Staying on top of foot pain: Dr. Steven Cooperman talks about options for keeping feet healthy
By Carla Slavey
There are few parts of the body that do as much work as one ' s feet. Consider when one is standing, all of their weight is balanced on one or two points that are in contact with the floor – the soles of their feet.
A person ' s ankles are an amazing joint – a machine that allows us to walk forward concentrated in what appear to be a skinny, unprotected area.
For those who have to work on their feet all day, many are well aware of the existence of their feet and ankles, especially when they hurt, swell or lock up due to how much they are used.
Because April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, local podiatrist and surgeon Dr. Steven Cooperman wanted to get the word out about several aspects of foot health, such as what one should do if they develop that dreaded and painful condition called a bunion.
Bunions, Dr. Cooperman explained, are bony prominences that form on the inside of the big toe joint. They are usually accompanied by a deviation of the big toe, he said.
" This often leads to difficulty with fitting into shoes, leading to painful irritation, soreness, redness, and swelling," he said. " This can also lead to restriction in motion at the joint, which can lead to early onset arthritis."
Bunions are primarily genetic, he said, and while there might be some evidence to show that narrow-toed shoes or high heels might contribute, " most studies find that the only really consistent factor in predicting the presence of a bunion is genetic," he said.
The good news is that there have been
advancements in treating this condition that can help patients stay on their feet – or get back on them quickly should they require surgery.
" The way that bunions can be treated can be broken down into non-surgical and surgical categories," Dr. Cooperman said. " Bunions are a structural problem. Therefore, non-surgical options aren ' t designed to solve the problem, but are meant to help mask the symptoms of pain and irritation in shoes. " Conservative options include wider / taller shoes, padding / taping / splinting
of the toe, orthotic inserts, and antiinflammatory medications. As I mentioned, this is a structural problem, so the only real ' fix ' for a bunion is surgery. Fortunately, advancements in surgical techniques and orthopedic implants have allowed the downtime associated with bunions to greatly decrease, with some procedure getting patients walking within the first week post-op. I offer minimally invasive surgical options for these concerns."
He added: " One of the general myths associated with foot and ankle surgery, particularly bunion surgery, is that it should be avoided at all costs as the procedures themselves cause significant pain and lead patients to being off their feet for several months at a time. While this can be true on a case-by-case basis, advancements in surgical techniques as well as innovations in orthopedic implants and accelerated recovery protocols have truly changed this for the better. Many of the patients that I see for surgical consults leave pleasantly surprised by the quick recovery and return to weight-bearing activities."
Bunions aren ' t the only problems commonly found in feet. Arthritis can happen as well, whether it ' s just in one joint or many within the foot and ankle.
" Arthritis is a term that means the breakdown of cartilage in a joint," Dr. Cooperman said. " Once the cartilage – the lubricated surface that allows joints to glide smoothly and without pain – is broken down, you get painful motion, as now the underlying bone is being directly contacted every time that joint moves." Many factors can cause arthritis, such as previous fractures or sprains, degeneration of tissue over time or bio-mechanical issues, he said.
" General treatments for arthritis include steroid injections, anti-inflammatory therapy, correction of biochemical deformities, bracing / shoe gear modification, and surgery. Specifically for the ankle, in the right patient, ankle replacement can be an excellent option for providing pain free motion."
Of course, some injuries and problems can appear out of nowhere, but for some, feet pain has a more obvious reason – standing all day.
Whether someone is a nurse, retail worker, factory worker or in some other job
24 • SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life april 2025