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Common Conditions
What is an ankle sprain?
Sometimes sprains are just classified as mild or severe, depending on the amount of ligament damage. Most sprains occur on the outside part of the ankle, but they can occur on the inside as well.
A sprain is caused by twisting your ankle. Your foot usually turns in or under but may also turn to the outside.
Symptoms of a sprained ankle include:
How is it diagnosed? To diagnose a sprained ankle, the doctor will review how the injury occurreda dn consider your symptoms. He or she will examine you ankle carefully. X-rays may be taken of your ankle.
Treatment may include:
Rarely, sever ankle sprains with complete tearing of the ligaments need surgery. After surgery your ankle will be in a cast for 4 to 8 weeks.
The length of recovery depends on many factors:
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your ankle recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you star treatment, the longer it will take to get better. You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. What is arch pain? How does it occur?
What are the symptoms? The symptom is pain along the arch.
How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will examine your foot for pain and tenderness along the arch.
How is it treated? You should place ice packs on your arch for 20 to 30 minutes every three to four hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes away. Your doctor may prescribe and anti-inflammatory medication.
Your arch needs extra support. Taping your arch or using an extra arch support in your shoe may give you the support you need. Your doctor may prescribe custom-made arch supports called orthotics.
When can I return to my sport or activity? The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your foot recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you star treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
How can I prevent arch pain? Arch pain can be prevented by wearing shoes that fit properly and have proper arch support. Stretching your feet and arches before your activity will also help prevent this injury. You may need orthotics. Some people will need to wear orthotics all the time and others only during sporting activities.
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. Athlete's Foot How does it occur? The fungus that causes athlete's foot is everywhere in the environment. It is commonly picked up from the floors of showers, locker rooms and exercise facilities. The fungus is more likely to grow on sweaty, constantly wet, or improperly dried feet (especially in shoes or socks with poor ventilation).
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include:
How is it diagnosed? Your health care provider can usually diagnose athlete's foot after examining your skin. Sometimes he or she may swab or scrape off a skin sample to test for fungus. If your provider suspects that you may also have a bacterial infection, the skin sample may be tested for bacteria.
How is it treated? The infection may clear up without treatment, but most fungal infections are treated with medicine put on the skin. If the infection is sever or widespread, your provider amy prescribe a medication to take by mouth.
How long will effects last? The acute stage of the infection usually lasts 1 to 10 days. Chronic infection may persist for months or years. If a severe case of athlete's foot is not treated, it may develop into a serious bacterial infection. The infection may eventually affect the toenails, which are harder to treat.
How can I help prevent athlete's foot?
Follow these guidelines:
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company.
What is a bunion? A bunion is an abnormal bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe. The big toe joint becomes enlarged to the inside, with the toe turned and pointing inward. The medical term for the deformity where the big toe angles toward the other toes is hallus valgus.
People with weak or flat feet and women who wear high heels a lot tend to develop bunions.
How does it occur? Bunions most often result from wearing shoes that don't fit properly or from wearing high-heeled shoes with narrow, pointed toes. When a she rubs against the toes joint it irritates the area and makes it swollen, red and painful. A tough, callused covering grows over the site.
The tendency to have bunions may be inherited.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include:
How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will examine the affected foot. He or she may want to take x-rays of the joint.
How is it treated? Often non-surgical treatment is sufficient. You can usually relieve pressure on the big toe by:
In addition, take anti-inflammatory medication (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) for pain relief. Custom-made arch supports called orthotics may help reduce bunion pain. If the bunion gets worse and causes too much discomfort, your doctor may suggest surgery (called bunionectomy) to:
How long will the effects last? A bunion is a permanent problem. You'll continue to have it unless you have surgery to remove it. Recovery from bunion surgery may take two months or more.
How can I take care of myself? If you have swelling, redness or pain in the big toe joint:
What can be done to help prevent bunions? You can help prevent bunions from developing by wearing comfortable shoes that fit well. Be sure your shoes don't cramp or irritate your toes. This is especially important if your family has a history of weak or flat feet, conditions that may be inherited.
