Loving My Pain Free Life
About Me
Loving My Pain Free Life

My name is Melinda Johnson and I suffered with foot pain for many years. I went to see a podiatrist and after an examination, I was told that I had heel spur syndrome. I followed the recommendations of my doctor by doing at home treatments along with physical therapy. I was amazed at how much these treatments helped my foot pain. Living with pain can have a big impact on your life and that's why I started this blog. My foot pain kept me from doing many things that I enjoy and I want to help others who are going through the same situation. As you browse through my blog, you'll learn about home treatments, medical procedures and new advancements in medicine that can help reduce pain. It is my hope that by writing this blog, you can live pain free too.

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Loving My Pain Free Life

4 Common Ankle And Foot Problems That Require Medical Attention

Claire Roberts

Foot and ankle problems can be more than a minor annoyance--when you're experiencing foot or ankle pain, it can greatly impede your mobility. There are a number of issues that can affect the ankles and feet, from sprains and fractures to skin problems and ingrown toenails. If you have any of the following problems, make sure to have you feet and ankles looked at by a podiatrist, like Advanced Foot & Ankle Center of Palatine.

Ankle Sprains

An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments are stretched too much and partially or completely tear. Classic symptoms of an ankle sprain are swelling, bruising, and the inability to bear weight without pain. In many cases a sprained ankle can be treated with compression, ice, rest, and elevation of the foot. If you try all of these things but your ankle is not healing, make an appointment with a podiatrist to have your ankle looked at, as some severe sprains may require additional treatment. In addition, sometimes people think that they have an ankle sprain when there is actually a fracture, so it is important to have an x-ray taken.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

Chronic venous insufficiency happens when blood begins to pool in the veins of the feet and lower legs. The condition is caused by damage to the vein valves, which prevents them from closing properly. One of the first symptoms of CVI is swollen ankles and lower legs, combined with a heavy, achy feeling in that area. In some cases, yellowish plasma may begin to leak from pores and the swelling can cause capillaries to burst. It is important to work with a podiatrist to manage this condition because if left untreated, painful ulcers can form and lead to a serious infection.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails curve and grow into the skin surrounding it, which can cause pain, irritation, and infection. A true ingrown toenail usually does not correct itself, so the best course of treatment is to visit a podiatrist to have the portion of the nail that is growing incorrectly removed. After you have the procedure done to correct the ingrown toenail, you will usually be prescribed a course of antibiotics to prevent an infection while the skin heals.

Sports-Related Injuries

The nature of how sports are played can lead to a lot of injuries, especially to the feet, ankles, and lower legs. Common foot/ankle sports injuries include sprains, fractures, dislocations, and muscle tears/sprains. When a sports injury occurs, seeing a podiatrist is essential in order to get the correct diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as to prevent re-injuries in the future.


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