Hip Pain

Hip Pain

The hip is a weight bearing joint and everything above the waistline is must be supported by the hips. A lot of us forget this simple fact but when you think about it it’s amazing that most people do not suffer more hip pain. When we are active, all of our weight bearing joints are hit with extra stress and strain. With some activities the body must endure excessive force on the joints and injury often occurs. Our bodies are built for this but any structural imbalance can cause problems if not treated properly.

For many, it is the structural imbalance which makes them prone to hip, lower back, knee, ankle and foot pain. Often these are a result of poor posture over time or injury. For instance if for some reason you suffer from a “fallen hip”, even though both hips are theoretically carrying the same amount of load, one may hurt because it is no longer aligned with the other. Also, it is not uncommon for people to have a misaligned foot or one leg slightly shorter than the other. With the hip things start from the bottom up and believe it or not a minor foot condition can lead to major hip pain.

Our feet support us much like the foundation of a home. If the foundation is not built properly the house may lean or suffer progressive structural damage over time. In this regard, the foundation is really the most important part of the home. If it isn’t right nothing will be. The same holds true with our bodies and structurally our feet may be they most important part of our bodies when it comes pain free activity. Any foot condition can cause pain up through the ankle, knee, hip and lower back.

Foot Problems can be natural or due to injury but your physician will need to rule out foot problems as a cause of hip pain first. You will be surprised to find that bringing the foot back into proper alignment through treatment may solve all your hip pain. The use of custom foot orthotics or arch supports is a very effective treatment for structure foot problems.

Regardless of the origin of hip pain, treatment will be similar to the treatment of other joint problems. A proper diagnosis must be made and a treatment plan developed. Treatment may be as simple as rest to reduce inflammation or a surgical may be required as a last resort. A common sense approach for prevention is also recommended. Make sure you are allowing your body to rest, exercise to keep the muscles strong and use properly fitted footwear while active. If you are feeling pain, avoid the activity and seek medical advice and do not be surprised if your podiatrist holds the solution for your hip pain.

High Arch Feet

High Arch Feet

Most people have an arch along the inner side of the foot, leaving a gap between the ground and the foot. Some feet have a higher arch than average. This is the opposite of a flatfoot. In combination with a higher arch, the ankle may be “rolled” outwards slightly – this is the opposite of a pronated foot. Often this gets referred to as pes cavus.

What does a high arch foot look like?

When standing with weight on the foot, the arch will appear higher. The heel often tilted inwards at the ankle (but not always). In many the toes will appeared clawed. When not standing the front half of the foot (forefoot) will appear to be dropped below the level of the rearfoot.

What causes high arch feet?

High arch feet may just be a normal variant (ie some people just have higher arches), some may be hereditary (ie runs in the family) and in some cases there may be an underlying neurological problem that is causing it.

What are the symptoms of a high arch foot?

The symptoms of a high arch foot will vary depending on how severe the condition is and the activity levels of the person with it. Most will have no pain or any other symptoms. Symptoms may vary from a mild problem with shoe fitting to significant disability
Some of the symptoms can include:

• there may be corns and calluses under the bases of the first and fifth toes.
• Shoe may not fit very well because of the high arch and the clawed toes.
• There may be some pain in the arch area, because of the pressure that it is under.
• The feet will feel stiffer and less mobile than a foot that does not have a high arch.
• Ankle sprains are more common in those with a high arched foot.

How is the high arched foot treated?

This will depend on what is causing the pain, if anything. Initially a careful investigation is needed to rule out any neurological condition is causing the high arched foot.

Generally, treatment can involve:

• The use of foot orthotics or insoles to support and protect the foot and relieve pressure areas.
• Different sorts of pads made from silicone or felt can be used to get pressure off the painful areas
• If corns and callus are present, they can be treated by a Podiatrist.
• Proper fitting of footwear is important.
• In very sever cases, especially if pain is present and the height of the arch is progressively increasing in height, surgery may be considered.

What is a Heel Spur?

Heel Spurs

Patients and doctors often confuse the terms heel spur and plantar fasciitis. While these two diagnoses are related, they are not the same. Plantar fasciitis refers to the inflammation of the plantar fascia–the tissue that forms the arch of the foot. A heel spur is a hook of bone that can form on the heel bone (calcaneus) and is associated with plantar fasciitis.

About 70 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur that can be seen on an X-ray. However, many patients without symptoms of pain can have a heel spur. The exact relationship between plantar fasciitis and heel spurs is not entirely understood. For more information about plantar fasciitis.

Who gets heel spurs?

Heel spurs are common in patients who have a history of foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis. In the setting of plantar fasciitis, heel spurs are most often seen in middle-aged men and women, but can be found in all age groups. The heel spur itself is not thought to be the primary cause of pain, rather inflammation and irritation of the plantar fascia is thought to be the primary problem. A heel spur diagnosis is made when an X-ray shows a hook of bone protruding from the bottom of the foot at the point where the plantar fascia is attached to the heel bone.

