San Antonio Podiatrist Explains How To Enjoy Pregnancy Without Foot Pain

June 11, 2012 - PRLog -- (San Antonio, Texas, June 11, 2012) -- —“Oh my aching feet” is a phrase you hear often from pregnant women. But, are sore feet a symptom they just must deal with during pregnancy? According to San Antonio, Texas foot and ankle surgeon Eddie Davis, DPM, FACFAS the answer is “no.” There are many remedies available to help alleviate foot pain.  

Dr. Davis states women often experience foot pain during pregnancy because of increased weight, foot instability and swelling.  “In the last five years, I’ve seen an increase in pregnant women with foot pain because more women than ever before are active, even running marathons, during their pregnancies,” Dr. Davis says. He  recommends the following guidelines to help reduce foot pain during pregnancy.

Painful, Swollen Feet—Pregnant women often experience throbbing, swollen feet due to excess fluid build up (edema) in the feet from the weight and position of the baby. To reduce swelling, put feet up whenever possible, stretch legs frequently, wear wide comfortable shoes and don’t cross legs when sitting.

Arch Pain—Pain in the arch can be due to both arch fatigue or over pronation (or the flattening of the arch). Over pronation causes extreme stress to the ligament (the plantar fascia) that holds up the arch of the foot.  Levels of the hormone, relaxin, rise in the months preceding childbirth.   Relaxin softens the ligaments of the pelvis in order to allow the birth canal  widen but also affects the ligaments of the foot and ankle.   Additionally, weight gain and a change in the way the body weignt is carried significantly increases pressure on the feet. The best way to prevent arch pain is to stretch daily in the morning and before and after any exercise, don’t go barefoot and wear supportive low-heeled shoes.  There are now many good quality support sandals which accommodate feet which are swollen and in need of support.  Some common brands of such sandals include Aravon (New Balance), NAOT, Chaco, Keen, Orthoheel, Birkenstock.

Ingrown Toenails—Excessive stress from tightly-fitting shoes causes painful ingrown toenails. Give your feet a break: wear wider shoes or support sandals during the last trimester of pregnancy to avoid ingrown toenails. If you do experience an ingrown toenail, avoid attempting “bathroom surgery.” Repeated cutting of the nail can cause the condition to worsen over time. It is best to seek treatment with a foot and ankle surgeon.

Stress Fractures—Stress fractures are hairline fractures that occur, often in the metatarsals of the foot in response to excessive chronic repetitive strain.  The requirement for adequate foot support increases during pregnancy especially in active women.  Dr. Davis utilizes sonography (diagnostic ultrasound) to help diagnose metatarsal stress fractures as the test involves no radiation and can often pick up this diagnosis before other forms of diagnostic imaging.

It is also not uncommon for women to experience a change in their foot size during pregnancy. “A permanent growth in a women’s foot, up to half a size, can occur from the release of the same hormone, relaxin, that allows the pelvis to open to deliver the baby. It makes the ligaments in your feet more flexible, causing feet to spread wider and longer,” Dr. Davs adds.

Pregnancy and pending motherhood should be a joy. If foot pain persists, call Dr. Davis’s office at 210-490-3668. He can provide relief with conservative treatments such as physical therapy, foot orthotics, supportive shoes and minor toenail procedures.

For more information on foot and ankle conditions, visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ Web site FootHealthFacts.org or http://www.southtexaspodiatrist.com/