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.

Drop Foot

Drop Foot

Drop foot is the difficulty when lifting the front part of the foot. It is identified when someone drags the front of their foot when walking. This is not due to a disease or infection, it has to with an anatomical malady. If drop foot is a permanent condition and not temporary due to recovering from a foot injury, corrective measures can be taken to cure it. Ankle braces are available to support the foot while walking.

Drop Foot usually only occurs in one of the feet and can often only be noticed when the foot is spotted being dragged. It is due to a weakness, or sometimes paralysis of the muscles below the knee which function to lift the front part of the foot during motion. The damage to the muscles may be anatomical, neurological or as a result of injury.

Injuries often cause damage to muscles supporting the toes and the ankles and this can contribute to foot drop. Nerve damage can certainly be a culprit and keep in mind that diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet. Nerve damage in the lower extremities is also very common after surgical procedures such as knee or hip replacement.

Disorders of the central nervous system can also contribute to drop foot.  These may include ALS, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Reactions to drugs or therapies for these conditions can also lead to nerve damage resulting in symptoms of Drop Foot.

It is definitely recommended that you seek treatment if you notice any symptoms of drop foot which you cannot connect with a temporary injury. Podiatrists can fit you with ankle braces or shoe splints which hold your foot in its normal position. Certain custom foot orthotics will help keep the foot in proper alignment as well. Depending on the cause of the Drop Foot, nerve stimulation and/or physical therapy can be effective in strengthening muscles and nerves. There also surgical procedures to correct nerve damage that might be contributing to drop foot, so seeing a doctor is recommended as soon as you suspect you might be suffering from a foot drop problem.

Diabetic Foot Condition

Diabetic Foot Condition

Diabetes is a very serious chronic condition with all sorts of complications. Diabetics are extremely prone to foot problems. Just because you have Diabetes does not necessarily mean you will suffer from foot issues but being aware and preventative will allow you to spot foot problems which may or may not be related to the Diabetes itself.

Foot problems associated with Diabetes are infections, damaged nerves and blocked arteries, all which can lead to foot ulceration. With diabetics infection and/or foot ulceration can often lead to amputation. Blocked arteries in the lower extremities can lead to severe pain so it is very important to associate diabetes with the need for proper foot care.

The good news is if the Diabetes is under control and monitored regularly foot problems can be avoided. But when issues begin they are very hard to reverse so taking preventative measures is of the utmost importance. People without any evidence of foot ulceration or infection should, with a physician, determine the risk of developing these issues and then plan health maintenance regiment.  Anyone already suffering from foot problems due to diabetes should immediately consult a physician and aggressively attack the problems. This goes for people experiencing severe pain who do not believe they are in any danger of developing ulcers or infection. Doctors can help you effectively manage your foot pain.

People with Diabetes have lower defenses against infections and ability for their body to fight them once they are infected. So minor scrapes and cuts in the foot area can quickly turn into an infectious nightmare for Diabetics. In addition the the fact that Diabetics are prone to nerve damage and arterial blockages, they may not actually feel the pain associated with a minor infection until it worsens.

Localized infections which are contained in one are of the foot or toes can be effectively treated with oral antibiotics. Infections effecting the entire foot must be treated more aggressively. High doses of oral antibiotics, intravenous antibiotics and even surgery may be required to control the infection.

Diabetic Neuropathy is simply damage to the never fibers in people with Diabetes. This becomes problematic because it affects the person’s to feel pain in the foot. So, it is vital for Diabetics to examine their feet daily and practice proper foot care and common sense hygiene.

Cracked Heels

Cracked Heels

Cracked heels, or heel fissures, are an extremely common foot condition. For the most part it is caused by dry skin and exhaserbated  by thick or callus skin. Generally cracked heals are nothing more than a cosmetic problem but the condition can become painful if the cracks themselves are deep into the layers of the skin. It is also possible for these deep cracks to become infected so it is important to pay attention to cracked heels if they become painful.

It’s easy to differentiate between dry skin and cracked heels because with cracked heels you will noticed the dried skin will begin to turn a yellowish color at first and may appear brown along the sides of the heal. It becomes really obvious when small cracks in the skin appear because dry skin does not normally produce such a result.

Although it is a good idea to use a good skin moisturizer when dry skin appears anywhere on the foot, it may become necessary to seek treatment if and when it becomes painful to put weight on the heels and/or chunks of skin around the begin to separate and cause open wounds.

