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, according to Dr. Joseph Menn.
"Unfortunately many seniors believe it’s normal to have pain as you get older, but nothing could be further from the truth," said Dr. Menn. "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," said Dr. Menn. "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."
Dr. Menn said 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, Dr. Menn advised that taking ibuprofen or aspirin and doing daily stretching exercises usually provide some relief. But if heel pain persists more than two weeks, he recommends a consultation with a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
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, according to Dr. Menn. "  Orthotics provide a cushion and support that help reduce inflammation and stress in the heel area."
New non-invasive shockwave procedures have an  85% effectiveness for heel pain that does not respond to conservative care and results in no down time.  A patient is back in shoes and regular activities the next day.  There are also endoscopic procedures that are highly effective with minimal down time.
 Dr. Joseph Menn is in practice with Dr. Scott Hamilton, Dr. Scott Werter and Dr. Jordanna Baker of Coastal Podiatry Associates.  Coastal Podiatry has 4 locations to serve you.  For more information contact us at 843-449-8079 or visit us at www.coastalpodiatry.com.