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| Corns
& Calluses | Bunions & Hammertoes |
Ingrown Toenails | Heel
Pain |
| Plantar Warts | Arthritis
| Neuroma | Fungal
Nails |
These ailments are often caused
by repeated friction or rubbing within the shoe. Improper footwear or
a bony prominence such as a hammertoe is often to blame. Corns and calluses
can be treated by wearing proper shoes with cushioned insoles, or by
using over-the-counter corn/callus pads. If these measures prove unsuccessful,
seek treatment by a medical professional.
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Although these foot deformities
tend to be hereditary, shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot often
aggravate them. Bunions are caused by a large bony prominence located
behind the great toe. They tend to become more pronounced and painful
over time.
Hammertoes occur in the lesser toes
and often become painful when wearing shoes with inadequate depth,
such as loafers or women's pumps.
There are conservative treatment
options for both bunions and hammertoes; however, surgical
correction of these deformities is usually recommended when
they become painful.
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This ailment occurs when the
toenail digs painfully into the surrounding skin, often causing infection.
Ingrown nails are usually caused by improper trimming, but improper
or tight-fitting shoes, fungal infections or heredity can be a contributing
factors. Preventative steps include trimming toenails straight across
and wearing proper shoes. Corrective treatment for ingrown nails usually
entails a minor in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia.
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Heel pain is a common condition
in both men and women. There are a number of possible causes for heel
pain, including injury, overuse syndromes, soft-tissue inflammation,
arthritis-related conditions, and/or improper
footwear. Depending upon the individual cause, treatment may include
placing a simple cushion in the shoe, stretching exercises, cortisone
injections, prescription medication, or orthotics.
On rare occasions, surgery may be needed.
Heel pain can become chronic and debilitating if left untreated.
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The sole of the foot is known
as the plantar surface. Plantar warts are caused by a virus in the
skin, and are usually contracted from walking barefooted around community
pools, locker rooms or showers. These warts are most commonly found
in children and young adults, but can affect people of all ages. The
treatment for plantar warts will vary depending upon the size, number
and location of the lesions. Wearing protective footwear around wet,
dirty floors can effectively prevent plantar warts. The first line
of treatment is often the use of topical acids to dissolve the wart.
If this proves unsuccessful, your podiatrist may need to apply other
medications in the office or surgically remove the lesions.
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Arthritis is a general term
used to describe swelling and pain associated with joints in the body.
There are several forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis or
degenerative joint disease (DJD), rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis,
etc. Since each foot contains 33 joints, it is easy to understand
why many individuals suffer from arthritic conditions in their feet.
The pain associated with arthritis can often be relieved with medications
such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol), aspirin or other anti-inflammatory
medications (e.g. Advil, Aleve, Rx medications). Certain arthritic
conditions can be relieved by simply wearing proper footwear, or with
the use of orthotic devices. Occasionally, surgery
is necessary to relieve the pain associated with arthritis of the
feet.
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A neuroma is a painful condition,
also referred to as a “pinched nerve” or a nerve tumor.
It is a benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the
third and fourth toes that brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling,
or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
The principle
symptom associated with a neuroma is pain between the toes while
walking. Those suffering from the condition often find relief by
stopping their walk, taking off their shoe, and rubbing the affected
area. At times, the patient will describe the pain as similar to
having a stone in his or her shoe. The vast majority of people who
develop neuromas are women.
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Fungal toenails are one of
the most common conditions affecting the feet. The unpleasant appearance
of the fungal nail is often a source of embarrassment. Caused by a
variety of fungal elements or yeast, this condition causes the nails
to become thickened and discolored. It can even cause pain due to
pressure on the nail bed. Although generally benign, fungal nails
are now treated with much success by oral medications approved by
the FDA. In cases where the nail is extremely thick or painful, it
can be thinned or removed in your Podiatrist's office.
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