Foot pain can be caused by a multitude of problems ? arthritis, tumors, and skin issues to name a few. Wearing the wrong size shoes or shoes that do not fit properly can cause damage. Shoes that are too loose or too tight can both be problematic. Pain can originate in any area of the foot, the sole, toes, arch, or heel. Some foot pain can be corrected simply by using Orthotic inserts or footwear. Orthotics are special shoes or shoe additives that support the right places on your feet and help distribute the pressure from your body weight according to you needs and alleviate some of the pain.

Other cases may require surgery. Some of those problems include bunions, toe deformities, flat foot, severe arthritis conditions, tissue tightness in the heel of the foot and certain abnormal growths. There are over 60 conditions in which a podiatrist may choose surgery as an option. Most surgeries are done on an outpatient basis, but some will ask for an overnight stay if there is any hospital time required at all. A few more require a 2 night stay, but those are rare and your doctor will fill you in if you need that kind of hospitalization for your procedure.

Recovery time ranges from 2 to 6 weeks before normal activities resume. (You can count on having to wear some sort of Orthotic footwear in the weeks directly following surgery. Often, you can bring a really loose pair of sneakers to wear as you leave the hospital. By the time your medications wear off, the swelling will probably cause your everyday shoes to be too tight to be conducive to healing. Most podiatrists will recommend special shoes, walking boots or splints to prevent compression of the bones and tissues from weight bearing activities. That increases the swelling and pain and slows down recovery.

Ultimately, when you are preparing for foot surgery for whatever the reason, you should look into which orthotic footwear you will need afterwards. Whether you purchase them from specialty shoe stores, online or receive them for treatment from the doctor, special shoes are a necessity for those recovering from foot surgery. One website that helps people find specialty shoes as well as odd shoes is OddShoeFinder.