Why did I get a heel spur?

The plantar fascia is a thick, ligamentous connective tissue that runs from the calcaneus (heel bone) to the ball of the foot. This strong and tight tissue helps maintain the arch of the foot. It is also one of the major transmitters of weight across the foot as you walk or run. That’s why tremendous stress is placed on the plantar fascia.

When a patient has plantar fasciitis, the plantar fascia becomes inflamed and degenerative (worn out)–these abnormalities can make normal activities quite painful. Symptoms typically worsen early in the morning after sleep. At that time, the plantar fascia is tight so even simple movements stretch the contracted plantar fascia. As you begin to loosen the plantar fascia, the pain usually subsides, but often returns with prolonged standing or walking.
Heel spurs form in some patients who have plantar fasciitis, and tend to occur in patients who have had the problem for a prolonged period of time. While about 70 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur, X-rays also show about 50 percent of patients with no symptoms of plantar fasciitis also have a heel spur.

Treatment of heel spurs is the same as treatment of plantar fasciitis. Because these problems are related, the treatment is the same. The first step in the treatment of a heel spur is short-term rest and inflammation control. Here are the steps patients should take in order to cure the symptoms of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs:

Rest

The first treatment step is avoiding activities that aggravate symptoms. For example, take a few day off jogging or prolonged standing to try to rest the painful foot. Just resting usually helps eliminate the most severe pain, and will allow the inflammation to begin to settle down.

How often should I change my running shoes?

How often should I change my running shoes?

Most sports doctors conclude that running shoes should be replaced every 200-400 miles, as the materials which supply shock absorption and stability, wear out.

- Dr. Charles A. Mutschler, Podiatric Consultant for Footcare Express

Gel Insoles

Heel Pain

Heel Pain

Heel Pain is one of the most common foot conditions among runners and other athletes. In fact, the population in general complains of heel pain more than other foot condition and there are several causes. Proper diagnosis and treatment are paramount in order to correct the problem.

A major cause of heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation or irritation in the arch of the foot. The arch generally feels tight and the pain will worsen with excessive activity. Heel Spurs are another common cause of heel pain as well as the nerve condition called Tarsal Tunnel Syndrom. Twists and fractures are cause severe heel pain and are usually impact or pressure related.

Treatment of heel pain will depend upon the cause and treatments do vary so make sure to describe symptoms to a podiatrist or health care professional. During bouts of heel pain you may experience difficulty walking, pain during times of inactivity, pain lasting several days, swelling and infection. Any of these symptoms alone should compel you to seek treatment.

Again treatment for heel pain will vary and depending upon the severity of the condition and can range rest to surgery. Avoiding painful activities and resting can be all it takes to reduce the pain. Other home remedies include the application of ice, stretches, and/or over the counter anti-inflammatory medication.

Shoe inserts are often recommended but self diagnosing and choosing drugstore insoles could do more harm than good. Custom Foot Orthotics are available and are fabricated from a mold of your actual foot. Your podiatrist can recommend which type of orthoses will benefit your specific source of heel pain. Please seek treatment if you symptoms persist.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe

A hammertoe is the abnormal bending of one of the joints of any toe except the big toe. The symptoms of hammertoe include pain in the afflicted toe when wearing shoes, possible corns developing on the toe or calluses under the toe or ball of foot.

The pain from hammertoes alone can be very acute by themselves but adding corns and calluses can increase the pain even further. Treating the corns and/or calluses is considered a crucial part of the entire hammertoe treatment. Preventive measures should be taken because even if hammertoe is mild the condition will worsen over time.

Hammertoes usually start out with some degree of flexibility but not seeking treatment can allow the toes to stiffen. Even if the condition is not bothersome when discovered, the absence of treatment will set the stage for corns to eventually develop. And, contrary to common belief, corns never really heal. They can be trimmed and scaled down but they will continue to grow. The point here is simply to note that hammertoes will never reverse themselves. Some method of treatment will eventually be required.

Hammertoes are usually caused by muscle/tendon imbalance. Improper muscle to tendon ration will bend the toe. So the hammertoe is a structural issue and not the result of disease. Because hammertoe is a actual structural problem it is important to understand that improper fitting shoes and hosiery can aggravate the pain and difficulty associated with the condition. Wearing shoes with a tight toe box is never advised. In fact a custom foot orthotic or arch support can offer pain relief and additional support.

Other tips include trimming nails and treating calluses and/or corns. There are a lot of over the counter treatments for corns, calluses, etc. but self diagnosis and treatment is not a good idea if you suspect you are suffering from any serious foot condition. Let a podiatrist due your trimming, cleaning and snipping no matter how minor you may believe it may be.  Even padding corns should be instructed by a health care professional. Your physician will also be able to map out the preventative treatment needed to live comfortably with the condition.

