Severe Foot Pain May Benefit Greatly from Surgery
If you suffer from severe foot pain, you might discover that foot surgery may be necessary. Foot surgery repairs many reasons such as a broken bone, structural damage or to relieve foot pain caused by another condition.
Many foot conditions that go untreated will need surgery as the only means to correct the conditions such as:
• Bunions: When all other non surgical treatments such as supports, pads or wearing roomy shoes don’t work, or when the bunions have gotten too big, surgery may be required. The most common way to correct a bunion with surgery is shaving the bump and realigning the bones. Recovery time for this type of surgery is approximately 4 weeks. You are never completely off your feet, but rest and elevation are important for the first two weeks.
• Hammertoes can become more rigid and foot surgery is the only solution to relieve the pain and discomfort. The most common surgical procedure is called arthroplasty, where a small section of the bone is removed from the affected area. Recovery time for this type of foot surgery is mainly pain for 2 to 3 days and can be controlled by ibuprofen or Tylenol.
• Calluses and corn removal may result in surgery if all non-surgical treatments don’t work and/or if the pain on your foot, from the callus or corn, becomes too much. A doctor will cut away the callus or corn, or will need to change the underlying bone structure. Recovery time for this type of foot surgery could be pain lasting for 2 to 3 days and can be controlled by ibuprofen or Tylenol.
• Flat foot that goes untreated can lead to deformity of the foot and/or excessive pronation (ankles turn inward) and foot surgery is the only way to correct the problem. Most surgeries involve removing a wedge of bone to change the angle of the heel bone. Recovery time for this type of foot surgery can last for up to several weeks as the foot will need to be casted and immobilized.
• Morton’s Neuroma, when all non surgical treatments don’t work surgery is usually necessary. There are generally two ways to have surgery: Making an incision from the top of the foot and removing the affected nerve, or making an incision from the bottom of the foot. Most surgeons prefer going from the top of the foot because the recovery time is much faster. Most patients can walk right away whereas if the surgery is performed from the bottom the patient will need to stay off their foot for several days.
Foot Health Tips for Summer
Posted by drchrismilkie in General, Orthotics, Toenail fungus on July 4, 2010
I would like to share with you my Top Ten Summer Tips for Foot Health. Obviously, we expose our feet much more during the summer season, and have less support in our summer shoes. Add to that the heat and sun… well here goes:
1. Apply sunscreen to the top of your feet. Whether it’s going barefoot at the beach or around the pool, or wearing flip flops, our feet are much more exposed to direct sunlight. Applying sunscreen is easily forgotten but just as important as any other part of the body. Since the skin on our feet is less exposed to sunlight throughout the year, it is important to use at least 30 SPF sunscreen. Don’t let the fun of a day in the sun be ruined by the pain of sunburned feet.
2. Wear flip flops in public places such as pools, showers, and hotels. it is great protection against fungus and warts.
3. If you have othotics, wear them in the summer just as you would any other time of year.
4. Don’t go into a pool or lake with a suspected foot infection.
5. Wear a high quality pair of walking or running shoes at all our wonderful festivals and the State Fair.
6. Treat sweaty feel with an over-the-counter anti-fungual foot powder such as Zeasorb.
7. Avoid flip flops, bare feet and sandals when walking and standing for along period of time.
8. Wearing water shoes in lakes provides protection against injury form broken glass or sharp sticks or rocks.
9. Stress injuries to the feet increase in the summer, so ease into any outdoor exercises and activities.
10. Most foot problems can be fixed without surgery, so don’t wait to be seen because you are afraid of being laid up in the summer.
Discovering The Secrets Of Softer Feet
Posted by articlemanager in General on June 17, 2010
Are you tired of unsightly, rough feet and heels? Do you avoid wearing sandals or going barefoot in the warmer months due to your shame surrounding your imperfect feet? If you desire smooth, soft feet, then look no further: The secrets of achieving softer feet and heels aren’t that difficult to uncover! Furthermore, they definitely won’t break the bank, as most of these tips involve some inexpensive products that can be purchased at your local drugstore. If you want to finally have feet and heels that you can be proud to show off during the summer and spring months, then follow these simple and easy to do tips.
-Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate! One of the best ways to achieve beautiful heels and feet is by regularly exfoliating with either a chemical or manual exfoliant. A manual exfoliant is basically a scrub or a pumice stone, which works to gently remove the top layer of dead skin, leaving you with a smooth, healthy finish. Or, if you would prefer to use a chemical exfoliant, seek out an alpha hydroxy acid lotion or cream such as AmLactin. If you have especially stubborn dry or cracked heels, try using these two methods together for amazing results.
