Painful feet make mobility, exercise, and sports hard. After all, you can’t run miles or jump around on the basketball court with friends if your feet are stiff or throbbing. Your local podiatrist, Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski, can help relieve foot pain in Naperville, IL, when you schedule an appointment at the Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley.
How Your Podiatrist Can Help Without Surgery
If you are apprehensive about invasive surgery, there are non-surgical ways your doctor can help you. The first step in approaching healing your foot pain is finding the source. Therefore, your doctor will conduct a foot examination through X-rays, MRIs, or CAT scans. Your foot pain may stem from arthritis or neuromas, which are a buildup of tissue around a nerve in the foot. You may have problems with overworked tendons, such as Achilles tendinitis. Budding foot deformities like bunions or hammertoes can be painful and affect how you walk.
Once your doctor realizes the point of pain, she can prescribe the necessary treatment without going under the knife. Splits and braces can help immobilize the foot area to allow it to heal. A splint is often worn at night, whereas a brace may need to be worn throughout the day or during particular activities. Steroid injections can reduce inflammation and lingering pain.
Your podiatrist may recommend physical therapy to improve range of motion and stretch out foot ligaments and tendons. Therapy can also help ease scar tissue that may have built and created stiffness.
How You Can Make Adjustments to Prevent Pain
Dr. Jagodzinski can recommend lifestyle adjustments to ease foot pain in Naperville, IL. Start by wearing the right shoes. While style matters, you should focus on fit and wear the right shoes for the right activity. Have cushioning support for comfort. Your podiatrist can prescribe custom orthotics tailored for your foot. If you run, avoid doing so on uneven surfaces that can create injury. Do daily foot stretches to reduce tension. Staying hydrated keeps your soft tissues limber and more elastic, which can prevent injury and tension. If you stand or walk for long periods, take proper breaks to give your feet some relief.
Foot hygiene and pampering also help. Medical pedicures at your podiatrist keep feet healthy and reduce painful ingrown toenails, bunions, calluses, and more. Proper cleaning, drying, moisturization, and exfoliation can prevent foot infections that can become painful.
Contact Us for More Information
Dr. Jagodzinski is your trusted podiatrist at Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley. She wants to ensure your feet are healthy and pain-free. To learn more and start the journey to healing from foot pain in Naperville, IL, call the office at 630-778-7670.
