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# 10 Why Does the Top of My Foot Swell? 10 Most Common Questions Asked of a Foot Dr

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Running injuries -Why does the top of my foot swell the more I’m on it?

Foot Swell

Common Running Injuries

1)  Foot & Ankle Running Injuries that cause the foot swell.

a)  Stress Fractures: s problems such as this tends to make the foot swell worse during the day, the more you are on it.

b)  Tendonitis: One of the overuse injuries that tends to be worst in the morning.

c)  Bone tumors: disease can cause a change

2) Venous Insufficiency causing Foot Swell

3) Foot Swell from Medication Side-Effects

Some medications can cause fluid-retention as a side effect leading to swollen feet and ankles.  The most common medications causing this are:

a)  Anti-Inflammatories: e.g. steroids and NSAIDs
b)  Hormone Drugs: e.g. contraceptives
c)  Antidepressants: e.g. tricyclics such as amitriptyline
d)  Diabetes drugs: e.g. Avandia & Actos
e)  Blood-Pressure Medications: e.g. calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine and nifedipine

4) Foot Swell from Blood Clot/DVT

5) Pregnancy

6) Medical Conditions

a)  Heart Problems: Such as congestive heart failure and high blood pressure.

b)  Kidney Problems: One of the important functions of the kidneys is to remove excess fluid from the body.

c)  Liver Disease: https://spiderandvaricoseveintreatment.com/how-to-achieve-healthy-legs/

d)  Gout: With gout, high levels of uric acid cause crystals to form in joints such as the big toe.  This leads to inflammation of the joint leaving it swollen, red, hot and very painful.

e)  Arthritis:

7)  Cellulitis

8)  Prolonged Inactivity

9)  Lymphedema

Treatment to consider if the condition gets worse

Generally, doctors only consider surgery for severe cases that don’t improve after 1½ months of noninvasive treatments. Your healthcare professional might advise taking corticosteroid shots if you haven’t had any success with nonsurgical treatments for several weeks. Shots may reduce pain, but the improvement is often only short-term. Additionally, the shots themselves can be quite painful. Repeated shots can lead to permanent damage in the plantar fascia and heel pad.

Can Allergies Make Your Feet Swell?

Yes, one of the most common symptom of allergies is swelling, so it’s possible to have swellings because of allergies. This happens because:

  1. Allergic Reactions To Food and Medications: People can experience swelling in their feet or other parts because of eating the food they are allergic to. In most cases, people aren’t aware that they are allergic to the food, but if you know you should avoid such foods at al cost. That’s why it’s a good idea to inform your doctor about your allergies, they will adjust your medications according to that.
  2. Insect Bites or Stings: Insect bites and stings can cause allergic reactions, especially if you are sensitive, so walking barefoot in open areas or grasses won’t be a great idea at all.

How Do I Know I Should I Be Concerned About Swollen Feet?

While you can go whenever you feel like, if you notice the following reasons then going to a doctor is a must:

  1. Sudden Appearance: If the swellings have appeared out of nowhere and you have no idea where they might have come from then your concern is good.
  2. Severe Pain: Swelling accompanied by pain can be uncomfortable, and if it worsens over then there’s something you must do about it in order to live pain free.
  3. Persistent Swelling: Normally, the swelling should go away after some rest, but if it doesn’t Or keeps returning then it’s a part of concern that you should be worried about.
  4. Difficulty in Walking: Walking is one of the most important thing for a human and if swelling interferes with your ability to walk then there’s something wrong, plus it can alter your gait, which might cause strain in other body parts.
  5. Redness and Warmth: This usually means infection, so you better be concerned.

Avoid These Inflammation-causing Foods

As much as you can, try to avoid or minimise these foods:

white bread and pastries are examples of refined carbs.

fried dishes such as french fries

soda and more sweetened drinks

Red meat (steaks and hamburgers) and processed meat (hot dogs, sausage)

Shortening, lard, and margarine

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