Definition:
A bunion is an enlargement at the base of the big toe
caused by misalignment of the joint. It may be swollen,
tender and painful with the wearing of footwear.
What might a podiatrist do?
Perform a physical exam of the foot, perform X-ray
evaluation, padding or taping, prescribe orthotics,
perform surgery as indicated.
WHAT ARE CORNS OR CALLUSES?
Definition:
A callus or corn is a build up of skin that forms at
points of pressure or over boney prominences. Calluses
from on the bottom side of the foot, corns form on the
top of the foot and between the toes.
Causes:
Repeated friction and pressure from skin rubbing against
boney areas or against an irregularity in a shoe, as well
as hereditary disorders.
What might a podiatrist do?
Perform a physical examination, perform X-ray evaluation
if needed, perform trimming or padding of the lesions,
surgery as needed.
WHAT IS A NEUROMA?
Definition:
A neuroma is a painful condition often referred to as a
pinched nerve, swollen nerve, or nerve tumor. It is
defined more specifically as a benign growth of nerve
tissue frequently found between the third and fourth
toes. This may result in pain, burning, tingling, or
numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
Causes:
Improper or ill-fitting shoes, trauma, high heeled
shoes, heredity.
What might a podiatrist do?
A physical examination, X-ray evaluation to rule out
other causes, padding and taping, custom orthotics, and
inflammatory medication, administer cortisone injections
or perform surgery as needed.
WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS / HEEL PAIN?
Definition:
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the long band of
connective tissue running from the heel to the ball of
the foot, heel spur syndrome is a boney overgrowth on the
heel bone, Plantar fasciitis and heel spur syndrome
affect women more than men, The bottom of the foot and
arch can become more painful.
Causes:
Stretching the long band of tissue that connects the
heel and the ball of the foot, muscle imbalance, bone
deformity, obesity, trauma, tightness of the muscles on
the back of the leg.
What might a podiatrist do?
Perform a physical examination, X-ray evaluation,
recommend taping, prescribe orthotic devices, prescribe
appropriate medication, administer injections or perform
surgery as needed.
WHAT IS A FUNGAL NAIL?
Definition:
Nail Fungus is a chronic condition with implications for
patients that go beyond the nail. When left untreated a
fungal nail condition may affect physical and
psychological wellbeing for many years. While not life
threatening, the overall affects of this infection
elevate its status to that of an important medical
disorder.
Fungal nail is an infection:
patients
with a fungal
nail condition may present nail discoloration, nail
thickening, scaling, and/or detachment of the nail plate
from the nail bed. Although, the cosmetic aspect of a
fungal nail may be a concern, the problems induced may
go much deeper.
More than 50% of patients with fungal nail experience
pain and discomfort
A study on quality of life found significantly poorer
ratings for general health and body pain in patients
with fungal nail than in healthy subjects.
What might a podiatrist do?
When a fungal nail is diagnosed it should be treated
with appropriate drug regimens to achieve a cure whether
topically (cream, soaks, or nail lacquer) for the mild
to moderate conditions and orally for moderate to severe
nail conditions. Your podiatrist will choose the proper
treatment for you.
WHAT IS ATHLETE'S FOOT?
Definition:
Athlete's foot is a common infection of the skin
characterized by itching, scaling, redness, and
the formation of small blisters. In general
these lesions start between the toes and can
extend to the borders and bottom of the foot.
The fungus has the potential to spread to the
toenails, causing them to become thickened,
discolored and painful. In this case the
infection is called
onychomycosis. While this infection is
common among athletes, keep in mind that can
affect athletes and non-athletes alike.
Causes
The feet are vulnerable because shoes commonly
create a warm, dark and humid environment that
encourages fungal growth.
Athletes foot can also be contracted in
dressing rooms, hotel and locker room showers
and swimming pool locker rooms where bare feet
may come in contact with the fungus.
What Can You Do?
Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventive
measure. Practice good foot hygiene including
daily washing of the feet with soap and water;
drying feet carefully, especially between the
toes. Change shoes regularly and wear acrylic or
cotton soaks.
What might a podiatrist do? The podiatrist might prescribe topical or oral
anti-fungal medication,
WHAT IS A FLAT FOOT / FALLEN
ARCHES?
Definition:
A flat foot is a structural deformity
resulting in the lowering of the arch of
the foot. This is usually due to
hyperpronation.
In layman’s terms we refer to this as
fallen arches. A person with a flat foot
or a highly arched foot that is fairly
painful is in need of treatment. People
with flat feet may have other foot
related problems such as ankle, knee,
hip or lower back pain.
