Make Pain a Thing of the Past – foot – Physician Partners of America

Tag Archive for: foot

Dr. Abraham Rivera of Florida Pain Relief Group Talks Best Ways to Handle Foot Pain

,

Interviewer: Not many body parts get beat up as much as our feet. Bone spurs, bunions, gout, none of this sounds pleasant. Dr. Abraham Rivera from Florida Pain Relief Group joins us now with ways we can fix these problems, and more. Dr. Rivera, good to have you back on Daytime.

Dr. Rivera: Thank you.

Interviewer: I’m happy to say I’ve never had a bone spur, but I’ve heard they’re horrible. Tell us what exactly is a bone spur and how can you help somebody fix that.

Dr. Rivera: The foot is a very complicated structure. It works, at the end of the day, like a bow and arrow. You have a surface that is made out of a tendon, which would be tantamount to the string on the bow and arrow. And you have bones that are bent, and the string keeps them bent. The places where the string attaches to the bones can grow bone spurs, and those can be very painful, especially when you put traction on that string, on that plantar fascia, which is the bottom of the foot.

Interviewer: What happened? Did the string let go or something? Is that why the bone spurs?

Dr. Rivera: The string is awfully hard so it doesn’t let go, but the string is constantly pulling on those bones. It’s kind of like you have a rope glued to a piece of drywall and you keep pulling on it. Eventually, the drywall kind of sticks out and protrudes out. That’s what happened. The bone spur grows out of the bone, literally. It causes pain every time you press on it and so forth.

Interviewer: What can you do to help somebody that has that?

Dr. Rivera: The first step, as I always tell my patients, is prevention. How’d you get here in the first place? Shoe wear.

Interviewer: Shoes, yeah. Bad shoes?

Dr. Rivera: I hate to tell you.

Interviewer: You’re looking down at my feet right now.

Dr. Rivera: You know, those things were not meant for walking around.

Interviewer: They’re not meant for human beings at all. They really aren’t.

Dr. Rivera: Correct, correct. They’re meant for TV anchors.

Interviewer: Exactly. And since you’re sitting, you’re fine.

Dr. Rivera: Adequate shoe wear. You have to have adequate arch support. And there’s a whole industry built around these things, from arch supports to orthopedic shoes. Truthfully, at the end of the day, go see your cobbler. It’ll cost you very little, and he will make you an arch support that really works in just about all the shoe wear you have, and get you the comfortable shoes that you really should be wearing.

Interviewer: Should be, definitely. Put vanity aside. Let’s talk about bunions.

Dr. Rivera: That is [inaudible 00:02:14].

Interviewer: Is that just because of shoes, or are some people predisposed to have bunions?

Dr. Rivera: Both of them are true. The first thing is ,yes, some people are more predisposed than others. But if you want to get one, buy pointy shoes. Absolutely, guarantee that will get you there.

Interviewer: So, you keep crunching those toes together, it causes the bone to stick out.

Dr. Rivera: Correct. It will. There’s only one way that can possibly happen, it’s pointy shoes.

Interviewer: Is there a topical cream that can help that, or do you need to have surgery to get that shaved down?

Dr. Rivera: Actually, you’d be surprised. Many times, again, by changing the shoe wear, taking the proper care of your feet, many of these things do not need surgery. Topical creams can be part of it, anti-inflammatory medication can be part of it, or we sometimes can inject the joints themselves.

Interviewer: What about gout? Because that’s really painful.

Dr. Rivera: Whole different monster. Now you’re dealing with a metabolic disease in which a patient doesn’t process well a substance called uric acid. This substance dissolves very poorly in the liquid of the joints. And for some reason, it prefers that big toe joint. When it does that, it becomes exquisitely painful. Patients describe to me that the sheets on their bed touching their feet drives them crazy.

Interviewer: Can you give people relief from that?

Dr. Rivera: Yes. We give them medications that decreases the amount of uric acid. Also, we can inject the joints to alleviate the acute pain. But finally, at the end of the day, we need to address the metabolic issue, the, “Why is it that this person is making so much uric acid?” Believe it or not, staying away from the food that contains that is cardinal on it. These people have to be on a diet.

Interviewer: There is relief out there. Dr. Rivera, thank you very much. You can even schedule a same-day appointment. Visit their website. It is floridapainreliefgroup.com. Or give them a call at (844) KICK-PAIN. Get relief today. Thank you again, doc.

Dr. Rivera: You’re welcome.

Interviewer: We’ll be right back.

/by

The Facts About Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is something that impacts millions of people each year. The University of Maryland Medical Center estimates that 60 to 80% of American adults experience lower back pain.

Back pain is the top cause of disability for Americans who are 45 years old and younger. It sends millions of people to the doctor each year and some of them end up with permanent damage.

With so many people going through lower back pain, it is important to understand some facts about the subject. Here are some things you should know:

Lower Back Pain Symptoms May Vary

Not all lower back pain has the same signs and symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of lower back problems include:

  • Lower back stiffness
  • A tender feeling in the lower back
  • Pain that moves to the legs or buttocks
  • Difficulty getting up or standing still for extended periods of time
  • Inability to get in a comfortable position while sitting
  • Pain or weakness in the lower back or legs while walking

Causes of Lower Back Pain Aren’t Always Obvious

Sometimes lower back pain is the result of something specific, like a car accident or an injury. However, there are also times when it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of your lower back pain.

It can sometimes get injured without you realizing it, a twist or strain that you may not notice right away. Other times it could be due to a disk injury, like a bulging disk or a ruptured disk. Lower back pain can be caused by arthritis or osteoporosis.

Tense muscles can be a factor of lower back pain. Kidney stones may cause lower back pain. For women, endometriosis or pregnancy could cause lower back pain. At times, lower back pain could even be a symptom of something more serious, like a tumor or an infection.

There are so many potential causes of lower back pain. This is why consulting a doctor when you have lower back pain can help you determine the exact cause and best treatment.

There are Certain Risk Factors for Lower Back Pain

Though lower back pain could happen to anyone, there are some people who may be more likely than others to have lower back pain. For example, women may be more likely than men to have lower back issues

Some risk factors for lower back pain include:

  • Older age
  • A family history of back pain,
  • Being a smoker
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Anxiety or depression
  • A physical job or lifestyle
  • A job or lifestyle that is sedentary

There are Plenty of Lower Back Pain Treatment Options

With so many potential causes of lower back pain, the right treatment can vary. Sometimes lower back pain can get better by simply improving your overall health. Strengthening your back with exercise and eating healthy may make your back pain improve. Sitting in a chair with proper back support can also help.

When the cause of your lower back pain is something more serious, it may require more in-depth treatment. This might include medication, physical therapy or even surgery.

Talk to a medical professional to figure out what the right treatment is for you.

/by