There are several causes contributing to cracked heels and one is just simply the propensity for dry skin. Another has to do with the way you walk and how your foot strikes the ground during your striding. Other factors which may contribute to cracked heels could be excessive standing, obesity, wearing open back shoes and skin conditions.

Just think for a moment. Standing too long can put undue pressure on the foot and cause the padding of the foot to try and expand. Open ended shoes do not support the heal properly and being overweight can force the weight bearing sections of the foot to flatten out and expand the heel. Our feet can only accept a finite amount of weight and anything more than that sends the foot pads of the feet looking for help. The result is a flattening of the fatty internal pads and expansion of the skin.

If you believe you are beginning to suffer from cracked heels you should first try using a quality cracked heel cream found in any drugstore. Follow the directions on the package and expect to have to moisturize twice a day. Another self treatment is the use of pumice stones to exfoliate skin of the heel. If a pumice stone does not help peel away extra layers of skin it is not a good idea to clip or cut the skin away. Let a podiatrist or other specialist help with this because any self cutting could lead to infection.

A podiatrist will have many treatment alternatives from prescription moisturizes to custom foot orthotics to provide more support for the foot and reducing the tendency for the skin to expand. Orthopedic shoes prove successful in many cases as do heel cups in your current shoes. Having and dealing with cracked heels is one thing, but finding out what may be causing yours is worth a quick trip to the podiatrist to ensure proper foot care.

Foot Corns

A corn (or clavus, plural clavi) is a specially-shaped callus of dead skin that usually occurs on thin or glabrous (hairless and smooth) skin surfaces, especially on the dorsa of toes or fingers. They can sometimes occur on the thicker palmar or plantar skin surfaces. Corns form when the pressure point against the skin traces an elliptical or semi-elliptical path, the center of which is at the point of pressure, gradually widening. If there is constant stimulation of the tissues producing the corns, even after the corn is removed or the pressure surgically removed, the skin may continue to grow as a corn.

You ask a lot of your hands and feet. You cram your feet into shoes and walk around all day. And you may apply great force to your hands as you work with tools in your job or at home. These actions subject your skin to friction and pressure. Your skin often protects itself by building up corns and calluses — thick, hardened layers of skin.

Although corns and calluses can be unsightly, you need treatment only if they cause discomfort. For most people, eliminating the source of friction or pressure makes corns and calluses disappear. If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation to your feet, you’re at greater risk of complications. Seek your doctor’s advice on caring for corns and calluses.

Corn Symptoms:

You may have a corn or callus if you notice:

• A thick, rough area of skin

• A hardened, raised bump

• Tenderness or pain under your skin

• Flaky, dry or waxy skin

Corns and calluses are often confused, but they’re not the same thing.

• Corns are smaller than calluses and have a hard center surrounded by inflamed skin. Corns usually develop on parts of your feet that don’t bear weight, such as the tops and sides of your toes. Corns can be painful when pushed or may cause a dull ache.

• Calluses usually develop on the soles of the feet, especially under the heels or balls, on the palms, or on the knees. Calluses are rarely painful and vary in size and shape. They can be more than an inch in diameter, making them larger than corns.

Causes of Corns

Pressure and friction from repetitive actions cause corns and calluses to develop and grow. Some causes include:

• Ill-fitting shoes. When shoes are too tight or have very high heels, they compress areas of your foot. When they’re too loose, your foot may repeatedly slide and rub against the shoe. Your foot may also rub against a poorly placed seam or stitch inside the shoe.

• Skipping socks. Wearing shoes and sandals without socks can lead to friction on your feet. Socks that don’t fit properly also can be a problem.

• Using hand tools. Calluses on your hands may result from the repeated pressure of using tools on the job, around the house or in the garden.

Risk Factors of Corns

These factors may increase your risk of corns and calluses:

• Bunions or hammertoe. A bunion is an abnormal, bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. A hammertoe is a toe deformity in which your toe becomes curled up like a claw. Both of these conditions can cause constant rubbing inside your shoe.

• Not protecting your hands. Using hand tools without wearing gloves exposes your skin to excessive friction.

• Foot deformities. A pre-existing foot deformity, such as a bone spur, may put extra pressure on certain parts of your foot.

