Foot trauma, such as sprains and fractures, is one of the most common reasons New Yorkers come to the office of William Hansen, DPM. At his private practice in the Queens, New York neighborhood of Flushing, Dr. Hansen offers the highest-quality foot trauma care when you need treatment urgently. Book your appointment through the online scheduler or call the New York office today.
What is foot trauma?
Foot trauma is any sudden injury affecting your feet. Some of the most common traumatic injuries affecting the feet include:
Fractures
Fractures are bone breaks. You can fracture any of the bones in your feet, but the most common type of foot fracture is a phalanx fracture in your big toe. Fractures can range from nearly undetectable to severely painful.
Sprains
Sprains are ligament injuries. A sprain can involve either a stretch or a tear, but either can cause serious symptoms.
Strains
Strains are muscle or tendon injuries. A strain involves either overstretching or tearing, but as with sprains, it can be a painful injury.
Foot trauma often happens in accidents, but you can also experience a traumatic injury after a prolonged period of repetitive trauma or after aging causes weakening of your foot structures.
What are the symptoms of foot trauma?
Foot trauma symptoms usually include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Skin discoloration
- Appearance changes
- Difficulty bearing weight
- Weakness
In most cases, foot trauma symptoms begin very suddenly. If you continue to walk on your injured foot, you have a very high risk of severe long-term injury, so it’s vital that you see Dr. Hansen as soon as possible when symptoms start.
How do you treat fractures, sprains, and other foot trauma?
Foot trauma treatment depends on the kind of damage. If you injure your foot, put RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) into effect right away and call the office to arrange an appointment with Dr. Hansen immediately.
For fractures, sprains, strains, and other foot trauma, Dr. Hansen prescribes a variety of treatments that include:
- Splints
- Medication
- Custom orthotics
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with the CASCADE® Autologous Platelet System
- Surgical repair or reconstruction
- Physical therapy exercises
After any foot trauma, simply masking your symptoms with medication isn’t enough to solve the structural issues in your foot. You need to physically restore the foot to ease your pain and heal completely.
Dr. Hansen helps you to recover fully, and he does everything possible to minimize your risk of long-term pain and disability. He also suggests safeguards to help you avoid another injury of this type in the future.
When you experience foot trauma, you need a specialist who can skillfully restore your health and mobility. Call the office of William Hansen, DPM, or click the online appointment tool to get help for foot trauma now.