Foot swelling – probable causes and remedies

Having swollen feet can be really problematic. You can’t stand for long, walk properly and of course can’t flaunt your fancy footwear. Certain work conditions demand standing for long hours. This may result in foot swelling. While you can’t stop working just because you need to stand continuously, but if the problem persists for long then this may signal towards other complications. Often people have this tendency to ignore foot conditions, thinking that these would heal naturally. The fact is that your feet actually act as indicator for other serious health problems. Hence don’t ignore foot pain or swelling. Causes of sudden foot swelling are many, few of which are discussed here.

Pregnancy is bliss but the would-be-mom has to endure several irritating health complications, feet swelling being one of them. However if the problem continues and takes serious shape then this may be a sign of over-pronation and edema. Sudden rise in high blood pressure level and protein in urine may trigger this problem along with some other complications like abdominal pain, headache, etc. Few precautionary measures, like using proper footwear or keeping your feet in an elevated position if sitting for long can reduce swelling to great extent. Foot or ankle injury, especially an ankle sprain can lead to inflammation. Best way to reduce the swelling effect is avoid putting much stress on the injured part. Doctors often prescribe compression bandage or ice packs for sprains and swellings. Foot infections can take serious shape, mainly for diabetic patients or those with nerve problems. This may result in sudden swelling of feet and ankles. Hence those suffering from diabetic neuropathy need to consult a podiatrist from time to time, whenever they notice any abnormality in their feet.

If you ever experience swelling of one leg, along with low-grade fever as well as change in color of the affected leg then this in all probability is because of blood clot. While superficial clots occurring just beneath the skin may not be that serious but the deeper ones can prove to be life-threatening. These can block major veins of your leg thus affecting heart or lungs. Venous insufficiency is another condition which can cause feet and ankle swelling. Damaged valves fail to carry blood from feet and legs up to the heart which results in blood leaking back down and getting deposited in softer tissues of your ankles and feet.

Certain medications have side effects. Those who have to take regular medicine for high blood pressure, depression or diabetes are prone to foot inflammation. Again drugs related to hormone replacement therapy may also lead to ankle or foot swelling. It is not possible for a common man to know about such side effects. However, if certain foot conditions develop within few days of starting the new medicine then prompt action is advised.

Don’t just consult any general physician for foot problems. Get the guidance of an expert podiatric physician who is the right person to understand the gravity of the situation. Remember that your foot is one significant body part whose erratic functioning can come in the way of healthy living.

Know various effective options to get rid of heel spur

Heel is a significant portion of the foot which supports body weight. When this body weight starts causing discomfort it may result in heel pain. Soreness mainly occurs just under the heel or behind it. Sometimes the pain goes away with adequate rest. However the situation can turn grave with development of heel spurs which are abnormal bone growths extending from the heel bone or from the side. Because of excess calcium deposits the plantar fascia, i.e. the ligament, stretches away from the heel, thus causing ache. Heel spur is one condition which is not noticed within a day or two but is caused over an elongated period.

Before talking about the treatment, it is important to know what causes heel spur. Overuse or heavy stress on the plantar fascia may result in heel pain. Athletes whose activities mainly include running or jumping are prone to this foot condition. People who suffer from arthritis or gait can’t walk properly. This may result in putting greater stress on the heel portion or the ligament. Obesity and excessive body weight may also cause heel spur. So, next time you gorge on that cheese cake, think twice! Poorly fitted shoes, especially the ones without proper arch support are to blame too for heel problems.

Sometimes people develop heel spur but remain oblivious of that simply because they don’t feel any pain. Yes, this is the fact. Problem starts when the spur protrudes into soft tissues around the heel area thus resulting in inflammation and pain. You may even notice bruises around the spot. Pain mostly becomes unbearable if you need to stand or walk for a long period. Many complain of severe aching while getting out from bed in the morning.

Treating heel spur is not that difficult, one effective option being orthotic shoes with good arch support and medial posting. These specially designed orthotics help control pronation, thus resulting in reduction of pain and inflammation.  If you want to get faster relief then customized orthotics is an even better option. For the purpose, you need to consult a podiatrist who will provide you with the custom-made orthotics, specifically designed to suit your particular foot condition. Such shoes may come at a cost but you can be sure of its longevity and effectiveness. Heel cup is another option to treat heel pain. These are special shoe inserts which provide perfect cushion for your sore heel. Be sure to check out for blisters if you are using heel cups for the first time. While buying footwear you need to be careful too. Select shoes with proper arch support, firm heel counter and suitable heel height. So, it’s time to sacrifice those high heeled stilettos, if you indeed want to keep your feet in perfect shape.

