Chronic Ankle Pain – Why You Have it and What to Do!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Any nagging ache or pain can be just that – a real pain! When it happens to occur in your foot or ankle, it can really impact your quality of life. Simple tasks can become difficult and you realize how much you rely on your feet to get through the day.

Is chronic ankle pain something you are tired of dealing with? Numerous conditions can cause this and because it can lead to tissue damage and possible disability, it is worth getting to the bottom of why you have it and what you can do to keep it from getting worse.

When patients come in to Central Connecticut Footcare Center with persistent pain, we often start by asking about footwear. Shoes with tight toe boxes and higher heels don’t allow your feet to function properly, even if you claim to be comfortable! Good shoes help your feet gain strength and flexibility and without those and the proper support, pain can lurk around the corner.

Two other reasons for your sore ankles could be osteoarthritis and tarsal tunnel syndrome. The first is a degenerative joint disease typically affecting older people, while the latter can be caused by an ankle injury, bone spurs or having a condition such as diabetes. Our podiatrist, Dr. Tina Boucher will be able to find the root of your pain, get you on a tailored treatment plan and help you back to the freedom of living life without ankle pain!

How long have you been suffering, hoping your nagging problem will just go away? If you are like most people, your answer is probably far too long! Allow us to help get you back on your feet. Make an appointment at our Meriden, CT office today by calling (203) 238-3668 – you have nothing lose but that annoying pain!

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Arthritis in the Feet

Are you dealing with pain and inflammation in your joints?

Arthritis affects around 40 million Americans so you if you suffer from this painful disease, please know you are not alone! Our job at Central Connecticut Foot Care Center is to give patients relief from their foot and ankle pain. Foot specialist, Dr. Tina Boucher, treats patients with arthritis in their feet on a regular basis.

More specifically, it is osteoarthritis that develops in the joints of the foot and ankle. It is the most common type of arthritis and is degenerative in nature. This means that it gets worse over time as you age. The cartilage in your feet breaks down over time and because each foot has 33 joints, the result can be significant pain and loss of mobility.

How do I know if I have arthritis in my feet?

Arthritis can affect anyone at any age but typically those over 50 years of age are more susceptible. Early diagnosis can significantly limit and slow down the damage that this disease can cause. For this reason, please pay close attention if you experience the following symptoms:

• Stiffness in your feet and ankles in the morning

• Recurring pain or tenderness

• Inability to move your foot or ankle, walk or bear weight

• Redness or heat

• Changes in your skin

• Swelling

Please contact our office if you have any of these symptoms. Dr. Boucher can diagnose if arthritis has set in and start you on the right path of treatment. This may involve pain relievers, arch supports, physical therapy or special shoes. Don’t allow joint pain to affect your life any longer. Call us today (203) 238-3668 to make an appointment or visit us online.

Bunions Aren’t Fun

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The word itself may sound a little silly, but the condition is not. It is aggravating, may become extremely painful and change the way you live your life.

A bunion is a deformity of the big toe joint. As the joint enlarges it forces the toe out of alignment and pushes it toward the second toe. The bony protrusion at the base of the big toe then becomes a point of friction and pressure as the area rubs against shoes. This condition can be very painful, and sometimes lead to other conditions like hammertoes. The dynamics of taking a step transfers the weight distribution from heel through arch and mid-foot to the ball of the foot, which then flexes to push off for the next step. Since the joint of the big toe is in use with every step, the enlargement continues, pain worsens and can lead to other conditions such as arthritis or bursitis.

Inappropriate shoes are believed to be a major cause of bunions. Shoes that are too narrow or have a poorly shaped toe box that squeezes the foot are poor choices. Approximately one-third of the western population is affected by bunions and women are affected more often than men.

Early symptoms to look for include:

•    Red and calloused skin on the inside edge of big toe joint

•    Pain and pressure from shoes makes it worse

•    Formation of a bony bump at the side base of the big toe

•    Big toe begins to angle toward other toes

In many instances, with proper home treatment, symptoms may be relieved. Further intervention is not required, but since a bunion is a deformity, it will not entirely disappear. Therefore, it is important to avoid wearing confining shoes that cause pressure on the affected area.

Home treatment suggestions include:

•    Wide toed shoes that accommodate the deformity

•    Foam or felt padding that protects the bunion

•    Orthotic devices to help position the joint correctly for mobility

•    Specific exercises to prevent stiffening of the joint

•    Nighttime splints to help align toes and joint

If conservative methods do not bring pain relief, you may be a candidate for surgery, but Dr. Boucher will need to determine your exact course of treatment and discuss it with you. There is no magic or sudden cure for bunions and recovery can be a lengthy process. Your treatment will depend on the size and degree of misalignment along with severity of pain.

Seek treatment early for bunions and other foot conditions, especially if you have diabetes. Call Dr. Boucher at (203) 238-3668 for an appointment. She wants you to be able to live pain free.
 
References:

http://www.centralctfootcare.com/library/1776/Bunions.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002211/

Dr. Tina A. Boucher, DPM
Central Connecticut Foot Care, LLC
Order your free copy of our books "Why Do My Feet Hurt?" and "Heal My Heel!" today! Copies will be sent to Connecticut residents only.

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Arthritis and the Foot

In the past couple of days I have diagnosed several cases of arthritis in the foot. You may think that getting arthritis in the foot is an uncommon problem, but since there are many joints in the foot, it is a prime place for it to occur.

Over 30 million Americans suffer from arthritis in all parts of their body and while adults are the major sufferers of the disease, children can have this condition as well. Arthritis means that the cartilage and lining of your joints is swollen and inflammed.

Just like your hands, which have many joints and are a common affected area, feet have a similar likelihood because of the number of joints.

There are two types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumotoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is found in many older patients, but younger patients may have this condition due to an injury or overuse of a particular joint. The cartilage that covers the end of the bones begins to wear away, especially in weight-bearing joints, and often times bone spurs will develop in those areas. The inflammation from the spurs causes pain and swelling.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be found in people of all ages and is a chronic condition. When treating this ailment, podiatrists seek to provide their patients with pain relief, increase the motion in their joints, and improve strength in those areas.

So what can be done if you suffer from arthritis? There are several treatment options depending on the severity of your condition. Many people will have custom-made orthotics made for their shoes and others use accomodating shoes to alleviate much of the pain associated with the pain. Sometimes treatment can be as simple as rest or modified activity, an anti-inflammation medication, or an arthritis medication.

Dr. Tina A. Boucher, DPM

Central Connecticut Foot Care, LLC

Meriden, CT Podiatrist

http://www.centralctfootcare.com/
Order you free copy of our books "Why Do My Feet Hurt?" and "Heal My Heel!" today!