From the moment you get up in the morning until the time you go back to bed, your feet and ankles provide continuous support and movement. You use your foot and ankle the entire day, putting constant pressure on them, thereby making them prone to pain and injuries.
Foot and ankle injuries can occur during work-related tasks, falls, accidents, and sports and recreational activities. Most minor injuries can heal on their own with at-home treatments, but a disabling injury or chronic pain warrant a doctor’s attention.
Let’s talk about what your orthopedic doctor may advise you about foot and ankle injuries, and where you can go in Naples for outstanding joint care and arthritis treatment.
First Aid for an Injured Foot and Ankle
If you have injured your foot or ankle, note the following steps:
- If you have a fracture and the bone is protruding through the skin in the foot or ankle area, do not attempt to push it back or touch it. Go to the emergency room right away.
- In case of severe bleeding, elevate the area, apply pressure to stop the blood flow, and call 911.
- Do not put weight on an injured foot or ankle. Let the area rest so it can heal.
- If you are wearing anything tight around your injured foot or ankle (including a shoe), remove it carefully.
- If your foot or ankle injury is minor, rest the area and apply ice or heat therapy. Use ice to reduce pain and swelling, and use heat to reduce pain and stiffness. Do not apply heat to a swollen area, or you could exacerbate the swelling.
Self-Treatment Before Seeing an Orthopedic Doctor
You can take care of your injured foot and ankle by resting the area, applying ice (do not apply an ice pack directly onto the skin —wrap it in a towel first), wrapping the hurting foot or ankle with an ACE bandage (apply enough compression, but do not wrap it too tightly), and elevating your foot and ankle when sitting or lying down. This is the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).
If your foot pain and inflammation do not improve with these treatments, seek medical care soon by a podiatrist or an orthopedist.
Your Feet and Ankles Have Many Small Bones and Muscles
You may be surprised to know that your foot and ankle structure is not simple. Each foot alone has 26 tiny bones, more than 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles. Therefore, any of these structures can suffer an injury that can cause pain, stiffness, and immobility.
It is tempting to self-treat a foot injury, but this is best left to an experienced orthopedic doctor or a podiatrist. The physician knows how to address your injury without making it worse, and how to foster healing as quickly as possible.
Arthritis Increases Your Vulnerability for Foot and Ankle Injury
Millions of people in the United States have arthritis, which results in pain and inflammation – and can make you more susceptible to injury. Arthritis in the ankle joint is often ignored, but it can significantly affect your mobility.
The opposite is also true: An injury to the foot or ankle can lead to arthritis eventually. Your foot doctor can help treat the joint pain and alleviate its effects.
Foot and Ankle Injury Treatment in Naples, FL
If you have injured your foot or ankle and seek a lasting solution, visit us at the Joint Replacement Institute. Our board-certified doctors will diagnose your condition and prepare a customized treatment plan for you. We can also help you prevent further foot and ankle problems and complications.
If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment with an orthopedic doctor or a podiatrist, call us today at (239) 261-2663. You can also fill out our online appointment request form now. Let us help you get back to the activities you love!
