Foot Pain Q & A

What’s Causing My Foot Pain?

The answers to what causes foot pain can number in the hundreds. In the feet alone there are twenty-six bones each. This means there are fifty-two possible causes of foot pain just in the bones. Other issues that can create foot pain can be problems like diabetic nerve pain, spinal stenosis, a slipped or herniated disc in the back, a sprained ankle, sciatica, or many issues that affect the nervous system.

Problems with the spine can be the culprit for any number of pains throughout the body. The spine is the central junction of the nervous system, where every signal to and from the brain and the rest of the body travels.

What are some common foot pain conditions?

Some of the most common foot pain conditions that chiropractors treat include:

• Heel pain in the plantar fascia, or the connective tissues in the bottom of feet
• Achilles tendonitis, or inflammation of the tendon that connects the heel to the leg
• Feet that are flat or have other arch problems

How Can I Diagnose the Cause of Foot Pain?

Diagnosing foot pain requires extensive and thorough physical examination. Sometimes the problems patients face do not originate in their feet at all, but in the back or another area of the body and injury to the nerves radiates into the feet. Other times, the problems are with posture or over-stressing on the patient’s feet.

The chiropractor will perform a complete and thorough examination to determine where the origin of the pain lies. When this is done, they will work with the patient to develop a means of treatment tailored to the patient’s individual needs.

This could involve a variety of approaches to healing, including special exercises, spinal and joint adjustments, physical therapy, custom shoes or inserts, or a wide variety of other treatments designed to alleviate pain and restore function and flexibility as well as strength.

To treat pain in the feet and to pursue a whole-body approach to restoring health, contact Dr. Adam Church at Atlas Chiropractic in East Haven, CT, for an appointment today.

What Causes Lower Back Pain?

Back pain can be caused by a range of ailments and injury, by overuse resulting in soft tissue injuries, sprains, and strains, or bone fractures. It can be caused by herniated discs, by osteoarthritis in the spine, or by rare conditions like spondylitis, bacterial infections, and tumors.

Understanding the cause of lower back pain requires a thorough examination which may include CT, MRI, or other scans. Only when the cause of the ailment is clear can treatment begin.
What Symptoms Should Patients Not Ignore?

Any pain is a sign that something is wrong but some symptoms are certainly indicators of a more severe condition than others. Those who experience weakness in their extremities, whether it’s the legs, arms, or face, should see a doctor immediately. If the back pain radiates into the chest, the patient should immediately seek medical assistance.

Tenderness and pain in the rear lower leg could mean a potentially fatal blood clot. If back pain is causing respiratory troubles, the patient should seek medical assistance right away. All of these could be related to back problems or could indicate serious ailments like stroke or heart attack.
How Can a Chiropractor Help?

Chiropractors specialize in injuries to the back, spine, and nervous system. They engage in highly effective non-invasive treatments of musculoskeletal and nervous disorders. By treating the areas where the pain originates (which may not be where the patient feels the pain), they alleviate the injury, allowing patients to improve strength and mobility, and restore their health and wellness.

Treatment by a chiropractor will usually involve spinal manipulation, but can also involve specialized physical therapy and exercise routines custom-tailored to the individual needs of the patient. By setting goals for recovery and preventative efforts, a chiropractor can not only restore the health of a patient but can help to avoid further illness and injury in the future.