-Thick Creams. After you have used either one or both of the two exfoliation methods above, layer a thick cream over your dry feet and heels. While there are hundreds upon thousands of foot creams on the market, all that really matters is that the cream you select is of a thick consistency and has moisturizing ingredients such as vitamin E or jojoba oil. You don’t need to invest in one of the high-end creams to see results. Rather, just pick any inexpensive cream that has these moisturizing properties; the packaging doesn’t even need to indicate that the product is intended solely for the feet (no pun intended!). Some great and trusted brands are Eucerin and Dove.
-Always Wear Socks. Always wear socks when you are working out in athletic shoes. Although it may seem counterintuitive, nothing will dry out the feet quicker than being drenched in sweat with no absorptive material between your feet and your shoes. Ideally, you should coat your feet with a moisturizer before slipping into your shoes and socks. This will ensure the best chance of keeping your feet and heels nicely moisturized while you work out.
Just follow these beauty secrets, and you are sure to have lovely feet and heels in no time!
Learning To Say No To These Foot Disasters
Posted by articlemanager in Foot Pain, Toenail fungus on June 15, 2010
If you are a woman who strives to look her best, then chances are that your feet take quite a beating everyday! All joking aside, some of the most common foot practices of women can be quite detrimental to their long-term foot health. Between high-heeled shoes, locker room bathrooms, and public footbaths and spas, women put themselves at risk for foot problems nearly every day. To help you avoid several visits to your local podiatry clinic, here are some tips to help you avoid these foot care disasters. While some of them may seem like they are taking away your right to beautiful shoes and pedicures, believe this: your feet will thank you in the long run!
*Just Say No To High-Heeled Shoes. OK, so you probably think that giving up your high-heel collection would be a fate worse than death. But trust this: these high-heeled stiletto monsters are absolute torture on your feet. They can indeed cause a score of long-term foot problems, including everything from bunions, nerve damage in your toes, and ankle and heel pain. If you simply must keep high-heels as part of your wardrobe, strive to only wear high-heels that fall around one inch. And invest in some comfy gel inserts so you can create some much-needed arch support in these stressful shoes.
*Just Say No To Infection Hotbeds. If you workout or stay in hotels frequently, you are probably putting yourself at risk for warts and toenail fungus without even realizing it. Indeed, every time you walk on a gym locker room or hotel bathroom floor without shower shoes or flip-flops, you are seriously risking picking up the human papilloma virus (HPV, also known as the pesky little virus behind unsightly plantar warts) and toenail fungus. To ensure that you avoid these nasty little problems, always sport a pair of flip-flops or shower shoes when you walk in one of these public places.
*Just Say No To Spa Footbaths. Next time you are getting a pedicure, ask that the manicurist soak your feet in a basin of lukewarm water instead of submerging them in one of those public footbaths. The jets can be a hotbed of bacteria and viruses, all of which can cause a slew of foot and nail related problems.
It is pretty easy for the average woman to acquire a foot problem or condition thanks to the aforementioned culprits. But if you follow these easy tips, you are sure to keep your feet healthy and beautiful.
How To Never Get A Plantar Wart Again
Posted by articlemanager in Foot Pain, General, Kids & Teens on June 13, 2010
If you have had a plantar wart, then you know how unsightly and even painful they can be. These flat warts usually strike patients on the bottoms of their feet and toes, and can often make walking a painful experience. As you may know, removing and treating warts can often involve expensive laser treatments and repeated liquid nitrogen treatments. As with any other condition, prevention is always the best medicine. Plantar warts are no different than any other foot condition – while never one hundred percent preventable; there are indeed some great ways to almost ensure that you are never plagued with these unsightly warts again. Here are the best ways to avoid ever getting a plantar wart again.
- Keep Your Feet Dry – Warts thrive in moist shoes and socks. One of the best ways to ensure that you never get a wart again is to keep your shoes and socks as dry as possible at all times. If you are planning on working out or running, bring an extra pair of socks to change into immediately after you finish your exercise or activity. Never, ever workout without wearing socks, either. It is crucial that you wear clean socks during every workout, as this ensures that your shoes stay dry and clean. Clean socks are just as important as dry socks, too. Only wear socks that have been freshly washed.
- Public Bathrooms – Never walk barefoot in the bathrooms or locker rooms of hotels, public gyms, or in any other shared or public facility. Plantar warts are quite contagious, and they thrive in the moist and publicly shared environments such as these. Instead, invest in a cheap pair of shower shoes or flip-flops, and wear them at all times when you are using a shared locker room or bathroom. This will greatly diminish your chances of picking up plantar warts, in addition to helping you ensure that you keep your feet clean.
Remember: Cleanliness and dryness are the two main key points when it comes to avoiding picking up plantar warts. If you practice these “clean and dry feet” tactics, you are almost sure to never pick up any unwanted plantar warts. There is no way to absolutely guarantee that you will never pick up plantar warts – but if you practice these techniques, your chances will be greatly, greatly diminished. Remember – clean, dry feet are indeed happy feet!