The ABC's Of Foot Pain

I Have Funky Stuff On My Feet. Notice something strange growing on your foot? Rubbing, friction, pressure, irritation and heredity can cause foot problems like corns, calluses, blisters and bunions. These different foot problems can vary in cause and severity. A callus is a toughened and thick area of skin that has been exposed to repeated contact or pressure. Calluses aren’t harmful but can lead to infection. They are typically located on the hands (as a result of activities like weight lifting or playing a string instrument) and on the feet (as a consequence of tight shoes). Calluses vary in size and they can be painful. The diagnosis of a tailor's bunion is based on physical exam and imaging. X-ray imaging is performed to evaluate the increase angle between the fourth and fifth metatarsals. This diagnostic tool is also used to determine how much of the bump is composed of bone and how much is do to the swelling from the above mentioned bursa sac. Non-surgical treatment is used to decrease the pain and inflammation from a tailor's bunion. This includes anti-inflammatory medicines, steroid injections. Pads and shoe modification such as a wider toe box or softer materials are used to decrease pressure on the area. Adequate foot support and proper foot mechanics are two keys to preventing or alleviating big toe problems. Flip flops, for instance, scarcely provide any foot support. Similarly, high-heeled shoes place excessive stress on your forefoot. Also, your big toe may find itself squished because your shoe is too straight. In that case, choose a shoe built with a curvature that mimics your foot. If you engage in regular physical activity, you should consider sport-specific footwear. For instance, sports that involve significant running or jumping require extra shock absorption from a shoes. Most calluses heal on their own, but you might be able to hasten the healing process. Soak the callus in warm and soapy water for at least 10 minutes, then use a pumice stone to rub off the dead skin. You can buy a specialized foot pad at your local drugstore or supermarket to keep the pressure off your callus while it heals. Getting Help Some people have the habit of wearing shoes for most of the time. This increases the likeliness of developing foot corns. So, for foot corn prevention, avoid wearing covered shoes indoors. The point is to promote aeration to the toes, whenever possible. The doctors at the Foot and Ankle Center are excited to also offer a new treatment, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, for chronic plantar fasciitis "heel pain". Extracorporeal" means "outside the body". Shock waves are created by very strong acoustic (sound) energy. Your ESW treatment will be performed with a device called the OssaTron. The OssaTron is a shock wave generator very similar to the shock wave devices used to treat kidney stones without surgery. The shock waves are created by a spark plus that is enclosed in a soft plastic dome filled with water. ESW treatment has recently been found to be effective for treating chronic proximal plantar fasciitis. Now mention orthopedic shoes, shoes lined with fleece, bunion pads, insoles, or orthotic arch supports to a bunion sufferer talking about hallux valgus and watch the look on their face change to sheer joyfulness. These types of solutions can take away the pain experienced in the bunion, and result in happy feet. Answering no to any of the above questions means that it's entirely possible that your bunions could progress to the point where they need surgery – unless you change what surrounds your foot. Orthotics - these are custom made stabilizers for the foot that keep the rearfoot from turning and causing further pressure/rubbing against bones in the forefoot. Corns and calluses can cause great discomfort and are actually a very common problem. They can result from improperly fitted shoes, overly dry skin, foot movement or pronation problems and other reasons. Corns and calluses make walking and other similar activities painful and difficult. There are many over the counter remedies, but the problem is most do not work at all or marginally at best. Here is a treatment regimen that really works and is actually used by podiatrists in their offices. Look how happy Janice Dickenson is to be wearing something other than stilettos! (maybe her security guard date has something to do with it as well) It is important to see a podiatrist at the first sign of pain or discomfort in the MTP joint to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. Conservative treatment options for bunions include changing the type/shape of the shoe, orthotic inserts, physical therapy, medications, and using padding, taping and/or bracing to control the symptoms and slow the progression of the deformity. Surgery may be an option, especially if there are abnormalities in the fifth metatarsal bone. Procedures may involve shaving the bump or repositioning the fifth metatarsal bone. These surgical procedures involve some downtime afterwards, but are the only effective way to correct a bunion. Here’s an illustration from the page I linked to. These are exactly where my calluses are. I didn’t even realize I had the one near the little toe till I saw the picture and yep, got that one, too. Now, if you’re a runner, you’ve surely heard about Morton’s Toe – lots of people have it and it’s always listed under common runner foot problems. But it’s always described as when your 2nd toe extends past your big toe. Mine doesn’t. And because mine doesn’t, I’ve always ignored any articles or posts on the subject since it clearly did not apply to me.