We would not stand, walk, run, or move much at all without the use of our feet. When our feet get injured, our entire lives get impacted, from our ability to work and do our jobs to enjoying our time spent with family. Both chronic and acute foot problems can considerably lower the quality of our lives.
We know how valuable your feet are to your livelihood, and at Pain Stop MD, we strive to get your feet as healthy as possible so that you can live without the debilitating worry of chronic pain. We serve Dallas area workers, including those from Waco, Ennis, and Denton at our full-service clinic.
Our board-certified physician and staff sees all sorts workers who’ve sustained injuries, including:
- Postal workers
- Construction workers
- Office workers and clerks
- Jail and prison workers
- TSA employees
- Registered nurses
- Forest service employees
- Compliance officers
Our clinic can provide you with consultations, second opinions, and many other services to help you through your struggle with chronic pain after accidents and repetitive motion injuries. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our doctor or learn more about our clinic’s services.
Common Ankle and Foot Injuries On the Job
Acute and overuse injuries are the two main types of injuries in the workplace. The overuse ones occur over time, generally from repeated motions, while the acute ones occur after a singular incident or accident. We’ve listed some of the most common incidents in the workplace below.
- Sprained ankle or foot. When ligaments in the foot area get stretched or torn, sprains occur. Sprained ankles or feet are some of the most common, causing pain, swelling, and redness. They can be healed with ice, elevation, and rest, but employees will still often miss several days of work. Occasionally, the workers require pain management and physical therapy.
- Broken foot or ankle. With 26 different bones in the foot, it’s not unlikely that one of them gets broken while working, especially in jobs which workers are on their feet most of the day. Breaks and fractures in the foot should be treated very carefully so that patients don’t suffer from long-term issues, such as nerve damage or chronic pain.
- Stress fractures. Stress fractures are some of the most common fractures, and consist of tiny breaks or bruising on the bone that causes pain and makes movement difficult. Athletes and runners most commonly experience them, but they can also affect workers. Treatment ranges from pain management to surgery.
- Plantar fasciitis. This injury occurs when the band of tissue that connects the heel to the toe becomes inflamed, causing chronic pain. The treatments for plantar fasciitis range include shoe inserts, pain medication, rest, physical therapy, and surgery. Also known as policeman’s foot, about 80 percent of people with heel pain suffer from this condition.
- Bruised heel. A soft tissue injury, this occurs when there is a contusion on the fat pad of the heel. Workers who walk the majority of their day often suffer from bruised heels, such as postal workers and police officers. Rest and tape can be used to help heal and a gait analysis should be done to help prevent them in the future.
- Tendonitis. The swelling of a tendon, tissue that connects muscle to bone, in the foot and ankle is known as tendonitis. Achilles tendonitis, in the ankle, and extensor tendonitis, in the foot, are the two most common forms of this injury. Treatment consists of pain management and pinpointing the cause of inflammation to stop swelling.
- Dislocated toe. Workers commonly suffer from dislocated toes, much like sprained and broken toes. Having a doctor examine your dislocated toe is important so that it can be safely put back into the right place. Rest, ice, and pain management are used to treat the injury after.
Why Workplace Ankle and Foot Injuries Happen
Let’s take a closer look why foot and ankle incidents happen at work.
Acute. These injuries occur because of one single, isolated incident, often resulting in an immediately painful health condition. Most are caused by falls, heavy machinery, car accidents, and trips. Acute injuries can occur in almost any work setting, even in office buildings.
Overuse. Workers who spend their day doing the same repetitive motion, or are on their feet the entire day, are at risk of harming their ankles, feet, heels, and toes. It occurs most often when employees do not wear proper footwear, or when they are overworked. Common overuse injuries include tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, bruised heels, and stress fractures, which all need immediate medical attention.
Preventing Foot and Ankle Health Problems At Work
While some incidents can’t be avoided, many of them can be prevented through the efforts of both employees and employers. Preventing involved participation from both the employer and employees.
Here are some steps to take in order to prevent incidents in the workplace:
- Find the right footwear for your job. Different occupations require different footwear. Make sure the footwear you wear is the proper footwear for your job. Nurses and construction workers shouldn’t wear the same shoe to work, and wearing the proper footwear can help prevent incidents.
- Know your gait. Everybody walks a little bit differently. Make sure to know how your foot is supposed to fit in your footwear to better keep you from injury in the workplace.
- Practice the right technique. Train yourself in the proper techniques to perform your job, and make sure your employer is taking every step to provide a safe work environment through proper training. Incorrect techniques can lead to overuse injuries, especially when repeated on a daily basis.
- Get help early. Don’t wait to go to a doctor if you feel like you may have sustained an injury at work. Injuries often don’t resolve themselves, and medical help will get you on the path to a speedy and complete recovery.
Successful Treatment
Getting your job done can be nearly impossible with a foot or ankle injury. Quick and thorough treatment for acute and chronic health issues is imperative to successful treatment.
We offer a full range of treatments for foot and ankle injuries at Pain Stop MD, including:
- Pain management and medication
- Physical therapy and physiotherapy
- Steroid injections
- Surgery
Our board-certified doctor will help you find a suitable treatment plan after tests and diagnosis. These plans generally start with non-narcotic medication and non-invasive procedures, progressing with the severity of your injury.
Contact Pain Stop MD Today About Your Foot Or Ankle Injury
Our team at Pain Stop MD can help you get back on your feet so you can both work and enjoy your life without pain. We may be able to assist you, even if you feel like you’ve exhausted every medical route to recovery. As a work injury medical clinic, our experience helps us deal with work injuries and workers’ compensation claims so we can guide you through the recovery process.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our doctor, or to learn about the services we provide.