Foot is one body part which is often neglected. You notice it only when it starts giving problem and then consult a podiatrist when the foot condition has already turned grave. This is an absolutely wrong approach. Keep in mind that early treatment means saving time and money and of course getting faster respite.

Follow simple measures to get rid of overlapping toes

There are foot conditions which are not only painful but look really awkward too. You can’t wear fashionable footwear fearing the deformity may show off. Overlapping toes is one such disorder which can cause pain, skin irritation and disrupt normal functioning of the foot. Often other problems arise like blister and calluses on the top of toes. 

Definition of overlapping toes:-

This is one affliction that mainly affects joints in the toes. Though any of your toes may face this disorder but the 2nd and 5th toes are more likely to get affected. Sometimes overlapping toes may happen as a result of other foot conditions. 

What causes overlapping toes:-

Your grandmother or great grandmother may have suffered from this foot condition. Then there remain the risk of next generation getting affected. Yes, this is sad indeed! Then, the problem sometimes has its root in high or low arches. Many children having high arches and flat feet end up distributing their body weight unevenly on their feet. These types of foot affect the biomechanics thus causing toes to shift and overlap each other. Women suffering from Bunions are most likely to get affected with overlapping toes. It happens more with older women. 

Ill-fitting shoes are to be blamed too. If you have this habit of wearing shoes with too narrow toe boxes, then this result in toes getting squeezed together and overlap on one another. Very pointed shoes, with little room to properly accommodate all the five toes comfortably, can certainly contribute to development of overlaps. After some time, the foot condition becomes permanent. So, even while going barefoot you will feel frozenness of toes which is not at all natural.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a common problem from which many are suffering these days. Because of Arthritis, joints may become twisted thus resulting in malfunctioning of toes. 

Complications related to overlapping toes:-

For fashion conscious women such toe is definitely a stumbling block to wearing stylish footwear. While the problem may appear insignificant at the beginning but if left unattended for long it may result in some other afflictions. You may observe thickening of skin and tissues in the toe region. Many having such toes suffer from extreme pain caused by the abnormality that happens with bone structures of adjacent toes. If the overlapping turns severe, then it may result in athlete’s foot and/or cuts on the underside of toes, and sometimes inflammation too. Such situations can be real challenge for elders and those who can’t take proper care of their feet. Because of toe overlapping soft calluses start appearing between toes which if untreated become hard and turn into corns on top, where the shoe gets rubbed. Wearing shoes then become quite a painful affair. 

Treatment course

Mostly podiatrists suggest non-surgical course of treatments. The first step is to take care of the deformity which in turn means opting for shoes with wide and deep toe boxes. This helps reduce pressure and friction on the toe portion. For children the treatment should be started at an early stage. This ensures faster and accurate recovery while the child is still at a stage of development. 

Simple and specially designed orthotics can offer great relief from pain, irritation and also help restore normal position of overlapping toes. You need to consult a podiatrist physician to know which kind of orthotics best suits you. Besides, a detailed checkup is also advisable from time to time so as to prevent any severe foot condition. 

Proper functioning of your feet is the key to sound health. So, don’t ignore foot problems and don’t take any measure based on presumptions only. Get in touch with an expert to know what is ailing your feet.

How to deal with foot conditions arising out of diabetes

Diabetes, also called the silent killer is one serious disease which affects health in a serious manner. The blood glucose commonly known as blood sugar level rises to an extreme extent either because of inadequate insulin production or because body cells don’t respond to insulin. Sometimes both may happen thus worsening the condition. The end result: several complications related to heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves and skin. 

When an individual is affected with diabetes certain foot problems can take serious turn. Even ordinary problems become severe. This happens because of nerve damage when your feet loose sensation. 

Alarming foot conditions related to diabetes

• Neuropathy How does it feel when your feet can’t sense anything! No pain, heat nor cold, even if you get injured. A stone or a pin may get tucked inside your shoes and you wear it the whole day without realizing anything. Your foot may get injured but you fail to notice it till the skin breaks down and gets infected. You don’t sense any painful blisters. Yes, this sounds really creepy and dangerous! This is what diabetic neuropathy can cause to your foot – serious nerve damage. Because of neuropathy, you may notice sudden changes in the shape of feet and toes, commonly called hammer toes, Charcot feet or Bunions.
  While for some these symptoms remain mild and unnoticeable for many the neuropathy can turn out to be painful, grave and even fatal too.
  
• Skin changes
Your foot skin may turn dry, start to crack or peel. This is because nerves which control oil and moisture fail to work properly.

• Calluses
Development of callus happens more often and the growth is quite alarming. If not treated in time, these can turn into open sores or ulcers.

• Poor blood circulation
Your foot loses the ability to fight infection and heal fast. Because of diabetes blood vessels of the foot and leg become narrow and hard. Poor circulation results in inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrition to skin and other tissues.