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. What is an ingrown toenail? An ingrown toenail is a toenail that grows into the surrounding skin or tissue of the toe. The toenail on the big toe is the one that is most commonly ingrown.
How does it occur? An ingrown toenail usually occurs as a result of improper nail trimming. If a nail is cut curved instead of strait across, it may grow into the flesh at the edge of the nail and become ingrown.
Nails may also become ingrown as a result of direct blows or from wearing shoes or boots that are too tight.
What are the symptoms? An area around the corners and edges of the toenail is painful. The toe may be swollen and red. There may be drainage. A toe with an ingrown toenail that becomes infected will be red and swollen and will have pus.
How is it diagnosed? Your health care provider will examine your toe
How is it treated? Discomfort may be relieved by soaking your foot in a basin of warm water two or three times a day. If only a small part of your toenail is ingrown, the corner of the nail can be lifted up with a pair of tweezers and a small piece of cotton placed underneath this part of the nail.
Your health care provider may remove all or part of the ingrown nail. He or she will use numbing medicine before doing this. To prevent the nail from becoming ingrown again your provider may put a chemical on the nail growth are or may surgically remove the growth area.
Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics if your toe is infected.
When can I return to my sport or activity after an ingrown toenail? You may return to your sport or activity when you no longer have pain in your toe. It is important that your shoes fit well.
How can I prevent an ingrown toenail?
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. What is metatarsalgia? The metatarsal bones are the long bones of the feet. They are located between the bones that form the ankle (tarsal bones) and the bones of the toes (phalanges). Metatarsalgia is pain in the long bones of the feet, especially located at the heads, or tips, of these bones.
How does it occur? Metatarsalgia typically occurs from doing too much of a weight bearing activity such as running, jumping or walking. It may occur if you start wearing a new type of shoes, especially high-heeled shoes. In some people, the tips of some metatarsals point further down than in others, making these bones more likely to hurt.
What are the symptoms? You will have pain in the middle of the foot, especially over the bones. You will have pain when the bones move and tenderness over bony surfaces.
How is it diagnosed?
How is it treated? You may be treated with anti-inflammatory medication. Your doctor may prescribe a pad to put underneath the tender metatarsal. Custom-made arch supports (orthotics) are often prescribed for metatarsalgia. While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim or bicycle instead of run or walk.
How soon can I return to my sport or activity? The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your foot recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you star treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
You can jump on both legs without pain and you can jump on the injured leg without pain.
How can I prevent metatarsalgia? Metatarsalgia is best prevented by wearing good shoes that fit well. What is Morton's Neuroma? Nerves run between the bones in the foot and along the toes. A neuroma is a benign (not cancerous) tumor of nerve tissue. A Morton's neuroma most commonly occurs between the bones of the third and fourth toes or those of the second and third toes.
How does it occur? A neuroma may be caused by running or walking too much, but often it just occurs on its own. The pain is made worse by running on hard surfaces and wearing shoes that are too tight.
What are the symptoms? Your foot will be painful. The pain is usually worse when your toes are pointed up. You may get numbness or tingling in the affected area. You will have tenderness between the bones of the third and fourth toes or between the bones of the second and third toes.
How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will examine your foot and review your symptoms.
How is it treated? Treatment may include:
Surgery may be required to remove the neuroma
How can I prevent a Morton's neuroma? It is not known how to prevent a Morton's neuroma. However, wearing properly fitting shoes with good padding will help decrease the pain of a Morton's neuroma.
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is a painful, inflammation of the bottom of the foot between the ball of the foot and the heel.
How does it occur? There are several possible causes of plantar fasciitis, including:
If you wear high heeled shoes, including western style boots, for long periods of time, the tough, tendon-like tissue of the bottom of your foot can become shorter. This layer of tissue is called fascia. Pain occurs when you stretch fascia that has shortened. This painful stretching might happen, for example, when you walk barefoot after getting out of bed in the morning.
