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A Pain in the Foot ANTHEROSCLEROSIS or "hardening of the arteries" is caused by deposits forming in the arterial walls, sometimes creating clogs. High cholesterol levels and blood pressure, smoking, diabetes mellitus, increased age, obesity, and high stress levels are all factors that increase the chances of developing this condition. Signs and symptoms include:
Many times the first sign of this condition manifests as a foot complaint. Antherosclerosis can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death and ulcerations. While antherosclerosis is not curable, removal of some risk factors can reverse some of the blockage. Reducing stress, not smoking and healthy eating and exercising can all lower the risks of disease. For severe cases, medical treatment such as balloon angioplasty, bypass surgery, endarterectomy, or cardiac medications may be recommended. ATHLETE'S FOOT is a common fungal infection of the foot. It first appears between the toes and can occur once or chronically. It may also appear as dry, scaling skin on the soles of the feet accompanied by toenail infections that lead to destruction of the nail plate. Signs and symptoms include:
Athlete's foot can often be treated with non-prescription antifungal powder or cream. If necessary, a stronger topical medication and antibiotics can be prescribed by your doctor. Keeping feet as dry as possible will also help reduce infection. BLOOD CLOTS Blood Clots can often occur in the legs and feet. Clots can occur in the deep veins of the leg (deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or in the superficial leg vein (superficial phlebitis). Symptoms include swelling and leg pain. If swelling of the legs persists, you should consult your podiatrist.
CORNS AND CALLUSES Corns most often form to protect sensitive skin. The most common areas they appear are on the balls of the feet and the toes. They can occur anywhere that is subject to repeated friction, however.
Hard corns are compact areas of hardened skin with dense cores that often appear on the top of the toes or bottom of the feet. Soft corns, or helomas, have a thinner service and often appear between the toes. Seed corns are quite uncommon and are a patch of hardened skin around a small accumulation of cholesterol. Calluses usually occur on the hands or feet in areas that have experienced a lot of rubbing. Plantar calluses appear on the bottom of the foot while hereditary calluses often appear on the hands. Calluses tend to be larger than corns and do not have a center core. Corns and calluses are most often caused by improperly fitted shoes. Continuous rubbing or pressure can also cause both maladies. You should contact your doctor if
DIABETIC FOOT CARE is essential if you suffer from this disease. The importance of regular professional foot care to prevent foot problems cannot be emphasized enough. Diabetics should check their feet on a daily basis for redness, blistering, drainage or pain. The following guidelines are recommended to keep circulation open and the skin in good condition:
FOLLICULITIS
Folliculitis occurs when a hair follicle gets infected. This is usually caused by bacteria or fungi and rarely, chemicals or medications. The condition most commonly occurs where clothing rubs the body and the bacteria or fungi present on the skin’s surface begins to grow into the skin. Poor personal hygiene, tight fitting clothes, clogged pores, infected wounds, and long term diseases such as diabetes can all be causes as well. The infection can be spread by touching other areas of your body with your hands after coming in contact with the infected area or through personal items. Folliculitis ranges in severity from mild infections close to the skin surface to severe infections that cause pain and scarring. Some folliculitis can last up to 6 weeks, while more mild infections can clear up on its own in as little as 2 weeks if aided by topical creams. Oral antibiotics are often used for more severe infections. The primary symptom is red, tender areas of skin at or near the base of one or more strands of hair that turn into raised areas containing pus. Pustules that develop with deep folliculitis are often larger, more painful, and longer lasting than milder cases. A FRACTURE OF A BONE in the foot can vary in severity. The following is a list of types of fractures:
GANGRENE
Gangrene is the death of body tissue, often caused by loss of nutritive supply to the area followed by bacterial invasion and putrefaction. The condition most commonly occurs in the extremities. Symptoms include:
Treatment is often successful and utilizes medications and/or surgery. Three major types of gangrene exist, including moist, dry and gas gangrene. Moist and dry occur from loss of blood circulation. Gas gangrene occurs n wounds infected by anaerobic bacteria, which break down tissue by gas production and toxins. Dry gangrene can occur in conjunction with arteriosclerosis and in advanced stages of diabetes. Gangrene can spread at great speed, so it is imperative to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Prevention of gangrene includes keeping open wounds as clean as possible, paying particular attention to wounds in patients with diabetes. Avoiding malnutrition and frostbite are also key to gangrene prevention. GOUT is a common, recurrent condition of joint inflammation. It is most common in the big toe joint, but can involve any of the joints of the limbs. If left untreated, the joints may be permanently damaged and surrounding tissues inflamed. Kidney stones are also a possibility.
Signs and symptoms include:
Gout can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs or other medications to decrease the production of uric acid. Warm or cold compresses may provide some relief. HAMMER TOES, MALLET TOES, AND CLAW TOES Hammer toes, mallet toes, and claw toes are deformities of the toes, with each deformity involving a different joint or combination of joints. Many times, the muscles controlling toe movement become unbalanced, causing the toes to bend at odd angles at one or more of the joints, causing pain and discomfort. Hammer toe often occurs in the second toe, next to the big toe.
Hammer, Mallet and claw toes have a variety of causes.