Causes
The main causes of flat feet or fallen
arches are, heredity, arthritis, trauma,
musculoskeletal disorders.
What
Can You Do? Wear supportive shoes.
What
might a podiatrist do? The podiatrist will perform a
physical examination and gait analysis,
take X-rays and prescribe custom
orthotics.
Surgical options include an extensive
flat foot reconstruction procedure or
the use of a sinus tarsi titanium
implant ie:
HyProCure.
WHAT IS A HAMMER TOE?
Definition: A
hammer toe is a contraction deformity, resulting in
a boney prominence on top of or in between the toes
of the feet.
Causes Hammer toe can be caused by: improper,
ill-fitting or high heel shoes, trauma or heredity.
What Can You Do?
Change to shoes with lower heels, wear supportive
shoes with a roomy toe box and soak and ice your
toe.
What might a podiatrist do? A
podiatrist will perform a physical examination, take
X-rays and evaluate. Recommend padding and taping,
prescribe
orthotics and anti-inflammatory
medication.
The podiatrist may also administer cortisone
injections, perform surgery if needed or inject a
collagen filler.
WHAT ARE PLANTAR WARTS?
Definition:
Warts are one of several soft tissue condition of
the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused
by a virus, which generally invades the skin through
small or invisible cuts and abrasions. They can
appear anywhere on the skin, but, technically, only
those on the sole are properly called plantar warts.
Children, especially teenagers, are often more
susceptible to warts than adults; some people seem
to be immune. Identification
Problems Most warts are harmless, even though they may be
painful. They are often mistaken for corns or
calluses – which are layers of dead skin that build
up to protect an area which is being continuously
irritated. The wart, however, is a viral infection.
It is also possible for a variety of more serious
lesions to appear on the foot, including melanomas.
Although rare, these conditions can sometime be
misidentified as a wart. It is wise to consult a
podiatrist when any suspicious growth or eruption is
detected on the skin of the foot in order to ensure
a correct diagnosis. Plantar warts tend to be hard
and flat with a rough surface and well-defined
boundaries; warts are generally raised and fleshier
when they appear on the top of the foot or on the
toes. Plantar warts are often gray or brown (but the
color may vary), with a center that appears as one
or more pinpoints of black. It is important to note
that warts can be very resistant to treatment and
have tendency to reoccur.
Sources Of Virus The plantar wart is often contracted by walking
barefoot on dirty surfaces or littered ground where
the virus is lurking. The causative virus thrives in
warm, moist environments, making infection a common
occurrence in communal bathing facilities. If left
untreated, warts can grow to an inch or more in
circumference and can spread into clusters of
several warts; these are often called mosaic warts.
Like any other infectious lesion, plantar warts are
spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact
with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also
bleed - another route for spreading. Occasionally,
warts can spontaneously disappear after a short
time, and, just as frequently, they can recur in the
same location. When plantar warts develop on the
weight-bearing areas of the foot – the ball of the
foot, or the heel, for example – they can be the
source of sharp, burning pain. Pain occurs when
weight is brought to bear directly on the wart,
although pressure on the side of a wart can create
equally intense pain.
What Can You Do?
• Avoid walking barefoot, except on the sandy
beaches.
• Change shoes and socks daily.
• Keep feet clean and dry.
• Check children’s feet periodically.
• Avoid direct contact with warts – from other
persons or from
other parts of the body.
• Do not ignore growths on, or changes in, your
skin.
• Visit your podiatric physician as part of your
annual health checkup.
Self
treatment is generally not advisable.
Over-the-counter preparations contain acids or
chemicals that destroy skin cells, and it takes an
expert to destroy abnormal skin cells (warts)
without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue.
Self
treatment with such medications especially should be
avoided by people with diabetes and those with
cardiovascular or circulatory disorders. NEVER use
them in the presence of an active infection
What
Might The Podiatrist Do?
It is possible that your podiatrist will prescribe
and supervise your use of a wart-removal
preparation. More likely, however, removal of warts
by a simple surgical procedure, performed under
local anesthetics, may be indicated. Lasers have
become a common and effective treatment. A procedure
known as C02 laser cautery is performed under local
anesthesia either in your podiatrist’s office
surgical setting or an outpatient surgery facility.
The laser reduces post-treatment scarring and is a
safe form for eliminating wart lesions.
WHAT IS ACHILLES TENDONITIS
Athletes who over train or don't do warm-up exercises
can experience an irritation and inflammation of the
tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone. It
can be treated with ice, rest, aspirin and
anti-inflammatory medication. Chronic pain or any
swelling should be professional evaluated.