Foot care for diabetes affected patients 

As mentioned in the very beginning, diabetes being a silent killer, often gets detected at a later stage. However by leading a healthy lifestyle and consulting a physician on regular basis, it is possible to keep this killer disease under control. For particular foot conditions arising out of diabetes, it is better to get in touch with a podiatrist. Since foot care and diabetes are closely related only an expert “foot doctor” will be able to guide you about the right course of treatment. 

Many podiatrists recommend specially designed orthotics with Plastazote foam, for diabetic foot. Plastazote, also referred as soft tissue supplementation, are available in two densities. The softest density is used for cushion on top while the firmer density offers bottom support. The best thing is that after 2 to 6 weeks of usage they mold perfectly with the curves of your feet thus providing the right comfort and protection for diabetic foot. Many diabetic patients have benefited by wearing footwear containing Plastazote foam. However, make sure that the footwear has removable insoles, high & wide toe box, rocker soles and firm heel contours. 

By following a healthy routine and keeping close watch of your foot conditions you can avert severe outcomes. To ensure protection from cuts and bruises, try to wear shoes with socks most of the time. Using heating pads to keep the foot warm can be risky since you may not feel the rising temperature. If any cut or bruise takes time to heal then get in touch with your doctor. For appropriate foot care tips, do consult an expert podiatrist.

Foot Exercises for Bunions

Bunions

This is a bony outgrowth at the joint at the base of your big toe. If you suffer from a bunion, your big toe will point towards the other toes of that foot, pushing the joint outwards. Bunions can cause, pain, swelling and tenderness. Bunions could be hereditary, or they can arise due to wearing ill fitting shoes. It occurs more often in people who have flexible joints. Certain illnesses like RA and gout could cause bunions.

Treating bunions

There are a number of ways to treat bunions. Podiatrists usually try non surgical ways to treat bunions. Only in extreme cases will foot surgery be considered. Topical pain relievers help relieve the pain and swelling. There are spongy toe separators available. These can be tucked between the big toe and the next on, stopping the big toes from projecting inwards. 

Moleskin straps help hold the big toe in position. Toe alignment splints stop the projection of the big toe inwards. Gel bunion sleeves and tube foams are helpful. You can also get lesion pads which help heal wounds created, when the protrusion of the bunion rubs against footwear causing friction and blisters. 

These orthotic devices will only reduce the pain to an extent. In most cases, they will not be able to fully stop the inward projection of the toe. It works better in children as their foot is still in a formative stage. If you seek help in the beginning stages of the formation of a bunion, orthotics may be of more help. But usually people do not realize they are suffering from bunions till they start feeling the pain. 

Exercises for preventing bunions

Doming the foot

Sit in a straight backed chair and place your feet on the floor with both your feet together, keeping your feet relaxed. Now raise the arch of your foot off the floor balancing the foot on the big toe, little toe and the heel. Do not curl your toes. Now relax your foot once more. 

Half squat heel raises

Stand with your feet parallel to one another and slightly apart. Bend your knees as you go down for a squat and then straighten up and continue on to stand balanced on your toes with your heel raised. Try balance more towards your big toe. 

Raising your heel

This can be done sitting or standing, though standing heel raises are more effective. Stand with your feet slightly apart, feet parallel to one another and raise your heel off the floor, till you are balancing your body weight on your toes. Shift the balance as much as possible onto your big toe. Then lower your feet again. 

Squat to heel spring rise

Try this out slowly first and if you feel pain anywhere, do not do this exercise. You could try it sitting down. If standing, squat halfway and then spring up till your heel is slightly off the floor. Then, go down again to squat position. If you are sitting, keep the full foot on the floor and then raise the heel off and then back down. 

Repeat each exercise ten times to start with and work up to 25 repetitions a day. If you can’t do that many repetitions in one sitting, split it up over the day. If the standing exercises cause pain, do only the sitting ones. It is better to have your podiatrist show you the right way to do these exercises, as you do not want to hurt some other part of your body while doing these exercises. With a little help you could keep the bunions at bay!

A guide to choosing athletic shoes

The wrong type of footwear

Many foot problems arise due to wearing ill fitting footwear. People think formal footwear or evening footwear when they talk about bad fitting footwear. There is a wide range of athletic footwear available in the market. What do you do when your old shoes are worn out and you need new ones? You go to your favorite footwear store, and pick up a shoe that looks good and feels good. You walk about in it, up and down the shop and if it feels comfortable, you buy it. Little do you realize that choosing the right kind of athletic footwear is as important! 

