Bursitis in the Foot

Bursitis is a very common foot condition that can cause pain and discomfort with every step. Bursitis can occur in the toe joints, the side of the foot, the heel and around the ankle. Although there is only a small number of bursae that occur naturally in the foot, the body creates more bursae in areas where pressure and friction of great. As we walk, run or jump, the ground surface and the shoes we wear play an important role in how much trauma our feet experience. Every step can cause a small amount of damage to a particular area in the foot which can increase the risk of bursitis.

Bursae in the Plantar and Toes

Since the feet take such a tremendous load as we go about our daily tasks, there are several points in the foot that can develop bursitis due to added pressure and rubbing. The main bursae in the foot that become affected by bursitis include the metatarsal bursa, the metatarsophalangeal bursa, and the calcaneal bursa, however, other bursae can develop and become inflamed where the foot requires excess cushioning.

The metatarsal bursa is located at the base of the toes on the bottom of the foot. This bursa can be irritated when one metatarsal bone takes more load than the others. When this happens, the soft tissue between the bone and the skin becomes compressed and inflammation in the bursa can begin. Walking barefoot on a hardwood or tiled floor without cushioning will increase pain noticeably due to the direct pressure on the metatarsal bursa.

Bursitis can occur on the top of the toes as well. Those suffering from conditions like hammertoe often develop bursitis as a secondary condition. An abnormal toe joint can cause excessive rubbing against shoes. The constant rubbing will make the toe tender, swollen and red as bursitis sets in. Wearing shoes is painful and even the pressure from wearing socks can cause pain and discomfort.

Intermetatarsal bursitis occurs when the tiny bursa between the toes (metatarsals) become compressed. Tight and narrow shoes can be the cause, however, it can occur naturally as we age and the arches in our feet begin to flatten. As the arches fall, the metatarsals put more pressure on the bursae that separate the toes. In this situation, swelling is rare but the pain usually travels right up to the toes. Wearing wider shoes and supports in your shoes can decrease the pressure on the bursae and help to alleviate pain.

The metatarsophalangeal bursa is located on the inner part of the foot near the big toe. This bursa is a common spot for bursitis to develop as it is where a bunion (enlarged metatarsal bone) causes excess rubbing. Naturally, a bursa by a bunion can become inflamed with the excess friction in the area. Patients suffering from bursitis in the metatarsophalangeal bursa often have difficulties finding shoes that do not exacerbate the pain and sometimes resort to open shoes that do not cover the painful bursa.

At the bottom of the heel lies the calcaneal bursa. Bursitis is common in this bursa due to the thinning of the fat pad in the heel over time. The micro-trauma the heel undergoes with every step eventually becomes too much and the bursa becomes inflamed. This type of bursitis can be difficult to treat due to the constant pressure on the heel. Without proper rest and ultrasound therapy, bursitis may become a chronic problem in the heel. Heel cushions and prescription orthotics with extra foam in the heel can help to relieve the pressure but as with these other types of foot bursitis, cold compression and ultrasound therapy are recommended for a faster recovery and to prevent bursitis from becoming a life long nuisance.

Foot pain is often difficult to diagnose as it can be any number of conditions. Morton’s neuroma and metatarsalgia are 2 conditions that are often mistaken for bursitis. Whenever you experience foot pain, be sure to see your doctor. He or she will discuss your symptoms and run some diagnostic tests to discover what is contributing to your pain so he can prescribe proper treatment.

Foot Bursitis Treatments

Relieving the symptoms of bursitis initially focuses on taking the pressure off the bursa. This can be done with proper cushioning, inserts, or footwear but may require surgery if it is a bone formation problem (i.e. Huglund's Deformity). If your bursitis is caused by an infection (septic bursitis), the doctor will probably drain the bursa sac with a needle and prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

For non-infectious bursitis, the preliminary treatment starts with non-operative options such as ultrasound thereapy, cold therapy and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™. Surgery to remove the inflamed bursa is normally not required for bursitis, however if you fail to see improvement with the conservative treatments, your physician may recommend surgery to remove the bursa completely. Although this removes the problem of an inflamed bursa, you are left with less cushioning in your joint which can lead to a host of other conditions.

The most important factor in healing bursitis is resting your foot. This can be difficult when you have to carry on with daily activities, but resting and elevating your foot whenever you can is recommended. During your recovery you will probably have to modify or avoid the activities that stress your bursa until your pain and inflammation settle.

Treatments should involve decreasing swelling, relieving pain and stress on the foot, correcting any biomechanical dysfunction (over-pronation or flat feet), treating scar tissue, and then restoring strength and movement. If you are performing an activity that could cause further trauma to the bursa, it is recommended that you protect the area with padding and/or proper footwear to prevent further irritation or damage.

Freezie Wrap^® Cold Therapy

The R.C.C.E. Treatment Philosophy. This treatment philosophy is used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain of bursitis quickly when it is inflamed and painful.

