Foot Problems
Plantar Fasciitis
What is Plantar
Fasciitis? The plantar fascia is a ligament-like band running from the
heel to the ball of your foot. This band pulls on the heel bone, raising
the arch of your foot as it pushes off the ground. But if your foot moves
incorrectly, the plantar fascia may become strained. The fascia may swell
and its tiny fibers may begin to fray, causing plantar
fasciitis.
Heel, Ankle & Arch
Pain
Heel, ankle and arch pain can affect your health,
comfort and attitude. When your feet hurt, it can be difficult to perform
daily tasks and to exercise regularly. It's hard to stay focused when each
step is painful. Although the causes for the pain are many, there are
highly effective methods available to relieve it.
Diabetic Ulcers
What are Diabetic Ulcers? Diabetic ulcers are sores
that occur when pressure cuts off the blood supply to the skin. Stress
caused by the body's weight and the impact of striking the ground place
the ball of the foot, the big toe, and the heel at greater risk. Left
untreated, an ulser may allow infection to enter your body. If infection
reaches the bloodstream or bone, your life or limb may be at risk. But
with your doctor's help, pressure ulcers can be controlled and even
prevented
- Common Skin & Nail
Problems
What are Ingrown Nails? An ingrown nail is the
result of a nail growing into the skin that surrounds it. This often
occurs at either edge of the big toe. Ingrown nails may be caused by
improper trimming, inherited nail deformities, injuries, fungal
infections, or pressure. A simple 15 minute office procedure will
permanently fix this problem.
What are Thickened Nails?Abnormally thick or
crumbling nails may be caused by injuries, pressure from shoes, fungal
infections, or conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, or vascular
disease. Eventually, the nail may loosen and fall off.
Bunions & Hammertoes
Bunions A bunion is
an enlarged bone on the side of the big toe that is angled outward.
Depending on the severity of the bunion, the big toe may be angled
mildly or sharply toward the other toes.
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- Hammertoes A hammertoe is an arched toe, the result of an
abnormal contraction or "buckling" that leaves the toe in a claw-like
position. Once stiffened into position, hammertoes rub against shoes and
cause painful corns and calluses. A simple 15 minute office procedure
will permanently fix this problem.
Corns & Calluses
Corns &
Calluses Corns and calluses are your body's response to friction or
pressure against the skin. If your foot rubs inside your shoe, the
affected area of skin thickens. If a bone is not in the normal position,
skin caught between bone and shoe or bone and ground builds up. In
either case, the outer layer of the skin thickens to protect the foot
from unusual pressure. In many cases, corns and calluses look bad but
are not harmful. However, more severe corns and calluses may become
infected, destroy healthy tissue, or affect foot movement. With your
doctor's help, corns and calluses can be controlled.
Warts
What are
Warts? A wart is an infection caused by a virus, which can invade
your skin through small cuts or breaks. Over time, the wart develops
into a hard and rough growth on the surface of the skin. A wart is most
commonly seen on the bottom of the foot (plantar wart), but can also
appear on the top. Children, teens, and people with allergies or
weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to the wart
virus.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle
Sprains are caused by sudden sideways motion, a twist, or a misstep.
When your foot lands off balance, muscles may give way, allowing the
ankle joint to move too far. If ligaments connecting the foot and
anklebones overstretch or tear, a sprain is the result. These
sudden injuries cause pain both at the time they occur and throughout
the healing process. Depending on the sprain, swelling and bruising may
extend from your ankle into your foot. With proper care, however,
sprains will heal correctly. And, in many cases, you can reduce the risk
of reinjury.
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