Flatfoot
Having flatfeet can be very painful. Having flatfeet is a very complex deformity that can lead to diverse symptoms and varying degrees of deformity and pain. There are many different types of flatfeet, but they have one thing in common, collapse of the medial arch. A flatfoot can also lead to bunions, hammertoes, hallux rigidus and much more.
Symptoms of a flatfoot include the following:
- Pain in the arch, heel, ankle or along the outside of the foot
- An ankle that appears rolled in when standing
- Shin splints
- General aching or soreness of the feet
- Lower back, hip or knee pain
Conservative Treatment Options
If you have any of the above symptoms, some conservative options are:
- Activity modification – take a break from any activities that cause or aggravate your pain
- Shoe gear modification – wearing good supportive shoes is critical when you have flatfeet, because your shoes need to help support your arch
- Orthotics – in combination with good shoes, you need orthotics to help support your arch
- Anti-inflammatory medication – topical and oral anti inflammatory medication can help ease pain caused by flatfeet.
- Physical Therapy – PT can be used to address the biomechanical causes of your flatfeet and help you with your treatment plan
Surgical Treatment Options
If conservative treatment options fail, surgical intervention can be offered. Surgical intervention depends on the severity and level of deformity of your flatfoot.
If you have painful flatfeet, make an appointment to be evaluated today. Call 847-380-3700