Toe joint disorders take time to develop. While fixed deformities cannot be remedied without surgery, flexible deformities can be straightened out by hand. Semi rigid deformities can only be straightened out partially. Nonsurgical treatment is the first choice for both mild and severe toe joint deformities. Hammer toes and mallet toes may require surgery if other treatment options fail. Claw toes more often require surgery, but nonsurgical treatment is often tried first. Nonsurgical options for fixed deformities include:
ICHTHYOSIS Ichthyosis is excessive dryness, roughness or scaliness of the skin. This is caused by increased keratinization of the skin, or excessive accumulation of large amounts of dead skin cells. The condition may develop in association with a variety of diseases or may be genetic. A defect in the metabolism of skin cells commonly known as “corneocytes” can cause this condition. There are varying forms of ichthyosis, but all cause dry, scaly skin. INFECTIOUS ARTHRITIS is an infection of any joint due to bacteria or fungi causing inflammation. These tiny organisms can be introduced into a joint via the bloodstream, joint trauma, or infection. Signs and symptoms include:
If infectious arthritis is suspected, get to your doctor's office immediately. Delayed treatment can cause irreversible joint damage. Antibiotic therapy, pain medications, and splints or casts may be used. In severe cases, IV therapy or surgical debridement may be necessary to remove infected fluid and tissues. INGROWN TOENAILS Ingrown toenails can be caused by improper trimming, tight-fitting shoes, injury to the toe or heredity. An ingrown nail is when the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling and sometimes, a bacterial infection. This condition most often occurs on the big toe.
Treatment for severely ingrown nails may include:
For patients suffering from diabetes or peripheral vascular diseases, immediate attention to ingrown toenails is necessary. Untreated nail injuries can cause infection, foot ulcers, or a variety of other serious problems. Prevention includes proper nail cutting techniques (no rounding the nails!) and by wearing properly fitting shoes. JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS is an inflammation of the joints seen in children around the ages of 2-5. It is inherited and cannot be prevented. The body's immune system attacks normal body tissue, causing a painful inflammatory reaction. Signs and symptoms include:
Treatment usually includes anti-inflammatory drugs and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Surgery may be necessary for deformed joints. Biannual eye exams are recommended, as are plenty of sleep, physical therapy, exercise and protective splints. FUNGAL NAIL INFECTIONS Fungal nail infections can be caused by several types of fungus. These include dermatophytes, yeasts and molds. Most infections occur in the skin under the nail or in the nail itself and are most commonly caused by dermatophytes (the same fungus that causes athlete’s foot). Ingrown toenails or injuries, poorly fitting shoes and athlete’s foot can all lead to a fungal infection. Fungal nail infections can be contagious. They tend to recur even after successful treatment, so good preventive care is a must. Symptoms include:
Treatment varies depending on the severity of the infection. Early treatment is necessary to protect the nail from permanent damage. PSORIASIS is a frequently recurring skin condition associated with a rheumatic disease or autoimmune disorder. This disease causes the epidermis to thicken at a rapid rate.
Signs and symptoms include:
Psoriasis is not a curable disease but can be treated with oatmeal baths, moisturizers, coal tar ointments, topical cortisones, and medication. Warmer climates and sun exposure can also help. PYOGENIC GRANULOMA is a benign
nodule that can occur anywhere on the body. The granulation-like
tissue often occurs at the site of trauma. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS is a chronic, systemic condition involving the joints. Joint inflammation occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissue. Signs and symptoms include:
To help relieve the pain, heat, hot water soaks, whirlpool baths, heat lamps, and heating pads may be applied to affected joints 15-20 minutes 3 times per day. Prescription drugs can also be helpful, as can corticosteroid injections. Exercise, physical therapy and a well balanced diet are also recommended. SPIDER AND VARICOSE VEINS
are formed by the dilation of a small group of blood vessels located
close to the surface of the skin. They usually pose no heath hazard,
but may cause a dull aching in the legs after prolonged standing.
TENDINITIS Injury to the Achilles tendon can be detrimental to your foot’s health since this tendon is used in every foot movement. Two types of tendinitis can occur. Tendinosis involves the breakdown of the connective tissue that contributes to tendon strength. This condition causes pain and loss of strength and movement.
The other type of tendonitis is an Achilles rupture when the tendon is either partially or completely torn. This also causes pain and loss of strength and movement. The most common causes are sports, such as running but simple movements can also cause the condition. The best prevention is wearing proper footwear and conditioning yourself properly for any physical activity. Symptoms include:
TINEA VERSICOLOR Tinea versicolor is a skin rash characterized by small spots on the skin accompanied by flaking. The spots may be white, pink, red, tan or brown depending on the person's pigmentation.
The rash is caused by a type of fungus present on the surface of the skin. High humidity causes the fungus to grow more rapidly, resulting in a skin rash. The condition is not contagious. Symptoms include:
Treatment consists of topical products or antifungal pills. Many times, the condition will reoccur within 1 to 2 years. WARTS are caused by viruses and are usually the result of contact with an infected individual. They appear as small, rough bumps on the skin. Not all warts require treatment because up to 2/3 of warts will go away within two years on their own. However, treatment includes:
Your podiatrist will be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment for you. |
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