Posts Tagged Foot Pain
Care of Painful Foot Blisters: Avoiding Serious Complications
Posted by drchrismilkie in General on November 14, 2009
Did you wear a pair of tight fitting shoes for an all day shopping event and now your toe hurts? Was your young daughter so very excited to try her new roller blades but now she complains of sore spots on her ankles? What is common to both situations? A foot blister has developed. A blister is a bump filled with fluid that often looks like a bubble.
Now that you have a blister, what do you do to make the pain and discomfort go away? You will be happy to learn that blisters usually can heal on their own. Using proper foot care, you will have relief of foot pain quickly and with minimal effects on your body.
If the pain is bearable, try and do everything you can to keep the blister from breaking. Keeping the blister intact is nature’s way to keep out bacteria and lower the risk of infection. Only cover the blister if it rubs against something. If the blister does rub against something, make sure the blister is covered with a loose band aide, making sure that the tape is not on the blister itself. A large blister is best covered with a gauze pad which gives the sore a chance to breathe and helps absorb moisture. If the blister is on the bottom of your foot you will want to cover it with moleskin band aide which has a hole for the blister.
You only want to pop a blister if it’s painful or prevents you from walking. (If you are diabetic or have poor circulation, you should ask your doctor or podiatrist before doing this on your own feet.) Popping a blister usually helps decrease the pain because you allow the fluid to drain out. Make sure you leave the skin intact to prevent infection.
Important things to remember before taking care of your blister:
• Make sure you wash your hands and blister with soap and water. (Blisters can easily become infected)
• Wipe the blister with iodine or alcohol
• Sterilize a sharp needle by wiping with alcohol or putting it in flame
• Use the needle to puncture the blister several places along the edge. Allow the fluid to drain out and leave the skin alone
• Put an antibiotic ointment on the blister and cover with a bandage or gauze pad.
• After several days you will be to cut away the dead skin. Make sure the tweezers or scissors you used have been sterilized with rubbing alcohol. Apply more antibiotic ointment and a fresh bandage.
Foot blisters usually heal on their own with minimal care. However, if you do see signs of infection – redness, pus, increase pain, or warm to the touch- call your podiatrist. Otherwise, with time and good sanitary precaution, your skin should be good as new.
What You Need to Know About Your Diabetic Foot Problems
Posted by drchrismilkie in General on November 14, 2009
If you suffer from foot pain and are diabetic, you may be wondering if the two are connected. This foot pain can be of various degrees. For some people the pain is mild. For others the foot pain is so intense and painful that it limits them from doing many of their daily activities, such as walking and even driving. Foot pain is very individual.
For some people, symptoms of neuropathy develop before diabetes is ever diagnosed. Neuropathy is defined as nerve damage caused by diabetes. If peripheral nerves are damaged, this is referred to as peripheral neuropathy. This is commonly seen with the diabetic foot as nerves in the feet and lower leg are often affected. Sometimes just one nerve may be damage; this is called focal neuropathy and may also affect the foot. The difference between the two is that focal neuropathy occurs quickly awhile peripheral neuropathy gets worse over time.
It has been found that high blood sugars over time may damage nerves which results in neuropathy. A diabetic who has high blood sugars and drinks a lot of alcohol also increases their chance of nerve damage. With age, about half the people who are diabetic may eventually develop neuropathy. Take note of how your feet feel currently. The damage usually gets worse over time. Comprehensive foot care is vital.
Here are some descriptions of the pain you might be suffering from:
• You may feel in your toes or balls of your feet a sensation much like tingling, prickling or burning. This pain travels upward through the feet and legs.
• You may also experience a sensation like electricity going through your feet. For many who suffer with this, they identify that the pain is worse at night than during the day.
• You may also experience extreme sensitivity to very light touch. For some people with neuropathy, even putting on socks and shoes can be very painful.
• While you might not consider this experiencing pain, take note of numbness or the lack of sensation in your feet. This is very important and can result in lots of complications for an individual with a diabetic foot.
Foot pain should be taken seriously and should not be ignored. Diabetic neuropathy is a very serious complication of diabetes. Work closely with your doctor and take charge of your health. It is important to remember that you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with good blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle. This should be your first line of defense. Once you have the foot pain, you need to be your own advocate. Talk with other diabetics who have found relief. Work closely with your doctor, and/or your podiatrist to find the treatment that best fits your feet.
Pain In The Ball Of The Foot
Posted by drchrismilkie in General on September 10, 2009
One of the most common locations of foot pain is the ball. By the ball, I am referring to the entire pad before each toe, not just under the big toe. This area is subject to tremendous pressure every step we take. It is a wonder it holds up so well in spite of the abuse it takes.
Outside of an injury, the two most conditions that affect the ball of the foot are a pinched nerve and an inflammed joint. The most comon location of a pinched nerve is between the 3rd and 4th toes. The symptoms consist of aching, sharpness, burning or numbness. There are several causes of a pinched nerve including narrow shoes.
