Foot Pain Part 8
Flat Feet, High Arch, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, and Bunions

Flat feet or high arches are foot ailments too.

The Tunnel Syndrome can affect not only the hands, but the foot as well.

The condition is called Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.

Bunions, which are bumps or bulges developing on the inner side of the foot mostly near the base of the biggest toe, are another example of foot problem.

These are the three foot troubles that are to be discussed here.

Each of them will be fully described and their corresponding treatment will be listed so as to guide readers on what to do when they acquire the problem for whatever reason.

Flat Feet and High Arches

Flat foot is actually an abnormal condition in the structure of the foot bones. The foot bones maintain a very low angle, thereby it gives an appearance of a low arch on the foot, and sometimes, it seems that the arch is absent altogether.

High arches, on the other hand, are the opposite of flat feet. The foot arch extending from the ball of the foot to the heels is abnormally high in this condition.  High arched foot can either be inherited or acquired. It can develop due to another foot problem, such as hammertoes.

Flat footedness becomes a problem when it causes the ligaments, the muscles, and the tendons of the foot to improperly function or to be overworked easily that pain and cramping occurs often. For high arches, the problems won’t be felt until after the foot’s fatty pad begins to break down and will eventually cause some painful calluses to develop.

To treat flat feet, orthopaedic treatment is used. The shoes of the patient are also especially modified. Various support systems and devices are also employed to correct the problem. In some advanced cases, a surgery may be required to repair the tendon.

For the treatment of high arches, on the other hand, orthotics can be used. It is the process of using a wedge between the foot and the ground to improve the leg’s function. The other solutions to flat feet are also applicable when they are reversed. And just like the flat feet, surgery can sometimes solve the problem.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

The Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome occurs in the foot but it has a wrist counterpart. The condition arises when a nerve is strained within a cramped space. That space becomes too tight in the tunnel; and in this case, the tibial nerve is nipped.

People with this problem have a lack of sensation at the base of their foot. They also feel some burning and a tingling sensation at the underneath the foot and heel. This pain can even worsen as the day advances.

To treat the problem, arch supports can be used. These can successfully relieve the aches caused by the condition. Wider shoes are also recommended to people who have contracted the problem. NSAID medications are also prescribed by the doctors.

If all these fail, steroid injections can be done. Custom orthotics is also undertaken so that the foot’s natural arch will be restored. Surgical treatments may also come into play for the more advanced cases of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.

Bunions

These are foot ailments wherein the joint between the big toe and the foot becomes deformed. It is developed by the warping of the foot for a considerable amount of time, and in a gradual manner, as caused by the use of pointed shoes, especially during its growth phase.

To treat bunions, usually, the shift to use good shoes is the first step. A type of bunion appears only when tight-fitting shoes are used. For this case, the solution of wearing adaptive footwear is viable. Customized shoes or the wearing of orthopedic shoes may be the key to treatment.

But if that is not enough, or it did not bring about treatment at all, then a surgery may be in place. Foot surgeons will correct the problem by repairing the ligaments and the tendons around the big toe. Or they could remove the damaged joint surfaces altogether. Several other procedures can be undertaken by the healthcare professional as necessary.

These three-foot ailments can all be painful as they develop. It is then necessary that proper care of the feet should be carried out at all time. The process of selecting the shoes to use is important. Invest on a good pair of shoes that gives the most comfort to your valuable feet.