Foot pain can be an extremely debilitating condition, especially for active people. If you’ve been suffering from painful symptoms for a while, you might wonder whether it’s time to see your specialist in Kelowna, BC or Victoria, BC. While many foot conditions can be treated at home, some are more challenging to address and need to be attended to by a professional.
To prevent long-term issues, we at Island Foot Clinics recommend that you see a foot doctor if you’ve had pain for several weeks or if you have trouble going about your normal activities. Those with chronic medical conditions might want to visit the specialist sooner, since some diseases can make foot problems more severe. Read on to find out when you should come to the clinic and what your doctor will do to diagnose and treat your foot problem.
How Do You Know When Foot Pain Is Serious?
Almost everybody gets painful feet at some point in life, but not every issue related to the feet is serious. For example, problems like blisters, sore feet, muscle pain, and even a small sprain can often be treated at home, and there’s no need to see a specialist. But if your pain persists after you’ve tried common home remedies, don’t hesitate to give your doctor a call.
Similarly, you can reach out to us if you’re in so much pain that you can no longer complete your daily activities or if you have additional symptoms like a fever, tingling, or a loss of sensation in your limbs. People with diabetes and other chronic conditions might need to see their foot doctor more frequently because their risk of complications is greater.
The Duration of the Pain
Normal muscle pain starts to fade away after several days, and you should feel better within two weeks. If your pain persists even after you’ve tried resting and elevating your foot and applying ice, it might be related to other tissues. For example, your ligaments, tendons, or even your bones could be affected. In this case, seeing a Kelowna, BC or Victoria, BC specialist could be a good idea because they can do some imaging studies to find out what the problem is.
You Can’t Go About Your Day
Some types of foot issues, like pain caused by blisters, can be irritating, but they don’t usually prevent you from performing your regular activities. If your pain is mild to moderate, it’s best to rest your feet for a few days and see whether you feel better. However, don’t delay seeing your specialist if you can’t put any weight on your foot because it is so painful. In this case, you might have a more serious condition which needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
You Have Additional Symptoms
Pain on its own isn’t an immediate cause for concern, but if you have additional symptoms like an open wound that is oozing pus and not scabbing after a few hours or if your foot is very swollen, a visit to your doctor’s office is in order. Swelling can be harmless, but it can also indicate a broken bone. Your foot specialist will be able to perform the relevant imaging studies so you can find out what the problem is.
Any time you experience a high fever after an injury, visit a specialist or the emergency room immediately. You might have a serious infection that needs to be treated right away.
You Have Other Medical Conditions
People who have chronic medical conditions often have to be more careful than those who are healthy. In particular, patients with diabetes frequently experience foot problems because raised blood glucose levels can damage the sensation in the feet. Therefore, they might not feel as much foot pain as other people, and conditions can spiral out of control before they are treated.
If you have diabetes or a similar disease, it could be worth seeing your foot specialist even if you don’t believe that your injury is serious, particularly if your wound is red, swollen, tender to the touch, or taking a long time to heal. It’s also worth inspecting your feet on a regular basis since you might not notice an injury due to the reduced sensation in your limbs.
Where to Get Help in Kelowna, BC or Victoria, BC
Now you understand when to see a foot doctor, you might wonder how you can find the best person in your local area. Island Foot Clinics is always a good choice because we employ a range of specialists who can perform imaging studies, prescribe medicine, administer treatment, refer you to other professionals, and even perform surgery.
Our podiatrists are all highly trained, so you can be sure to get excellent care, no matter your condition. Because we’ve been in operation for many years, we have connections to other experts in the area. Thus, you can expect comprehensive care and teamwork between your podiatrist and your regular physician. Because we believe that prevention is the best care, we will also show you how to prevent foot problems in the future.
What Will Your Doctor Do?
You can book your appointment with us over the phone. During the telephone conversation, we will ask you some questions about your foot problem and any underlying conditions you have. Then, we will book you in for a consultation. The session usually starts with manual palpation, which means that your doctor will feel your foot to see whether any issues can be detected from the outside. Then, they will perform an MRI, ultrasound, or X-ray to find out more.
Once your condition has been diagnosed, your foot doctor will speak to you about your treatment options. Sometimes, problems can be addressed with common home remedies or over-the-counter medication, but at other times, patients need an injection, custom insoles, physiotherapy, or even surgery.
Best Self-Care for Foot Injuries
Unless you have an open wound, significant pain, or serious swelling, you can try to treat your foot problem at home first. After an injury, rest and elevate your feet for at least two to three days. When you need to walk, lead with your good foot, and use handrails wherever they are available. Choose comfortable, flat shoes that don’t constrict your feet. Sneakers can be good, especially if they are supportive.
Apply ice to your injured foot for around twenty minutes once every two to three hours. If you’re in a lot of pain, you can take over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin. After the first 48 hours, try to start moving again and see whether your foot has improved. At this point, you should be able to go for very short walks and climb stairs without too much trouble. If you’ve taken time off work, you can return now, unless your job is physically taxing.
If you’ve had foot pain for several weeks and it’s not getting any better or you have debilitating pain, it’s time to come to the clinic for an assessment. You might have a foot condition that needs to be treated by a specialist. Your doctor will diagnose your problem and let you know your treatment options. Get in touch with us at Island Foot Clinics in Kelowna, BC or Victoria, BC to book your appointment now.