Inflammation: Acute
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- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
- Accessory Navicular Syndrome
- Common Disorders of the Achilles Tendon
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
- Ankle Arthritis
- Ankle Fractures
- Chronic Ankle Instability
- Ankle Pain
- Ankle Sprain
- Arch Pain
- Arch Supports
- Athlete's Foot
- Baseball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Basketball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Soft Tissue Biopsy
- Black Toenails
- Bone Healing
- Bone Infection
- Bone Tumors in the Foot
- Brachymetararsia
- Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus)
- Bursitis
- Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
- Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
- Calf Pain
- Callus
- Capsulitis of the Second Toe
- Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
- Charcot Foot
- Clubfoot
- Cold Feet
- Compartment Syndrome
- Contact Dermatitis
- Corns
- Cracked Heels
- Crutch Use
- Custom Orthotic Devices
- Cyst-Ganglion
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Dermatitis
- Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
- Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
- Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
- Diabetic Shoes
- Drop Foot
- Dry Heels
- DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
- Eczema of the Foot
- Equinus
- Extra Bones
- Fallen Arches
- Field Hockey Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
- Flatfoot-Adult Acquired
- Flatfoot-Flexible
- Flatfoot-Pediatric
- Flexible Flatfoot
- Foot Arthritis
- Foot Bumps
- Foot Drop
- Foot Fracture
- Foot Lumps
- Foot Odor
- Foot Rash
- Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Fracture-Ankle
- Fracture-Foot
- Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
- Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
- Fracture-Toe
- Frostbite
- Fungal Nails
- Ganglion Cyst
- Gangrene
- Golf Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Gout
- Haglund's Deformity
- Hallux Rigidus
- Hammertoes
- Heel Bone Fractures
- Heel Cracks
- Heel Fissures
- Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
- High-Arched Foot
- Inflammation: Actue
- Ingrown Toenails
- Instructions for Using Crutches
- Intermetatarsal Neuroma
- Intoeing
- Joint Pain in the Foot
- Joint Swelling in the Foot
- Jones Fracture
- Lacrosse Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Lumps
- Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
- MRSA Infection of the Foot
- Orthotics
- Os Trigonum Syndrome
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
- Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
- Osteopenia
- P.A.D. (Peripheral Arterial Disease)
- Pediatric Flatfoot
- Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Diabetic
- Peroneal Tendon Injuries
- Pigeon-toes
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Plantar Fibroma
- Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
- Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
- Puncture Wounds
- Rash
- Raynauds Phenomenon
- Restless Legs
- Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
- R.I.C.E Protocol
- Rugby Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Running and Track Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Running Injuries
- Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
- Shin Splints
- Shoe Inserts
- Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
- Smelly Feet
- Soccer Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Soft Tissue Biopsy
- Softball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Sports Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Staph Infections of the Foot
- Stress Fracture in the Foot
- Sweaty Feet
- Swollen Ankles
- Swollen Feet
- Synovitis
- Tailor's Bunion
- Talar Dome Lesion
- Tarsal Coalition
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tennis Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Thick Toenails
- Tingly Feet
- Tired Feet
- Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
- Toe Walking
- Turf Toe
- Ulcers/Wounds
- Varicose Veins
- Volleyball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
- Warts
- Weak Ankles
- Webbed Toes
- White Toenails
- Wounds/Ulcers
- Wounds-Puncture
- Yellow Toenails
What Is Acute Inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s normal protective response to an injury, irritation, or surgery. This natural “defense” process brings increased blood flow to the area, resulting in an accumulation of fluid. As the body mounts this protective response, the symptoms of inflammation develop. These include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Increased warmth and redness of the skin
Inflammation can be acute or chronic. When it is acute, it occurs as an immediate response to trauma (an injury or surgery), usually within two hours. When it is chronic, the inflammation reflects an ongoing response to a longer-term medical condition, such as arthritis.
Although inflammation can be caused by an infection, they are not the same and are treated differently. Your foot and ankle surgeon can best determine the cause of your inflamed tissue.
Treatment
To reduce inflammation and the resulting swelling and pain, injured tissue needs to be properly treated. The earlier you start treatment, the better.
Initial treatment for acute inflammation in the foot or ankle consists of RICE therapy:
- Rest: Stay off the foot or ankle. Walking may cause further injury.
- Ice: Apply an ice pack to the injured area, placing a thin towel between the ice and the skin. Use ice for 20 minutes and then wait at least 40 minutes before icing again.
- Compression: An elastic wrap should be used to control swelling.
- Elevation: The foot or ankle should be raised slightly above the level of your heart to reduce swelling.
Elevate the Leg Properly
In addition to the above measures, your foot and ankle surgeon may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, or another type of medication.
If Pain Persists or Becomes Worse
The symptoms of inflammation typically improve within two or three days. If your pain and discomfort do not improve after three days, call your doctor or go to an emergency room to determine whether a more serious problem exists.
As with any medical problem, it’s important that you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully regarding your injury or postoperative care.