Seek a Doctor about Corns

If a corn or callus becomes very painful or inflamed, see your doctor. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, call your doctor before self-treating corns or calluses. Even a relatively minor injury to your foot could lead to an infected open sore (foot ulcer) that’s difficult to heal.

Tests and diagnosis of Corns

Your doctor will examine your feet and rule out other causes of thickened skin, such as warts and cysts. Your doctor may also request an X-ray to see if a physical abnormality is causing the corn or callus.

Treatments and drugs for Corns

Treatment for corns and calluses usually involves avoiding the repetitive actions that causes them to develop. Wearing properly fitting shoes, using protective pads and other self-care measures can help resolve them.

If a corn or callus persists or becomes painful despite your self-care efforts, medical treatments can provide relief. Your doctor can pare down thickened skin or trim a large corn with a scalpel, usually during an office visit. Your doctor may also suggest applying an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection.

If you have an underlying foot deformity, your doctor may prescribe custom-made padded shoe inserts (orthotics) to prevent recurring corns or calluses. In rare instances, your doctor may also recommend surgery to correct the alignment of the bone causing the problem.

Prevention of Corns

These approaches may help you prevent corns and calluses from developing:

• Wear shoes that give your toes plenty of room. If you can’t wiggle your toes, your shoes are too tight. Have your shoe shop stretch your shoes at any point that rubs or pinches.

• Use protective coverings. Wear felt pads or bandages over areas that rub against footwear.

• Wear padded gloves when using hand tools. Or try padding your tool handles with cloth tape or covers.

Claw Toe

Claw toe foot deformity is often associated with wearing shoes that squeeze your toes, such as shoes that are too short or high heels. However, claw toe also is often the result of nerve damage caused by diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, which can weaken the muscles in your foot. Having claw toe means your toes “claw,” digging down into the soles of your shoes and creating painful calluses. Claw toe gets worse without treatment and may become a permanent deformity over time.

• Your toes are bent upward (extension) from the joints at the ball of the foot.
• Your toes are bent downward (flexion) at the middle joints toward the sole of your shoe.
• Sometimes your toes also bend downward at the top joints, curling under the foot.
• Corns may develop over the top of the toe or under the ball of the foot.

If you have symptoms of a claw toe, see your doctor for evaluation. You may need certain tests to rule out neurological disorders that can weaken your foot muscles, creating imbalances that bend your toes. Trauma and inflammation can also cause claw toe deformity.

Claw toe deformities are usually flexible at first, but they harden into place over time. If you have claw toe in early stages, your doctor may recommend a splint or tape to hold your toes in correct position. Additional advice:

• Wear shoes with soft, roomy toe boxes and avoid tight shoes and high-heels.
• Use your hands to stretch your toes and toe joints toward their normal positions.
• Exercise your toes by using them to pick up marbles or crumple a towel laid flat on the floor.

If you have claw toe in later stages and your toes are fixed in position:

• A special pad can redistribute your weight and relieve pressure on the ball of your foot.
• Try special “in depth” shoes that have an extra 3/8″ depth in the toe box.
• Ask a shoe repair shop to stretch a small pocket in the toe box to accommodate the deformity.

If these treatments do not help, you may need surgery to correct the problem.

Calluses on Feet

A callus (or callosity) is an especially toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard as a response to repeated contact or pressure. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on hands or feet. Calluses are generally not harmful, but may sometimes lead to other problems, such as infection.

• Martial artists and boxers build up calluses on their hands and fists to build up pain resistance and on their feet from performing high and spinning kicks.
• Fencing can cause calluses on the feet from the impact and pushing motion associated with lunging.
• Cyclists, in particular mountain bikers, can develop calluses similar to those of weight lifters, due to the strain applied to the petals of the bike.
• Shoes that fit tightly can often produce calluses on the feet.
• Dancers often develop calluses on the soles of their feet from dancing barefoot, which makes performing turns less difficult.
• Hockey players and figure skaters usually develop calluses on their palms and fingers from constantly tying their skates, the friction of the laces wears out their hands.
• Rock Climbers can develop many calluses on their hands, and also on their feet, due to the intense amount of force exerted on the hands and feet, and the constant sliding of abrasive rock against the skin of the hands.
• Just about any athlete may experiences calluses with improper foot wear or lack of proper foot orthotics.

« Previous Page — Next Page »