Got Foot Pain? 7 Questions to Ask Yourself
I’ll let you in on a little medical professional secret… these 7 questions are the exact same ones we teach student doctors to ask patients. In this post, I’ve focused on injuries of the foot and ankle; but the principles are the same for all general ailments and can be applied to assessing pain throughout the body.
Ask yourself these questions, before speaking with your doctor. This will help guide your doctor’s visit whether it be in person, over the phone, telehealth or a virtual visit.
1. What is the Nature of your pain?
“I have heel pain.” “My whole body hurts.” “I have joint pain.”
2. What is the Location of your pain?
See if you can pinpoint with using a single finger to the area of most pain.
3. How long has it been painful, what is the Duration of pain ?
Is this is something that has been nagging you for years or has just begun?
4. What sparked the Onset of your pain? Was it sudden? Did you have a trip or fall?
Medpro Tip: If you had a traumatic event and are now experiencing pain - it’s best to call a doctor for an in-person evaluation. You can start with your primary care doctor for guidance if you don’t already have a specialist. Calling an Urgent Care is also a great option to avoid the emergency rooms at this particular time.
5. What Course is your pain taking?
Is the pain getting better, improving but still present, staying the same, or getting worse.
6. Can you pinpoint any aggravating factors?
Make a list of things that make the pain worse. Standing, putting pressure, coming up onto your toes, being in a shoe or does your pain persist even when you are resting.
7. Can you pinpoint any alleviating factors?
Also make a list of things that lessen your pain, or Treatments you have already tried at home. Resting, elevating your feet, applying ice, taking a pain reliever.
Call first. If you have a primary care physician, a podiatrist (for foot and ankle issues only) or orthopedist, call the office to see if they are currently taking patients in the office. If you don’t have a doctor, give a call to the local urgent care to check their hours, and if they are equipped to handle your needs. During this time office hours may be different and offices are using certain measures to ensure proper safety of patients and staff.
Don’t ignore your pain. Help is still out there despite the changing healthcare landscape due to Covid-19. Likely those that can help your foot pain are not treating Covid patients are available to help you. Emergency rooms are still accepting patients despite the pandemic.
-Be well, Dr. D
Medical Emergencies:
If you have a medical emergency, whether it is related or unrelated to COVID-19, you should call 911 and go to the emergency room. This includes any injury or illness for which a lack of immediate treatment may cause harm. This can include, among other things:
Trouble breathing
Passing out, fainting
Pain in the arm or jaw
Unusual or bad headache, particularly if it started suddenly
Suddenly not able to speak, see, walk, or move
Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body
Dizziness or weakness that does not go away
Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes
Sudden confusion
Heavy bleeding
Possible broken bone, loss of movement, particularly if the bone is pushing through the skin
Deep wound
Serious burn
Coughing or throwing up blood
Severe pain anywhere on the body
Severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling, hives
High fever with headache and stiff neck
High fever that does not get better with medicine
Throwing up or loose stools that does not stop
Poisoning or overdose of drug or alcohol
Suicidal thoughts
Seizures