How your foot and ankle specialists in Pismo Beach, California can help you and your feet feel better.
If you have flat feet, you already know it can be painful. Just standing and walking around can cause pain. Doing activities or playing sports can be next to impossible. The good news is, your podiatrist can help.
The podiatrists at Five Cities Foot & Ankle offer comprehensive foot care services to help you and your feet feel better. They have two convenient office locations in Pismo Beach, and Santa Maria, California.
Sometimes you may have flat feet and not have any symptoms, so you may not need treatment. In many cases, flat feet can cause pain in your feet, and you may have fatigue in your ankles and legs too.
You may have flat feet if you:
- Have flattened arches
- Feel pain in your arches or heel
- Feel foot pain that increases when you are active
- Have pain and swelling on the inside of your ankle
There are a few risk factors for flat feet, including:
- Being older or diabetic
- Being overweight or obese
- Having rheumatoid arthritis
- Having an injury to your ankle or foot
There are a few simple steps you can try to limit the discomfort of flat feet. Remember to:
- Maintain a healthy weight to limit the stress on your feet
- Switch to low impact sports like swimming, instead of high impact sports like running or jogging
- Take frequent rest breaks and elevate your feet
- Place ice packs on your feet several times each day
- Take over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medication
For stubborn, moderate to severe pain caused by fallen arches, your podiatrist may recommend:
- Custom-fit supports, wedges, and orthotics
- Wearing foot braces or taping your feet
- Stretching and physical therapy
- Ice and moist heat packs
- Prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medication
There are also surgical solutions for flat feet if your pain is severe and not helped by non-invasive treatments. Surgical therapy repairs damaged tendons and ligaments to restore your normal foot function.
You can get relief from flat feet by calling the podiatrists at Five Cities Foot & Ankle in Pismo Beach, and Santa Maria, California at (805) 481-9100. Call today and help your feet feel better.