Pain is bad enough when we know the cause.
Not knowing it can add stress and uncertainty to the mix, and really be a problem.
When it also threatens your mobility...
finding the answer becomes paramount.
There are a number of conditions that can cause foot pain, and some of them are fairly easy to diagnose.
Other problems may take some careful x-rays or an MRI to figure out.
Arthritis: There are three forms of arthritis that could cause foot pain.
The most obvious and easiest to detect is gout.
The pain is intense, the toe red and obviously swollen.
The key to this diagnosis is the speed and timing of the onset.
Most sufferers go to bed feeling fine and wake up in the middle of the night in agony.
Blood and urine tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Osteoarthritis is the general wear and tear of joints.
It can also be caused by an earlier injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder, in which your body ceases to recognize a healthy part of the body and attacks it.
Plantar Fasciitis: This pain is located in the heel, usually.
This is found in the ligaments that connect your heel to your toes.
The ligament can be damaged, especially if you walk a lot, have some difficulties with your gait, are overweight or have high arches.
It hurts mostly when you are standing or walking.
Stress Fractures: Your feet take a lot of abuse.
Standing, walking, running and otherwise being on them can cause tiny fractures in the delicate bones, especially near the toes.
These fractures are painful in and of themselves, but if ignored they can result in larger fractures that take longer to heal.
Tendinitis: There are four tendons in your feet, and all of them can become inflamed.
This is especially true of older people, and it can take quite a while to heal.
If it is ignored, it can cause permanent damage to the tendon, and permanent pain for you.
As you can see, it is important to get an appropriate diagnosis when it comes to foot pain.
While some of these problems will likely have similar treatments, it won't be exact.
As an example, you could take aspirin for tendinitis, but if you have gout it will only make it worse.
These differences can make a big difference.
Be sure to tell your doctor of any other medical conditions you have and any medications/supplements you use.
This will help you avoid drug/herb interactions and some dangerous side effects.
Not knowing it can add stress and uncertainty to the mix, and really be a problem.
When it also threatens your mobility...
finding the answer becomes paramount.
There are a number of conditions that can cause foot pain, and some of them are fairly easy to diagnose.
Other problems may take some careful x-rays or an MRI to figure out.
Arthritis: There are three forms of arthritis that could cause foot pain.
The most obvious and easiest to detect is gout.
The pain is intense, the toe red and obviously swollen.
The key to this diagnosis is the speed and timing of the onset.
Most sufferers go to bed feeling fine and wake up in the middle of the night in agony.
Blood and urine tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Osteoarthritis is the general wear and tear of joints.
It can also be caused by an earlier injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder, in which your body ceases to recognize a healthy part of the body and attacks it.
Plantar Fasciitis: This pain is located in the heel, usually.
This is found in the ligaments that connect your heel to your toes.
The ligament can be damaged, especially if you walk a lot, have some difficulties with your gait, are overweight or have high arches.
It hurts mostly when you are standing or walking.
Stress Fractures: Your feet take a lot of abuse.
Standing, walking, running and otherwise being on them can cause tiny fractures in the delicate bones, especially near the toes.
These fractures are painful in and of themselves, but if ignored they can result in larger fractures that take longer to heal.
Tendinitis: There are four tendons in your feet, and all of them can become inflamed.
This is especially true of older people, and it can take quite a while to heal.
If it is ignored, it can cause permanent damage to the tendon, and permanent pain for you.
As you can see, it is important to get an appropriate diagnosis when it comes to foot pain.
While some of these problems will likely have similar treatments, it won't be exact.
As an example, you could take aspirin for tendinitis, but if you have gout it will only make it worse.
These differences can make a big difference.
Be sure to tell your doctor of any other medical conditions you have and any medications/supplements you use.
This will help you avoid drug/herb interactions and some dangerous side effects.