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Foot and Ankle Problems Affecting Seniors
Aging Doesn’t Cause Foot Pain
Treatments Keep Seniors Active and Pain Free
Senior citizens with foot pain can do something about it. Instead of abiding by the faulty but commonly accepted notion that muscle and joint discomfort is a natural consequence of aging, seniors with foot problems should seek treatment rather than needlessly endure pain that will deprive them of an active lifestyle.
Unfortunately many seniors believe it’s normal to have pain as you get older, but nothing could be further from the truth. As a result, they usually don’t seek treatment for painful abnormalities, such as bunions, which are caused by genetic defects – not old age – and can be corrected with surgery and a short recovery period.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that bunion surgery is more than 80 percent successful in relieving pain. In older patients, bunions are very debilitating because these deformities worsen and become more painful over time. Given the outstanding success rate of corrective forefoot surgery, there’s no reason for any senior to be debilitated by bunions. Further, the adverse health implications of being inactive are far more serious than any risk associated with surgery.
Seniors who are avid walkers frequently have heel pain, especially if they’ve been relatively inactive in the winter months. For those experiencing this problem taking ibuprofen or aspirin and doing daily stretching exercises usually provide some relief. But if heel pain persists more than two weeks, a consultation with a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon for definitive diagnosis and treatment is recomended.
Chronic heel pain originates deep within the foot, directly on the heel or within the bone’s connective tissues, called the fascia. Pain can result when fascia become irritated or inflamed or when small spurs grow on the heel bone. In the large majority of cases, persistent heel pain can be treated successfully with orthotics,. Orthotics provide a cushion and support that help reduce inflammation and stress in the heel area.
In situations when conservative treatment fails, outpatient surgical procedures are effective. Surgery for heel pain doesn’t require a long recovery period and it permanently relieves the source of pressure on the heel bone. The most common surgical procedures involve removal of the fascia and spurs from the heel bone. Three or four weeks of physical therapy generally follow heel surgery and full recovery takes six to eight weeks.
Repair Crossover Toe to Stay Active
Crossover toe is a common foot problem that can inhibit physical activity for older Americans, but outpatient surgery can correct the deformity and keep senior citizens active and on their feet.
Individuals with hammertoes, bunions or a second toe that extends beyond the big toe are most susceptible to developing crossover toe as they age. It’s a common problem among older people in which the second toe gradually moves across the big toe. It can be painful and, therefore, difficult to walk comfortably or pursue an active lifestyle.
The first symptom of crossover toe is pain in the ball of the foot caused by a tear in the underlying joint capsule (plantar plate), fostering instability that allows the second toe to fall out of alignment and eventually drift. Doctors normally check the ball of the foot for a possible plantar-plate tear when an older patient complains of pain in the area. Pre-existing forefoot problems combined with normal wear and tear or possible trauma can cause the plate to tear over time.
Pain in the ball of the foot is the first warning sign indicating the second toe might crossover and eventually limit the activity of an older patient. If the pain persists and the toe starts to drift, surgery is recommended to suture the plantar plate or replace it through a tendon-transfer. Surgery to correct crossover toe is an outpatient procedure performed with a local anesthesia. Patients with bunions or hammertoes are advised to have those deformities corrected during the surgery. Recovery time is about six weeks.
Given the downstream cardiovascular health risks associated with physical inactivity in older patients, we strongly advise those with persistent pain in the ball of the foot and anyone who has developed crossover toe to seek treatment and not let the problem restrict their ability to stay active.
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