Foot tendinitis is an inflammation in the tendons of the foot. It is accompanied by pain in the posterior tibial tendon and is common in athletes and those who undergo large amounts of physical exertion. In general, the recurring pain is caused by an injury or overuse of the foot. Certain activities can lead to foot tendinitis, including standing continuously for a long period of time, performing physical activities on rough grounds, and negotiating steep hills.
Most of the time, foot tendinitis starts with paratendonitis — a swelling pain of the tendon’s outer cover. The tendon deteriorates, causing it to thicken. It then begins to weaken and can eventually result in a total tendon rupture.
A person with foot tendinitis will have a hot feeling on the affected foot. Pain will also be felt at the instep of the foot, particularly along the path of the tendon. Likewise, a stabbing pain will be felt on the arch of the affected foot when standing on the toes.
A person can treat foot tendinitis on his own. He should start by discontinuing the activity causing or exacerbating the tendinitis at once. He should then employ the R.I.C.E. treatment method. R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Someone with foot tendinitis needs to rest the foot, walking as little as possible and possibly using crutches to keep weight off the affected foot. An ice pack should be applied in the affected area for the next three days at two- to three-hour intervals for at least 20 minutes. During compression, a person must wrap his or her ankle starting from the bottom of the toes to the knee using an elastic bandage. When lying or sitting down, she should raise her affected foot above heart level.
A person can take anti-inflammatory drugs as part of the tendon treatment when necessary. The medication should be religiously maintained until the symptoms of foot tendinitis are gone. If the medications do not work and the symptoms become severe, a doctor must be seen for full diagnosis. A person may also be given cortisone injections or may even undergo surgery.
Preventing foot tendinitis is a lot easier than curing it. Staying in good physical condition will help a person stay away from a bad tendon condition. Regular exercise also helps to keep the tendons in tip-top form.