Corns and calluses
Around toes, usually little toe, bottom of feet or areas exposed to friction.
Hard, dead, yellowish skin.
Relief:
Wide (box-toed) shoes; soft cushions under heel or ball of foot, or customized or gel insoles for
calluses. Doughnut-shaped pads for corns.
Ingrown toenails
Nail curling into skin causes pain, swelling, and, in extreme cases, infection.
Relief:
Sandals, open-toed shoes.
Bunions and bunionettes (tailor's bunion)
The following can occur alone or in combination:
Metatarsus primus varus. The first (big toe) metatarsal bone shifts away from the second, and the
big toe points inward.
Medial exostosis. This is a bony bump at the base of the big toe, which protrudes outward. Area next
to bony bump is red, tender, and occasionally filled with fluid. Toe joint may be inflamed.
Hallux valgus. This is a deformity in which the bone and joint of the big toe shift and grow inward,
so that the second toe crosses over the big toe.
Relief:
Soft, wide-toed shoes or sandals. Bunion shields or splints. Thick doughnut-shaped moleskin pads,
custom-made orthotics or foot slings, if necessary. Avoid shoes with stitching along the side of the "bump."
Morton's neuroma (also called interdigital neuroma)
Inflammation of the nerve, usually between the third and fourth toes and bottom of the foot near
these toes.
Cramping and burning pain, or electric-shock sensation. The condition may produce a thick
protective sheath around the nerve that feels like a ball. This may be detected by pressing top to
bottom on the top of the foot using one hand and moving the other hand from side to side. Morton's
neuroma is aggravated by prolonged standing and relieved by removal of the shoes and forefoot
massage.
Relief:
Wide (box-toed) shoes. Orthotic or insole with pad that reduces stress on the painful area.
Hammertoe or claw toe
Usually second toe, but may develop in any or all of the three middle toes.
Toes form hammer or claw shape. In hammertoe, the first knuckle of the toe is mainly affected. In
claw toe the entire toe is deformed. No pain at first, but pain increases as tendon becomes tighter and
toes stiffen.
Relief:
Wide (box-toed) shoes. Toe pads or specially designed shields, splints, caps, or slings. (Splints or
slings are not for people with diabetes.)
Front-of-the-Foot Pain
Metatarsalgia
Ball of the foot.
Relief:
Wide (box-toed) shoes. Orthotic with pad that reduces metatarsal pressure. Gel cushions. Metatarsal
bandage.
Stress fracture
Most often in the area beneath the second or third toe.
Sudden pain (which persists) when injury occurs.
Relief:
Low-heeled shoes with stiff soles.
Sesamoiditis
Ball of foot beneath big toe.
Pain and swelling.
Relief:
Low-heeled shoe with stiff sole and soft padding inside.
Click Here for Help!
The Foot and Associated Problems of Pain and Discomfort
Overview
•About 75% of people in the United States have foot pain at some time in their lives.
•Most foot pain is caused by shoes that do not fit properly or that force the feet into unnatural shapes (such as pointed-toe, high-heeled shoes).
•Foot pain generally starts in one of three places: the toes, the forefoot, or the hindfoot.
•Nearly all causes of foot pain can be grouped under one of the following:
•Ill-fitting shoes
•Certain medical conditions
•High-impact exercise
Treatment
•The acronym RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation -- the four basic elements of immediate treatment for an injured foot.
•Orthonyxia, a newer surgical technique that implants a small metal brace into the top of the nail, may be as effective as traditional surgical techniques for preventing ingrown toenails from recurring.
•The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) suggests shoe inserts, medications, and stretching as a first line of therapy for heel pain.
Prevention
The American Podiatric Medical Association offers the following tips for preventing foot pain:
•Don't ignore foot pain -- it's not normal.
•Inspect feet regularly.
•Wash feet regularly, especially between the toes, and dry them completely.
•Trim toenails straight across, but not too short.
•Make sure shoes fit properly.
•Wear the right shoe for specific activities (such as running shoes for running).
•Don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
•Avoid walking barefoot, which increases the risk for injury and infection.
•It is critical that people with diabetes see a podiatric physician at least once a year for a checkup.
In future postings I will offer a discussion of specific foot ailments.
•About 75% of people in the United States have foot pain at some time in their lives.
•Most foot pain is caused by shoes that do not fit properly or that force the feet into unnatural shapes (such as pointed-toe, high-heeled shoes).
•Foot pain generally starts in one of three places: the toes, the forefoot, or the hindfoot.
•Nearly all causes of foot pain can be grouped under one of the following:
•Ill-fitting shoes
•Certain medical conditions
•High-impact exercise
Treatment
•The acronym RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation -- the four basic elements of immediate treatment for an injured foot.
•Orthonyxia, a newer surgical technique that implants a small metal brace into the top of the nail, may be as effective as traditional surgical techniques for preventing ingrown toenails from recurring.
•The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) suggests shoe inserts, medications, and stretching as a first line of therapy for heel pain.
Prevention
The American Podiatric Medical Association offers the following tips for preventing foot pain:
•Don't ignore foot pain -- it's not normal.
•Inspect feet regularly.
•Wash feet regularly, especially between the toes, and dry them completely.
•Trim toenails straight across, but not too short.
•Make sure shoes fit properly.
•Wear the right shoe for specific activities (such as running shoes for running).
•Don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
•Avoid walking barefoot, which increases the risk for injury and infection.
•It is critical that people with diabetes see a podiatric physician at least once a year for a checkup.
In future postings I will offer a discussion of specific foot ailments.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
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