When you’re dealing with a new foot or ankle injury, you want to effectively treat the condition so that the issue resolves and never returns. However, if you ignore proactive treatment or pursue the wrong types of treatment, the problem may become chronic or rear its ugly head again in the future. Let Dr. McDonald and his team put your foot issue to bed once and for all. In today’s blog, we spotlight five foot and ankle conditions that are likely to return if you don’t effectively treat them the first time around.

Recurring Foot Injuries

If you’re dealing with any of these foot or ankle injuries, make sure that you take treatment seriously, otherwise they may persist, worsen or come back later in life.

• Ankle Sprains – Tens of thousands of Americans sprain their ankle every single day, and most people don’t think sprains are all that significant of an injury. On the surface, they may not be, but a sprain involves damage to the supportive ligaments in your ankle joint. These ligaments provide support to your ankle complex, and if they remain damaged or weakened, you’ll be at a heightened risk for subsequent sprains or more significant injuries, like an ankle fracture. Don’t try to simply walk off an ankle sprain, make sure you are pursuing RICE and then gradually work to strengthen the area with physical therapy exercises.
• Bunions – Bunions are another issue that can return if you don’t follow the right treatment plan. As we talk about in this blog, you can’t just fall back into bad habits after a bunion has been surgically addressed. You’ll need to reevaluate your footwear choices, consider investing in custom orthotics and possibly lose a little weight to take additional strain off your feet.
• Plantar Fasciitis – Plantar fasciitis is an oftentimes painful condition caused by inflammation of the thick band of tissue that connects your heel to your toes. This tissue is known as the plantar fascia, and it can become inflamed or damaged as a result of acute trauma or repetitive stress. Conservative treatment can be effective at managing the condition, but oftentimes professional oversight is helpful because patients can end up rushing back to physical activities before the inflammation has fully resolved, causing it to flare back up. Patience is key when it comes to plantar fasciitis treatment, and many patients don’t have it!
• Ingrown Toenails – Ingrown toenails tend to develop due to poor footwear choices, especially if you regularly put your feet into shoes that are too tight or that have a narrow toe box. This can affect the forces of stress on your toes and alter the growth plane of your nail, causing it to grow into the skin. Don’t fall back into the same habits that led to ingrown toenail onset in the first place after you’ve addressed it the first time. Wear roomier shoes and avoid cutting your nails down too low or rounding the corners when performing some toenail maintenance.
• Gout – A final condition that we want to spotlight is gout, which occurs when uric acid buildup in our bloodstream crystalizes, and these crystals end up irritating the soft tissues in your joints. The most common spot for this joint irritation to occur is in your big toe. Gout oftentimes has its roots in poor dietary habits, so improving your diet and limiting your alcohol intake can work wonders for your feet. Exercise also helps your body filter out this uric acid so it’s less likely to cause problems for your joints, so get up and get moving to put an end to gout.

If you’re dealing with any of these conditions, or you want help overcoming a different foot or ankle injury, reach out to Dr. McDonald and his team today at (860) 244-8889.