Exercise may be essential for healthy living, but not to the point that you’re exercising while injured. If you experience unusual foot pain, it’s time to see a podiatrist in Sugar Land . It’s possible for your feet to simply be sore if you’ve been doing more hiking than usual, but typically, you’ll feel the soreness in your legs instead.

Watch this video to learn more about the differences between normal, exercise-induced soreness and injuries. If your foot pain is about as severe on the third day as it was on the first day, there’s a good chance it’s caused by an injury. Other signs of an injury include visible swelling or bruising, sharp, stabbing pains, tingling, and numbness.

Foot and ankle injuries can range from mildly uncomfortable to painfully debilitating. If you have a serious foot or ankle injury, it’s advisable to see a podiatrist in Sugar Land right away. Podiatrists can diagnose and treat all types of foot injuries , including sprains, strains, lacerations, and fractures. In the meantime, you can use some simple first aid strategies to address your injury.

Following the RICE Method

Podiatrists strongly recommend the RICE method for treating many foot and ankle injuries, including sprains. This method involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation. When pain develops in the foot or ankle, it’s important not to make the injury worse by continuing to place weight on the foot. Instead, sit or lie down and keep your foot elevated. You can wrap an Ace bandage gently around the foot and ankle, but be careful not to wrap it too snugly. Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes at a time every hour. You can use frozen peas or ice sealed in a plastic bag. Be sure to wrap the ice pack in a towel to prevent tissue damage.

Treating Bleeding Wounds

If you sustain a laceration to the foot or ankle, stopping the bleeding is a priority. Press a clean cloth against the wound for a few minutes. Then, clean the wound well with soap and water. Apply sterile gauze or a bandage to the wound, and go to your podiatrist’s office right away.

Removing Foreign Objects

Walking around barefoot or in flimsy shoes raises the risk of foreign object penetration in the foot. You might step on a nail or a shard of glass, for instance. If you discover a very small foreign object embedded in your foot, such as a splinter or sliver, you can usually remove it yourself with tweezers. Be sure to sterilize the injury and place a bandage on it. If you have diabetes, you’ll need to see your foot doctor. You should also seek medical help if the object has penetrated deep into the foot or ankle. Your podiatrist will need to remove the object, as you could risk further damage if you try to do the job yourself.

People with diabetes have an enormously high risk of foot problems, including neuropathy and ulcers that can lead to amputation. A foot specialist in Sugar Land can be an important member of your diabetes care team, particularly if you are showing signs of nerve damage or frequent foot infections.

Watch this video to learn about some of the treatment options for diabetic foot ulcers. By seeing a foot doctor as soon as possible if an infection develops, people with diabetes can get treatment that can often prevent the infection from spreading to the bone and necessitating amputation. Antibiotics and orthotics that remove pressure from the ulcer are two common treatments used by doctors to control the spread of the infection and control foot pain.

There are a variety of foot conditions that a podiatrist can treat, including flatfoot. If you are suffering from foot pain on a regular basis, particularly pain around your heel or arch, you may have flat feet. Talk to your foot surgeon in Sugar Land about your symptoms, and read the answers to the following questions to find out more about flatfoot and how surgery can help.

What Is Flatfoot?

Feet that have low arches are considered flat. If you have flat feet, you may notice that the entire sole of each foot touches the floor when you are standing. While some individuals with flatfeet experience no symptoms, others experience pain that can make activities such as running and playing sports more difficult. Flatfeet may be a hereditary condition that results in the arches not fully developing during childhood, or it can develop as the result of an injury or wear and tear with age. Even if you do not experience foot pain due to flat feet, you may develop problems with your ankles and knees due to the misalignment of your legs.

What Does Surgery Involve?

If your podiatrist has recommended surgery to correct your flat feet, you may be wondering what this procedure entails. Flatfoot surgery is a reconstructive procedure that aims to improve the alignment of the foot by creating a higher arch. The exact techniques used depend on the patient’s specific problems, but the procedure usually involves repairing the ligaments and tendons that support the arch. Bone cuts may also be needed to correct flat feet.

Can Surgery Help Me?

Only a foot surgeon can give you a definitive answer about whether or not flatfoot surgery will help you. However, there are a few signs which indicate that this procedure may be useful. If you experience foot or ankle pain on a daily basis, then you may benefit from surgery. Your podiatrist may recommend non-invasive treatments, such as immobilization, shoe inserts, and physical therapy, before considering foot surgery.

Your feet aren’t meant to be in pain, but if they are, you should try to learn the cause. If you’re experiencing foot pain in Sugar Land, schedule an appointment with your podiatrist for a diagnosis and treatment. One cause of foot pain that is frequently treated by foot doctors is flat feet. Watch this video to learn about treatments for this condition.

Flat feet occur when your foot arches decrease and come in contact with the ground as you step. You might notice that your footprint leaves a complete foot outline, with no space where the arch would normally be located. Choosing the right footwear is an essential part of treatment for flat feet. Opt for stiff-soled shoes made from a firm material, preferably with laces. Also, speak with your podiatrist about custom orthotic inserts for additional arch support.

Flat feet are feet with low arches, usually caused by a muscle imbalance. This hereditary condition can cause leg pain, foot and leg fatigue, bunions, hammertoes, and more. Although some cases of flat feet can be effectively treated with orthotics and non-invasive treatment options, severe cases usually require surgery. If you have flat feet in Houston , your foot doctor may recommend surgical correction to alleviate your symptoms and prevent future complications. Here is a look at what you can expect.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Surgery?

