We often tend to ignore minor aches and pains hoping they’ll resolve on their own. While this might be true for some fleeting discomforts, certain foot conditions, especially the ones we treat at Your Next Step Podiatry, require professional attention.

Not only is it necessary to treat these persistent issues, but ignoring them can lead to further complications, chronic pain, and even impaired mobility.

Why Certain Conditions Don’t Just Go Away

Our feet endure constant weight-bearing stress with every step, making the foot’s multiple tiny bones vulnerable to repetitive strain and injury. Underlying biomechanical issues, such as imbalances in foot structure or function, can also contribute to persistent problems, making it impossible for them to go away.

Despite knowing this, people often neglect early signs of foot problems, and go about wearing ill-fitting shoes, pushing their feet too far in athletics, and overall exacerbating existing conditions.

Foot Conditions Requiring Immediate Medical Intervention

• Open wounds or infections: Any open wound on the foot, especially in individuals with diabetes or compromised circulation, requires prompt medical care to prevent serious infections.
• Severe pain or swelling: Sudden onset of intense pain or swelling, especially after an injury, could indicate a fracture, dislocation, or other serious conditions.
• Signs of nerve damage or circulatory issues: Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the feet can signal heart or organ complications, which require timely intervention.

Foot Issues that Worsen If Left Untreated

Some foot problems, though they may seem minor at first, can worsen over time without proper care. Plantar fasciitis, for example, causes heel pain due to inflammation in the band of tissue along the bottom of the foot.

Bunions, hammertoes, and other deformities are bone abnormalities, which cannot simply disappear. Similarly, chronic ankle instability (marked by recurring sprains) is a condition constantly challenged by the daily demands of the foot and ankle.

These conditions often result from biomechanical imbalances, repetitive stress, or improper footwear, and ignoring them can lead to chronic pain, gait abnormalities, and difficulty with everyday activities.

Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, Dr. Aliza V. Eisen, and Dr. Cassandra Stache are eager to assist with all your foot and ankle problems. Solidify your appointment and contact us today!