Have you started to experience some pain in your foot after increasing the amount of time you spend running each day? If so, you may have a stress fracture. These kinds of fractures often occur when a person uses their feet more often than usual, whether they are running, participating in a new exercise or even walking much more than they normally would. Instead of trying to deal with the pain, you can take action to receive treatment and get the relief you need.
Visit the Podiatrist for X-rays
Although you may have a good idea of what is wrong with your foot, it is crucial to have it checked out by a podiatrist who will take a set of X-rays to determine if there is really a fracture or not. Stress fractures are sometimes extremely small. If you are dealing with severe pain and the podiatrist does not see anything unusual on the X-ray, it may be necessary to do a CT scan. The CT scan provides an in-depth view of the foot at assorted angles, allowing the podiatrist to easily see what is wrong with your foot.
The type of treatment you will need depends solely on the severity of the fracture. The podiatrist may tell you to simply rest and keep your foot elevated. However, you may need to wear a cast for an extended period. Orthotic boot walkers are occasionally given to patients with fractures. The boot walkers keep the foot protected while allowing the patient to continue walking as they normally would without crutches.
Consider Eating Fruits and Vegetables That Promote Healing
If you are not eating properly and often consume only junk food, it may take longer for your injury to heal, and that means it will take even longer for you to get back to doing the things you love to do. Foods containing vitamin C are known to help with the healing process. There are plenty of foods that contain vitamin C. Some of the options include:
- Grapefruit
- Oranges
- Green Bell Pepper
- Cauliflower
- Mango
- Kale
These are just some of many fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C. You can even make a flavorful vitamin-packed smoothie by blending mango, oranges, grapefruit and kale together. As long as you are consuming some of these fruits and vegetables by eating them on their own or adding them to your meals, you may be able to heal from your injury a bit faster because your body will get the vitamin C that it needs.
A stress foot fracture is often uncomfortable and even quite painful. However, treatment options are available. You may need to see a podiatrist to confirm the injury and receive the right treatment based on the severity of your injury. In the meantime, you can promote healing by making sure you are getting enough vitamin C. To learn more, contact a podiatrist like Jeffrey M Marks DPM.
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