Hammertoe can become serious enough that surgery becomes the best treatment option.  There are several surgical options and methods your foot and ankle surgeon can discuss with you but as with any foot surgery, recovery can be slow and painful. Surgical treatment of hammertoe is common but other remedies will most likely be ruled out before surgery is explored. The most important thing to do if you believe you have a hammertoe is to seek the treatment or advice of a physician. Our feet are far too important to ignore when pain and/or discomfort becomes a part of daily life.

Gout

Gout

Gout is a result of uric acid getting deposited in body tissue and manifests itself in attacks causing joint inflammation. When gout becomes chronic, hard lumps of uric acid around the joints and can effect kidney function. Nearly 1 million people in the U.S suffer from gout or gouty arthritis. The condition is much more common in men than in women.

Gout arthritis is most often found at the base of the big toe. Other common joints affected by gout include ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. Symptoms will include acute pain, swelling, redness and tenderness. An attack of gout can be severely painful and last anywhere from hours to days.  The condition will usually relieve itself without medication, but will often recur chronically throughout one’s life.

Determining Gout from other arthritic conditions is best left to a physician. Depending on how and where you describe the pain a physician can tell if you are suffering from gout or another more serious condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Gout usually appears in one joint at a time as opposed to these multiple joint attackers. Gout can also be diagnosed by analyzing joint fluid and testing the amount of uric acid crystals present. X-Rays are also helpful when diagnosing gout because they are able to spot bone damage and uric acid deposits.

Preventative measures can taken to reduce the acuteness and prevalency of gout attacks. Most are simple such as weight reduction, proper fluid intake, altering diet, reducing intake of alcoholic beverages and starting to take certain prescription medications.

The uses of medications to treat gout are threefold. The goals behind the regiment are to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and keep the gout symptoms from progressing by reducing the levels of uric acid in the blood. Physicians have several options when prescribing medications to treat gout so sufferers should take advantage of a doctor’s expertise even if they are only noticing minor symptoms of gout.

Fractures of the Foot

Fractures of the Foot

Foot fractures are a very common problem for a couple of reasons. First our feet are made up many small bones and second, our feet are usually on the front lines in most of human activity. If you are in motion so are your feet.

Here are a few of the most common fractures of the foot and ankle fractures. A fracture of the heel is called a Calcaneus fracture. It’s treatment will depend on how severe the fracture is. There are surgical options as well as immobilization and rest. Without proper care this type of fracture can lead to chronic heel pain.

A talar bone fracture is a horrible injury because of the importance the talar bone plays in both the foot and the ankle. There is connective tissue from the talar to both the hind foot and the ankle and injuries here often require surgical repairs. Complications with a talus fracture are a predisposition to arthritis and chronic foot and/or ankle pain.

A metatarsal fracture is a very common problem and results in mild to severe foot pain. Sudden increases in activity are often behind a metatarsal stress fracture. This type has a nickname of “march fracture” because it is prevalent among new soldiers because they put so much new stress on their feet.

A fracture of the fifth metatarsal is known as a Jones fracture.  People suffering from this type of fracture my notice pain in and around the mid foot to the outside of the foot. This can result in swelling and pain when walking.

A stress fracture occurring in the midfoot below the ankle is called a navicular stress fracture. It is characterized by general pain in the midfoot with more acute pain during activity. This type of stress is commonly treated with a cast.

The above are a just a few of the common fracture in and around the foot. There are many reasons people suffer foot pain and it is not safe to assume you have a some sort of fracture. If you are experiencing any type of foot pain consult a physician or more specifically a podiatrist.

Flat Fleet

Flat Feet

Flat Feet is more or less a condition of fallen arches. The instep, or arch, collapses and becomes flat against the ground. Hence the term flat foot. Flat feet are not always a result of a collapse, some arches never develop properly. When we are babies, our feet are flat and the arch normally over time. As long as there is no ball of foot pain or any other difficulties resulting from the condition there is no real need to seek treatment.

If you suspect you have flat feet, just take a look. In general flat feet do have a flat look to them and unusual wear of shoe soles can also indicate flat feet. If you suffer from lower leg pain, pain from the ankle into the instep of the of the foot or foot pain in general, this may be a result of flat feet.

If you suspect you have, and are suffering foot care issues you may wish to see a podiatrist for treatment.  Treatments are available and your podiatrist will prescribe them based on the cause of a particular case of flat feet. These treatments may include but are not limited to shoe inserts, arch supports, custom orthotics, braces, surgery or just anti inflammatory medication.

Living with minor pain from flat feet without treatment might seem normal but if the condition worsens it could lead to complications. Besides the expected swelling an pain in the soles of the feet, shin splints, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis and bunions can develop. Seek the advice of a podiatrist or a foot specialist who can help with preventative measures.

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