An inflammed joint on the ball of the foot is extremely common. Any joint can be affected but the one next to the big toe is overwhelming the most common. Many people describe this pain as a feeling of something bunched up like their sock. A person with flat feet is most prone to this condition. Flat feet mechanically forces more weight on this joint.
Some of the other common causes of pain in the ball of the foot are wearing shoes with little cushion, extremely high arches, standing on concrete all day and wearing away of the protective foot pad. The symptoms are generally all similar including aching, throbbing, burning, sharpness and numbness.
Most conditions in the ball of the foot can be successfully treated in the office. Like many other foot problems, if left untreated, the body will compenate leading to pain elsewhere. If you experience pain in the ball of the foot, start by wearing quality supportive shoes consistently. If the pain persists, then call my office and tell us you need to be be seen.
Podiatrists Prescribe Orthotics To Alleviate Common Foot Problems
Posted by drchrismilkie in Orthotics on August 3, 2009
When your feet hurt, even the simplest task can be agonizing. Consumers often look for quick relief, particularly to over-the-counter insoles or arch supports, to ease pain commonly caused by foot conditions or improperly fitted footwear. What these over-the-counter products lack is a medical diagnosis. Prescription orthotic devised prescribed by Podiatrists are designed specifically for your foot. They are intended to correct common ailments or abnormal walking patterns and aid in alleviating foot pain. These days, retail store advertising “custom-made” inserts, arch supports and insoles are cropping up on street corners across the country. Research suggests that many people who wear orthotics purchase them in a retail store rather than from a trained health care professional. While all these foot health products tout similar remedies, buyers can benefit from understanding the differences between medically prescribed orthotic devises and over-the-counter shoe inserts. Dr. Milkie offers the following guidance for consumers purchasing a device to help save their feet and wallets from the agony of ineffective or damaging foot care products. 1. Don’t live with foot pain. A Podiatrist provides comprehensive care by examining, diagnosing and treating foot pain. Based on a patient’s diagnosis, Podiatrists often prescribe orthotics as a conservative approach to many common foot ailments. Only a licensed health care professional can diagnosis and prescribe medical treatments, including orthotics. 2. Find the prescription that’s right for you. Prescribed orthotic devices fall into three broad categories: a. RIGID, which primarily attempt to maintain the foot in the proper functional position; b. SOFT, which offer minimal support but primarily help absorb shock, increase balance, and take pressure off sore spots, and c. SEMI-RIGID, which provide a combination of functional support and balance while walking or participating in sports. Wearing the wrong type of shoe insert can be detrimental to feet, especially for people with diabetes or arthritis. Additionally, the more rigid the device, the greater chance the patient has of developing complications. Spending more can get you less. Not all over-the-counter shoe inserts are effective no matter the price. Consulting with a Podiatrist before trying products from retail stores can help consumers select a device that treats their ailment, thus saving them time, pain and money. Beware of the build-up. Consumers shoud be wary of products with lofty claims or promises of comfort based soley on size. Without proper diagnosis, even “custom-made” inserts can be inadequate.
IGI
Pain In the Ball of the Foot Could Be Serious
Posted by drchrismilkie in General on July 22, 2009
The ball of the foot is one of the most common areas of foot pain. The ball is the entire pad before each toe, covering the full width of the foot, not just the area under the big toe. The pain can have many causes; additionally, this area is subjected to tremendous pressure with every step we take. It’s a wonder it holds up so well in spite of the wear and tear it receives.
Outside of an injury, the two most common conditions that affect the ball of the foot are a pinched nerve and an inflamed joint. The most common location of a pinched nerve is between the 3rd and 4th toes, while an inflamed joint usually shows up on the toe next to the big toe.
The symptoms of a pinched nerve (morton’s neuroma) consist of aching, sharp pain, burning or numbness. A neuroma occurs when nerve tissue begins to thicken.There are several causes of a pinched nerve, including ill-fitting shoes which put pressure on the ball of the foot; sometimes it indicates a pre-diabetic condition.
An inflamed joint in the ball of the foot is extremely common. Many people describe this pain as a feeling of something bunched up under their foot, like their sock. Generally, an inflamed joint can be attributed to an overload of weight on the ball of the foot. A person with flat feet is most prone to this condition, because flat feet mechanically force more weight on this joint. Runner’s often experience this condition from the pushing off motion, as do women who frequently wear high-heeled shoes.
Some of the other common causes of pain in the ball of the foot are wearing shoes with little cushioning, extremely high arches, standing on concrete all day, and wearing away of the protective foot pad. The symptoms are generally all similar, including aching, throbbing, burning, sharpness and numbness.
Most conditions in the ball of the foot can be successfully treated by a podiatrist. Like many other foot problems, if it is left untreated the body will compensate. This can lead to pain elsewhere in the foot and in the body. If you experience pain in the ball of your foot, try wearing quality supportive shoes consistently. Alternatively, inserting a foot cushion designed to cushion the metatarsal pad can also provide relief. If the pain persists the next step is to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to avoid further damage to the foot.