Your foot and ankle specialist may suggest surgery if the symptoms caused by your flat feet, such as ankle pain, are interfering with your daily life and non-invasive treatments have not helped. For flatfoot surgery to be effective, the arch of the foot must be flexible rather than stiff. Before surgery, your foot doctor will also consider your overall health to ensure that you don’t have any conditions that could make anesthesia unsafe or interfere with your recovery.

What Happens During Surgery?

Flatfoot surgery is performed under general anesthesia or using regional anesthesia, such as a spinal block. There are several different methods your surgeon can use, each of which allows your doctor to reconstruct your foot to increase the arch. During some procedures, bone deformities are corrected, while the ligaments and tendons are repaired in others. Your foot doctor will determine which approach is best for you based on your symptoms and the structure of your foot.

What Happens During the Recovery?

Most patients go home the same day of the procedure, though an overnight hospital stay may be necessary. For the first two weeks, the leg will be in a cast and must be kept elevated. After that time, the sutures are removed, and patients receive a removable boot. You cannot put any weight on the foot for six to eight weeks, or until cleared by your surgeon. Around 12 weeks after surgery, patients may be able to wear normal shoes using a foot or ankle brace. Complete recovery may take up to a year, and physical therapy may be necessary.

If you are in need of a foot doctor in Sugar Land, TX , visit Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists or call 281-242-3338.

If you’ve visited a podiatrist or a foot specialist for diagnosis and treatment of a foot problem, and have since noticed that your symptoms or ailments have reoccurred, you may be a great candidate for reconstructive foot surgery. The non-invasive treatments that were provided by your previous podiatrist may not have been effective, or you may have opted for foot surgery and found that your symptoms later returned. A podiatrist specializing in reconstructive foot surgery near Sugar Land will be able to offer you some relief.

Non-Invasive Treatments Were Ineffective
Many common foot ailments can be treated with non-invasive methods, and that is likely where any podiatrist will begin his treatment. Plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, heel spurs, hammertoes, ganglion cysts, and bunions can all be treated non-surgically. If non-surgical options fail and symptoms persist, your podiatrist may recommend that your condition be treated through surgery. While surgery is often a last resort in treatment, it is typically the most effective way to treat these conditions.

A Previous Foot Surgery Was Unsuccessful
Despite surgery, some foot problems can reoccur years later. Ganglion cysts and bunions can both return even after a seemingly successful foot surgery. Additionally, surgeons are not infallible, and you may find that the foot surgeon you previously visited did not perform the surgery perfectly, resulting in complications or problems. Hardware such as screws or plates that were used in your surgery may become loose or need to be replaced. Certain other conditions may return or reoccur, requiring further surgery to relieve symptoms.

You Are Suffering From Foot Pain and Loss of Function
Reconstructive foot surgery is sometimes performed as a primary treatment option for certain foot problems. If you’re suffering from intense foot and ankle pain, a deformity, or a disease that has resulted in the loss of function of your foot or ankle, your podiatrist may recommend surgery. Such foot problems include adult flatfoot syndrome, a foot or ankle fracture or break, acute stages of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, severe neuromas, and tarsal tunnel syndrome.

If you’re suffering from foot pain or heel pain, visiting a podiatrist can lead to a diagnosis and treatment options that can offer you relief. A foot specialist in Sugar Land will attempt to treat your condition with non-invasive, or non-surgical, options first. These treatments include minimizing your use of your affected foot, icing the area, taking ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation, and using splints or orthotics to correct the problem.

If these treatment options are unsuccessful, your podiatrist may recommend surgery to preserve your foot health. Conditions that may require reconstructive foot surgery include adult flatfoot syndrome, a foot or ankle fracture or break, acute stages of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, severe neuromas, and tarsal tunnel syndrome. If a previous surgery proved unsuccessful in treating foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, heel spurs, hammertoes, ganglion cysts, and bunions, you may require further reconstructive surgery.

Reconstructive foot surgery can provide relief from foot and ankle pain, and can prevent further deformity to the feet and toes. This surgery will help you regain the full function of your foot and ankle, allowing you to resume activities that may have been painful for you pre-surgery.

Flat feet are the result of a muscle imbalance that is passed down through families. A person with flat feet is more likely to develop other issues like hammertoes, bunions, lower body fatigue, and calf pain. If you have flat feet in Sugar Land , the foot and ankle specialist can help you correct the problem. Keep reading to find out how:

Reconstructive surgery gives the podiatrist the chance to reshape the foot to help a patient regain function and stability. This surgery can also reduce pain and lower the risk for other foot issues. The surgery is often accompanied by tendon repair, bone fusion, joint implantation, or soft tissue repair to ensure that the patient regains full use of the foot.

If you have flat feet, you should talk to your podiatrist about surgical treatments to find out if they are the right option for you. The foot specialist will give you a thorough exam to find out the best way to correct your issues.

A foot specialist in Sugar Land typically will recommend reconstructive foot surgery only when more conservative treatment measures fail to address your foot concerns. While many people consider reconstructive foot surgery to be a major procedure, current surgical techniques can allow your foot doctor to correct your problem and help you begin recovery with minimal time and inconvenience.

Reconstructive foot surgery can remedy many painful foot issues. Flat feet are a common problem that can cause discomfort with every step. However, adult flatfoot reconstruction can give recipients healthier foot arches that enable pain-free mobility. Reconstructive foot surgery can also resolve discomfort from hammertoes, bunions, and ganglion cysts. If poor foot health is preventing you from enjoying the active lifestyle you want, talk to a podiatrist about whether reconstructive foot surgery is the right choice for you. In just days, you can be back on your feet without pain.