If you are a couch potato who does minimal to no exercise at all, any pair of shoes is fine. But if you do any kind of exercise, like gyming, jogging, walking etc, you need to find the right footwear that will support that kind of activity. If you are into more athletic activities like basketball or football, even if it is in the park with your colleagues or friends, it pays to buy the right kind of shoes. 

Tips to buying good athletic shoes

Every kind of exercise uses different parts of your feet. You know that different muscles are used for different sports. You can feel the tension in those muscles when performing that activity. Likewise, different spots of your feet get stressed when participating in different kinds of sports. The shoes that you wear should support the area of stress, depending on the activity that you are performing. 

Test your foot

The first step to choosing the right shoes is to understand your feet. The best way to do that is to look at your last pair of worn out shoes. Check and see which parts of the shoes are worn out. Depending on your activity and the shape of your foot and your gait, the shoe will be more worn out in certain areas. Now you know which part of your feet needs more cushioning and support.

Read up on shoes

There is a lot of material online about the different kinds of shoes available. This is not merely marketing. Most shoes these days are tested thoroughly, and used by sportspeople, before being vetted as good for that particular activity.

Talk to your podiatrist

If you have any kind of foot problem it is a good idea to talk to your podiatrist and get their inputs. They could also give you more information on splints and guards to protect your feet.

Ask the salespeople

The salesperson knows the products inside out. If you explain to them the kind of activity that you indulge in, they will be able to help you find a shoe that is designed for that activity.

Don’t multi task shoes

Many people use the same shoes for running, basketball, skipping etc. If you regularly do a number of different sports at the same time, you should have shoes that complement that sport. Otherwise by using the wrong shoe for the wrong sport, you could end up injuring yourself. For example, walking shoes are stiff, running shoes are flexible. If you alternate regularly between both these exercises, you should have different shoes for each. 

Be aware of foot change

Due to sports or age and many other reasons, the shape of your feet and your stress points could change. So you should check your old shoes for new worn out spots, and see a podiatrist and get advice before getting new shoes.

Remember, shoes can make or break your foot!

Flat feet in adults

What is flat feet?

Flat feet occur when the arch of the foot collapses. The entire foot is in contact with the floor since the arch that supports the leg has collapsed. Flat feet can be hereditary and can occur in children. When it is diagnosed in children, it can be corrected using special shoes that help raise the arch of the feet. 

Can flat feet occur in adults?

Flat feet can occur in adults because of injury or prolonged stress to the foot. This is called adult acquired flat footedness. If flat feet occur in an adult, it is due to the collapse of the arch and this acquired flat foot is permanent. The reason why flat feet occur often as people age is due to the usual and known risks like hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Flat feet can sometimes occur in pregnant women but it is usually temporary. 

Symptoms that accompany AAFD

1. There may be pain along the posterior tendon of the tibia which is on the inside of the foot or ankle. There may be swelling around the ankles.

2. Collapse of the arch may cause a shift in the heel bone and this may put pressure on the fibula causing stress related pain and swelling.

3. People who gym regularly or jog will be unable to do so if their arch collapses. Any kind of high impact activity will be quite painful and in severe cases, people can have difficulty with normal walking.

4. Old injuries or the onset of arthritis may cause an arch collapse resulting in flat footedness

5. Diabetics could get flat feet and they should be extra careful as their illness may cause numbness in the extremities and the patient may not feel pain. 

How does an arch collapse happen?

AAFD is caused when the posterior tendon of the tibia is damaged. This tendon begins at the calf and goes along the inside of the leg and attaches to the bones of the feet. This tendon is responsible for holding the arch of your foot up. If this tendon gets injured, the arch of your foot will collapse. In people with arthritis or diabetes, the steady degeneration of the tendon will lead to an eventual collapse of the arch. 

Treating AAFD

There are special shoes and other orthotics to help in the treatment of flat feet. AAFD is permanent so there is no cure for it. But your podiatrist will be able to help you treat it and lessen the pain. Some helpful products that are available for flat feet are:

• For mild cases where the pain is not so severe, gel supports that conform to the contours of your foot and have a raised arch will help support your collapsed arch. These gel supports can be fitted into any kind of shoe and worn on a regular basis.
• For a more painful AAFD, the Orthofeet BioSole-Gel Self Forming Orthotics Sport is a self-forming arch-support that uses bladder construction, filled with polyurethane foam and viscoelastic gel and shapes dynamically to the contours of the foot without bottoming out.
• In severe cases, Aircast AirLift™ PTTD Brace offers foot support and ankle stabilization. Located under the foot arch is the aircell. This is adjustable with the Hand Bulb (included with the brace). When it is inflated, the aircell can accommodate variances in arch shapes and heights and can comfortably lift the foot arch to achieve a more natural foot position.

AAFD cannot be cured but a podiatrist will be able to help you deal effectively with the symptoms that it causes!