Our feet go through a lot. They get blisters and stubbed toes. They carry our weight day after day. They’re under such constant strain that you might dismiss foot pain you feel, assuming it will go away.
In some cases, you’re right. A lot of podiatric problems heal themselves if you give the foot proper rest and at-home care. There are some times, though, when you shouldn’t wait it out.
When you need urgent foot care, come see Christopher Vittori, DPM, and Ameet Thakrar, DPM, at Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist. At our offices in Homer Glen and New Lenox, Illinois, we can address fractures, diabetic ulcers, and more.
Here are a few signs your foot warrants a trip to our office — and soon.
If you hurt your foot, give it a physical scan. Can you see any changes in shape that weren’t there before? Maybe you have a new bump or your toe seems to be at a slight angle.
If that area is tender when pressed and your pain is severe, you very likely have a fracture. Getting urgent foot care means aligning the broken bone so it can heal properly, so don’t wait.
When you can’t walk normally, it’s a pretty clear indicator you have a serious foot injury at play. Getting prompt medical attention means two things.
First, it allows an expert to figure out what’s going on in your foot. Whether you have a fracture, a sprain, a strain, or inflammation, knowing what’s happening allows us to apply the right treatment. That helps us soothe any pain while supporting faster healing of the area.
Second, seeing us protects your mobility. With casts, braces, boots, splints, and more, we can protect the foot injury while still enabling you to move throughout your day.
It can be tricky to get injuries on your foot to heal. The constant friction from shoes and socks can reopen blisters and pull off scabs. Keep an eye on any openings you have in the skin of your feet and note any changes.
Slow-healing foot wounds could be a diabetic ulcer. Blood sugar problems can slow healing, making you more susceptible to infection. This is the primary driver behind diabetes-related amputations, so seek medical care as soon as you can. Our team specializes in diabetic foot care.
Even if the wound seems to be healing, watch out for the signs of infection. Those include:
If any of that sounds familiar, we can apply our wound care expertise to fight the infection.
Because your feet play such an important role in your mobility, it’s generally better to be safe than sorry. If you think you might need urgent foot care, call our team at Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist, or schedule the appointment online today.
