Lateral foot pain is simply the pain felt at the lateral part of the feet. Our feet are divided into three sections, the forefoot, the mid foot, and the heel of the foot. There are also three arches that make up the feet, the lateral or the outer part, the transverse arch and the medial arch. All these parts and sections play a vital part when determining the cause of pain when you feel it.
One example of lateral foot pain is the chronic lateral ankle pain. Chronic pain on the ankle often occurs after suffering from an injury. This pain is literally termed as chronic due to the fact that it can be felt for at least six consecutive months right after certain injury. The symptoms for of this condition are stiffness, redness, pain and swelling on the outside part of the ankle. There is also difficulty in walking due to intense pain and repeated cases of ankle sprains.
Usually the cause of chronic lateral ankle pain is an ankle sprain. But there are also causes like inflammation of the joints and tendons. Cases like arthritis on the ankle joint and fracture on the bones affecting the ankle joint may also contribute to lateral foot pain. Prolonged standing or walking, wearing high heeled shoes, and obesity can lead to foot problems. Hiking and jogging without wearing the proper footwear also leads to foot pain.
Foot pain can be treated by taking anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin so as to help with swelling and pain. In taking any medicines consult first your physician. Foot orthotics can help in foot and ankle pain. These are devices that help in the recovery of the foot and ankle by acting as impact absorbers and lessen the force applied on foot. It is capable of changing the force applied to the foot thus reducing the stress on it. It also changes the foot and ankle alignment for recovery. Lateral foot pain can be remedied by cutting activities that put too much pressure as well as the immobilization of the injured part is also advised so as to aid in healing.