• Rest and limit your activity, to decrease swelling and minimize further inflammation in the subcutaneous calcaneal bursa and/or retrocalcaneal bursa.
• Cool the area of the inflamed bursa to help reduce blood flow and fluid build up.
• Compress the area if possible by adding light pressure to minimize swelling (make sure the wrap is snug, but not too tight as it could cause numbness, tingling or more pain).
• Elevate your foot to relieve the pressure from swelling and allow fluid to drain from your foot.

Applying cold to your inflamed bursa will help decrease the swelling and redness around it. Cold compression therapy will also help to numb the pain in your heel and help to control the inflammation.

Cooling the subcutaneous calcaneal bursa and/or retrocalcaneal bursa as needed throughout the day, for approximately 15 - 20 minutes at a time, is recommended.

The cold compression Freezie Wrap^® can be used to apply cold in a safe, convenient and effective way - and the gel pack is reusable. Only the Freezie Wrap^® gel pack is charged in the fridge. This means the cooling temperature of the gel pack will not cause cold burns, or cryoburn, on your skin like ice or freezie charged gel packs can. You can also treat yourself for longer periods of time so you get lasting pain relief.

The wrap is soft and adjustable so it fits your foot properly, without irritating the bursa, and allows you to adjust the compression. This is important when treating an inflamed bursa because too much pressure can cause you further pain. You control how much pressure the bursa receives so you can benefit from the compression to hold the cold where you need it, without increasing your pain.

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Applying cold to your tender bursa is the first step in treating your bursitis. Next you can begin using ultrasound therapy.

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound has been used by physical therapists and chiropractors for years to treat bursitis. By applying ultrasound therapy to your sore bursa you can reduce the inflammation caused by the fluid that has built up.

In addition, ultrasound therapy will treat any other soft tissue conditions that you may be experiencing in your foot such as Achilles tendinitis, gout, arch pain, hammer or claw toe, a heel spur and more. By treating yourself with ultrasound everyday, you are able to rid yourself of bursitis pain; this is best accomplished with a personal, therapeutic ultrasound device.

Scar tissue develops with bursitis and/or tendinitis. As your damaged tissues heal this dead, fibrotic tissue is naturally produced instead of forming brand new healthy tissue. Scar tissue adheres to your muscle fibers, bursa sac, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves causing pain and preventing them from moving properly (this limits your range of motion, flexibility and strength). However, ultrasound therapy can treat scar tissue and the more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results.

Ultrasound therapy is a great therapeutic option to decrease inflammation, pain and scar tissue build up experienced with bursitis and other soft tissue injuries. The treatment is easy, painless, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes of your time. It is based on a form of deep thermal therapy which is generated through high frequency sound waves that reach into the cells of the tissue. These sound waves help to reduce the fluid build up in the bursa, heal any tissue damaged through trauma, reduce scar tissue, as well as reduce any crystal or calcific deposits that may have gathered in the area.

Using the MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Gel during your ultrasound therapy gives you 2 therapies in 1. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered into the tissue where it is most effective.

Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel contains the natural essential oils of Bulgarian lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol and is exclusively available from MendMeShop^®. These ingredients reduce inflammation, relieve pain and improve blood circulation to your foot. 1 bottle of MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes FREE with every MendMeShop^® Ultrasound Therapy Unit so you get unbeatable ultrasound therapy for your bursitis.

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Inferno Wrap^® Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™

Once the inflammation of your bursitis has been reduced with cold therapy and ultrasound treatments it is time to improve blood flow and improve the elasticity of your surrounding soft tissue. Your body needs a fresh supply of blood to improve the health of your tissue and get your bursae, plantar fascia, and/or Achilles tendon back to normal.

Unfortunately, when you are suffering from bursitis it is painful to walk and move your foot normally. When you limit movement in your foot the blood flow is reduced, starving your tissue of the necessary oxygen and nutrients. The trick is to find a way to increase blood flow without causing pain and/or further inflaming the bursae. This is where Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™ (BFST^®) becomes a powerful tool.

BFST^® compliments your body's natural healing process by promoting the flow of blood to your foot while you give it the rest it needs. The Inferno Wrap^® uses a patented process to generate the same energy that is part of the sun's spectrum of light, the same energy that is necessary to all living things for optimum health.

The energy emitted from the Energy Web^® stimulates blood flow to your foot, more than you body would ever be able to generate on it's own, giving your body the boost it needs to continue the reconditioning process.

The healing energy reaches deep into your bursae, tendons, ligaments, and fascia to speed tissue repair, whisk away the toxins and dead cells, and rejuvenate your foot tissues for improved elasticity.

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With these 3 easy therapies, cold therapy, ultrasound and BFST^®, you will notice significantly reduced pain and an incredible improvement in your foot pain and range of motion.

During your recovery, you may have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your foot until your pain and inflammation settle, and you gain more mobility and strength. The more diligent you are with your rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results.

Please be aware that this information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Or email us at service@AidMyBursa.com