What is Foot Inflammation?
Foot inflammation is the result of a person’s immune response towards various irritants or injuries to the foot. Based on the type of response, the inflammation can be classified as acute when it occurs suddenly, or chronic, occurring gradually as a result of a long-term disorder.
Causes of Foot Inflammation
Different conditions that may cause foot inflammation include:
- Repetitive high-impact activities
- Deformity: bunions, hammertoes, flatfoot
- Trauma: broken bones, sprained ligaments, or torn tendons
- Older age with degeneration of tendons and joints overtime
- Having a tight Achilles tendon
- Systemic inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Gout
- Infection
Symptoms
Sign and symptoms of foot inflammation include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Warmth
Diagnosis of Foot Inflammation
A diagnosis is made based on a physical examination of the foot and tests to identify the underlying cause. The tests may include:
- X-rays: These are imaging studies that can detect the presence of fractures in the foot.
- Blood tests: This is used to detect inflammatory marker within the blood that diagnosis a certain condition (e.g. RA factor for rheumatoid arthritis, uric acid for gout, or white blood cells (WBC) as an increased WBC count indicates the presence of infection.
Treatment for Foot Inflammation
Treatments to reduce inflammation and pain include:
- Resting the foot with immobilization using a splint or an orthotic such as a CAM boot
- Applying an ice pack on the injured area
- An elastic wrap can be used to control swelling
- Elevation of the foot and ankle to reduce swelling
- In case of severe pain, the doctor may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- Sometimes surgery is recommended if non-surgical treatments fail to resolve the inflammation
Prevention
Foot inflammation can be prevented by:
- Avoiding overuse
- Addressing any underlying medical issues with appropriate medical treatment by your primary care doctor
- Supporting painful structure with appropriate shoe wear and/or bracing
- Physical therapy to mainating mobility of the painful structures