rays or other sophisticated imaging as needed. Then, your care plan will include several ways to manage and alleviate your foot discomforts. Interestingly, surgery usually is a last resort.
Causes for foot pain
Here are some frequent causes of foot discomfort:
- Bunions, a deformity of the joint at the base of the big toe
- Plantar fasciitis, an overstretching of the connective tissue between the heel and the toes
- Arthritis, a degenerative disease involving inflammation of the many small joints of the toes, foot and ankle
- Achilles tendinitis, an inflammation of the large tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone
- Metatarsalgia, pain and swelling of the ball of the foot
- Corns and calluses, areas of thickened skin on the foot and toes (typically a response to friction and overuse)
Common treatments
Foot pain responds well to rest, ice, compression with an ACE bandage and elevation above the level of the heart. In other words, if your feet hurt, put them up for a bit and stay off them.
Depending on the source of pain, your podiatrist may advise taking over-the-counter analgesics, such as ibuprofen, wearing custom-made shoe inserts, or orthotics, and getting some physical therapy. Injections of cortisone may alleviate the swelling associated with arthritis and bursitis.
Additionally, something as simple as a change of shoes helps relieve many foot and ankle issues. Wear quality, well-supportive footwear, with low heels, enough room to move your toes comfortably and adequate padding for the soles and back of the heel.
All this to say, your experienced foot doctors at Cascade Foot Center have the knowledge and skill to pinpoint your problem and get you up and moving again--comfortably.
Contact us
Please call Cascade Foot Center to arrange a consultation with one of our podiatrists. Our number is (503) 588-8188.