Aching Feet At The End Of The Day? A Stress Fracture Could Be The Problem
If you have constant pain in your feet at night and the bones ache, but your feet don't bother you as much throughout the day while you walk around, you could have stress fractures. If your feet only ache once you've stopped moving and over the counter pain medication isn't helping, you need to see a podiatrist.
There are a variety of issues that could be causing the pain in your feet, but stress fractures can't be ignored. Letting the problem go can lead to more severe fractures and complete immobility. Consider the following things.
See a Specialist
Get a referral from your family doctor to see a podiatrist. This expert will be more suited to deal with your chronic foot pain than your regular family physician and can help you find pain relief right away.
Ditch the Heels or Uncomfortable Shoes
If you're wearing high heels or any type of tight fitting or uncomfortable shoes, this is causing unnecessary pressure and strain on the foot and possible fractures, worsening the severity of the condition. Find orthotic shoes that are designed to give you comfort and stability. The podiatrist can recommend shoes that will support your arch problems, stress fractures, or other bone concerns you could have.
Ice the Feet
Ice the feet to help reduce the swelling in tissues or ligaments. This should also help provide some pain relief. You also want to consider resting, compressing the air, and elevating the foot in the air. This is going to help until you can get to the podiatrist to see what's going on.
Ask Your Doctor for an X-Ray
Stress fractures should show up on an x-ray. Ask your family physician if they can order an x-ray, so you already have images to give the podiatrist when you go for your first appointment. The specialist may see right away that you have a bone problem, or they may want to order an MRI to get other images of ligaments, muscles and tendons.
If your feet are fine while you walk around and are on your feet all day, but have unbearable pain after you have gotten home and stopped walking, the delayed throbbing pain could be caused by a stress fracture. Don't ignore the pain in your feet or go any longer without treating the concern. For more information, contact Family Foot Center Podiatry Group Inc or a similar organization.
