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Prevention is important to keep you on your feetMost of us don’t give our feet much thought until there is a problem. Then we become acutely aware of just how much we depend on those two little appendages to get us where we want to go, do what we want to do, and participate in the sports in which we want to participate. There is a whole host of problems that can affect your feet and take you out of action. “The good news is there is a lot you can do to prevent foot problems and sometimes treat them at home if you are having problems,” says podiatrist Steven Wachter, DPM. “The common denominator to all these problems - and preventing them - is wearing appropriate footwear. Wearing sufficient, well-fitting footwear can save people from a lot of issues.” Some of the most common foot problems Wachter sees in his practice at New Ulm Medical Center every day include heel pain (plantar fasciitis), bunions, ingrown toenails and people with complications due to diabetes. Heel painHeel pain is most commonly caused by plantar fasciitis, but there are a few other possible causes for heel pain so it is important to have it properly diagnosed if it is not resolving itself. “One of the most obvious symptoms of plantar fasciitis is that the pain is at its worst in the morning when you first step on the foot,” Wachter said. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that stretches between the heel and the toes, Wachter explained. People who have flat feet or high-arched feet are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. While heel pain can be difficult to eliminate once it presents itself, there are several things you can do to lessen the pain such as wearing inserts to support your arches, icing your heel several times a day to help reduce inflammation, anti-inflammatory medications and, if you are overweight, achieving and maintaining the appropriate weight can take a lot of stress off the foot. If these steps are not providing relief, Wachter said, “a podiatrist can tape the foot temporarily for some initial relief, followed by additional custom made arch supports. A cortisone shot or physical therapy may also be helpful to relieve symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Finally, but fortunately infrequently, surgery may be necessary if conservative treatments fail.” BunionsAlthough bunions appear just as a bump on the side of the big toe, the problem goes much deeper than that. A bunion will begin to form when the big toe leans toward the second toe, moving the toe out of alignment and forming the big “bump” that most associate with bunions. “Bunions can often be due to a certain type of inherited foot structure,” Wachter said. “Wearing shoes that pinch the toes can contribute to the onset of bunions, too.” If a bunion begins to form, there is little you can do to reverse it, Wachter said. But, there are some steps you can take to slow the progression of the bunion, such as wearing shoes that have more room for the toes, padding the area of the bunion, applying ice several times a day to reduce swelling and trying to avoid standing for long periods of time. “When all of these options are no longer working to provide relief, then it’s time to look at surgically removing the bunion before the pain starts to interfere with daily activities,” Wachter said. Ingrown ToenailIngrown toenails are not only painful, but if the toenail breaks through the skin it can become dangerously infected if not addressed, Wachter said. The simple steps of trimming the toenails properly – in a straight line and not too short – and wearing shoes that fit properly can go a long ways towards avoiding ingrown toenails. If the toe is not infected, Wachter suggests attempting home treatment by soaking the foot in room-temperature water and lightly massaging the side of the affected toe to help reduce swelling. Also, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to the area to prevent swelling. “It is not recommended that you cut the toenail again and again to try to relieve the symptoms – that may actually cause more damage,” Wachter said. It is time to see the podiatrist if the symptoms do not improve or if there is an infection. A podiatrist may prescribe oral antibiotics for the infection and, if necessary, a simple office procedure may be performed to remove all or part of the nail from the affected toe. Diabetes and foot complicationsPeople with diabetes are often prone to complications with their feet due to poor circulation and/or nerve damage, Wachter said. These complications can include all the conditions listed above and other things such as ulcers (sores) that won’t heal, hammertoes and dry, cracked skin that can leave your feet vulnerable to infection. If you are a diabetic, inspecting your feet daily for skin or nail problems such as discoloration, swelling, redness, cuts or bruises is important. Be alert for changes in circulation in your feet – if your toes turn red, purple or pink when your legs hang down, there may be a circulation issue. Applying moisturizing cream or lotion to your feet daily helps maintain healthy skin and prevent infections. “Diabetic shoes can be an important preventive tool for diabetics,” Wachter said. “These special shoes are meant to prevent diabetic ulcers with a more rounded, deeper toe box without any seams.” A patient will qualify for free diabetic shoes through the Medicare Diabetic Therapeutic Shoe Bill if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
Diabetic patients should be in close contact with their podiatrist if they suspect problems with their feet in order to avoid the worst-case scenario of requiring amputation. “The primary concern in all these cases is just to take good care of your feet – wear properly-fitting shoes day in and day out,” Wachter said. “People pay very little attention to what they are putting on their feet except for its aesthetic value until they realize that they may really being causing damage.” |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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