If you gain weight, you might be more likely to have plantar fasciitis, especially if you walk a lot or stand in shoes with poor heel cushioning. Normally there is a pad of fatty tissue under your heel bone. Weight gain might break down this fat pad and cause heel pain.
Runners may get plantar fasciitis when they change their workout and increase their mileage or frequency of workouts. It can also occur with a change in exercise surface or terrain, or if your shoes are worn out and don't provide enough cushion for your heels.
If the arches of your foot are abnormally high or low, you are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis than if your arches are normal.
What are the symptoms? The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain when you walk. You may also feel pain when you stand and possibly even when you are resting. This pain typically occurs first thing in the morning after you get out of bed, when your foot is placed flat on the floor. The pain occurs because you are stretching the plantar fascia. The pain usually lessens with more walking, but you may have it again after periods of rest.
You may feel no pain when you are sleeping because the position of your feet during rest allows the fascia to shorten and relax.
How is it diagnosed? Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms. He or she will ask if the bottom of your heel is tender and if you have pain when you stretch the bottom of your foot. An x-ray of your heel may be done.
How is it treated? Give your painful heel lots of rest. You may need to stay completely off your foot for several days when the pain is severe.
Your health care provider may recommend or prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. These drugs decrease pain and inflammation. Resting your heel on an ice pack for a few minutes several times a day can also help. Try to cushion your foot. You can do this by wearing athletic shoes, even at work, for awhile. Heel cushions can also be used. The cushions should be worn in both shoes. They are most helpful if you are overweight or elderly.
An orthotics sole support, specially molded to fit your foot, may be part of your treatment. These supports can be particularly helpful if you have flat feet or high arches.
If your heel pain is not relieved by the treatments described above, your health care provider may recommend physical therapy. The goals of physical therapy are to strectch the plantar fascia and to strengthen the lower leg muscles, which stabilize the ankle and heel. Sometimes physical therapists recommend athletic taping to support the bottom of the foot. A splint may be fitted to the calf of your leg and foot, to be worn at night to keep your foot stretched during sleep. Another possible treatment is injection of cortisone in the heel. Surgery is rarely necessary.
How long will the effects last? You may find the pain is sometimes worse and sometimes better over time. If you get treatment soon after you notice the pain, the symptoms should stop after several weeks. If, however, you have had plantar fasciitis for a long time, it may take many weeks to months for the pain to go away.
When can I return to my sport or activity? The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your foot recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you star treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
How do I prevent plantar fasciitis? The best way to prevent plantar fasciitis is to wear shoes that are well made and fit your feet. This is especially important when you exercise or walk a lot or stand for a long time on hard surfaces. Get new athletic shoes before your old shoes stop supporting and cushioning your feet. You should also:
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. What is a stress fracture? A stress fracture is a hairline crack that can occur in bones from repeated or prolonged use. The most common sites for stress fracture are the foot bones (metatarsals), shin bone (tibia), outer lower leg bone (fibula), thigh bone (femur), and back bones (vertebrae).
How does it occur? Stress fractures are overuse injuries. The majority of leg injuries occur during activities such as running, jumping or dancing. Stress fractures of the feet were originally called march fractures because they were commonly seen in military personnel.
What are the symptoms? You have pain with activity. You may have swelling and bruising.
How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will examine you and may order an x-ray. However, x-rays do not always show a stress fracture. Your doctor may order a more specialized test called a bone scan.
How is it treated? The most important treatment for a stress fracture is rest. Other treatment may include:
When can I return to my sport or activity? The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your fracture heals, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you star treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
After a stress fracture you may do sports or activities that do not cause pain. It is very important not to “run through the pain* because this may cause further injury. You should vary your activity for one week at a time. For instance, if you have a stress fracture from running, you should either rest or swim for a week, then attempt to run short distances. If there is no pain, you can gradually increase your distance.
How can I prevent a stress fracture? Stress fractures are caused by overuse. The best way to avoid getting a stress fracture is to listen to your body and not force yourself to do activities while you are in pain.
Content reprinted with permission from: The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor ©Copyright 1999 HBO & Company. |
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