If you have osteoporosis, you may be concerned about the bones in your back and hips, but osteoporosis affects all your bones, even the ones in your feet. Since you spend a lot of time walking and bearing weight on your feet, your feet are at risk of fracturing when you have osteoporosis. Here are some things to know about this medical condition and how it can affect your feet.

How Osteoporosis Can Affect The Bones In Your Feet

Osteoporosis causes your bones to thin. When the bones in your feet become too thin, they can fracture more easily just from normal walking. Osteoporosis could also lead to increased foot pain in the joints of your feet. If you have foot pain, redness, and swelling, you should see your podiatrist for a checkup, especially if you know you have osteoporosis, as those are some symptoms of a foot fracture.

A foot fracture doesn't always keep you from walking on your foot. You may still be able to walk with the pain of a foot fracture depending on where the fracture is located, but that doesn't mean you should. Instead, have the cause of your pain diagnosed and treated so the injury can heal.

How Osteoporosis Is Treated

Your regular doctor and podiatrist can help you treat osteoporosis. You'll probably start by having a bone scan that shows the extent of bone thinning and helps the doctor make a diagnosis. Based on the results of the test, the doctor might prescribe a medication to slow down bone loss. The doctor might also recommend a diet change so you can build stronger bones. Exercise could also be an important part of your treatment since exercise can help build bones, too.

How Foot Osteoporosis Might Be Treated

A podiatrist can give you specific advice for managing osteoporosis in your feet. You might be encouraged to lose weight so your feet don't have to bear as much pressure. The podiatrist might also teach you about the importance of wearing supportive shoes instead of heels or sandals so that the structures of your feet have the support they need.

You might be taught specific foot exercises, and you may be given instructions for dealing with foot pain, especially when you have a fracture. A fracture usually requires rest and keeping your weight off the foot by using crutches or some other mobility aid.

Your podiatrist might also have you wear a stiff-sole shoe or cast to support your bones while they heal. It can take several weeks for a fracture to heal, and when you have osteoporosis, you're always at risk of another fracture. It's important to follow instructions from your podiatrist so you can minimize the risk of foot fractures as much as possible.

To learn more, contact a podiatrist.