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Posts Tagged ‘Foot Problems’

10 Ways to Manage Arthritis Foot Pain

26 Sep



Diabetics are not the only ones to suffer foot pain, people with arthritis are also prone to foot pain. Due to the fact that the foot has 33 joints, it is especially prone to arthritis. Arthritis is characterized by the inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the joints, and often includes an increase of joint fluid. Walking and moving is often extremely difficult for those with arthritis foot pain.

What causes arthritis foot pain? There are different causes, but those that put a person at greater risk include:

- Injury and strain not properly taken care of

- Bacteria and viral infections

- Certain disorders such as ileitis and colitis

- Certain prescription drugs and illegal drug use

- Genetics

In addition to the above causes, there are two forms of arthritis that can lead to foot pain:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis – This is a systemic disease that causes non-specific inflammation of joints belonging to the hands and feet. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis may result in the destruction of the joints and cause serious, chronic foot problems including hammertoes, bunions, etc.

2. Osteoarthritis – This is a degenerative form of arthritis, and it often affects more than one joint. Osteoarthritis is more common among the elderly, obese or those who’ve suffered a physical trauma. Osteoarthritis can cause changes in the foot bones such as cartilage destruction, spurs, narrowing of joint space and cystic changes.

How can arthritis foot pain be treated? Arthritis foot pain shouldn’t be ignored, and should be treated as soon as possible. The following are 10 treatments you can try to help relieve inflammation and pain, as well as improve the flexibility of joints -

1. Exercises – Stretching, range of motion, and functional exercises are all ideal for preventing arthritis foot pain. These exercise help to improve blood flow to the feet, improve flexibility, and keep bones and muscles strong. It’s best to ask your podiatrist to recommend exercises.

2. Lose weight – Weight puts plenty of stress and strain on your joints. If you are overweight, shedding excess pounds can make a significant difference to your feet.

3. Supportive footwear – It is imperative that you invest in shoes that provide your foot with support, and feature a high, wide toe box. Shoes with rocker-bottom soles are a good choice for those suffering from heel pain. You should avoid wearing high heel shoes and shoes with pointed toes. In fact, it’s a good idea to have your shoes custom made or ask a podiatrist for recommendations.

You should also consider acquiring removable insoles or orthotics for your shoes to provide your foot with more support.

4. Knee, ankle and foot supports – Tensor bandages and braces that provide mild compression and support can help reduce stress placed on the joint.

5. Heat/cold therapy – Applying heating pads or ice packs to the inflamed joint can help relieve inflammation and sooth the aching joint.

6. Physical therapy – Talk to your doctor about physical therapy treatment.

7. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements – These supplements help to slow the deterioration of cartilage between joint bones and reduce pain. Talk to your doctor about these supplements before taking them.

8. Over-the-counter pain medication – If you are suffering from pain due to joint inflammation, common over-the-counter medications that may be effective at reducing inflammation and pain include aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

9. Anti-inflammatory creams and topical ointments – There are topical medications that help relieve acute pain (I.E. “JointFlex”), and those that relieve pain and reduce inflammation (I.E. “Aspercreme”).

10. Surgery – Those who suffer from severe, disabling foot pain may require surgery to realign or replace joints.

Finally, remember that it is not normal for joints to hurt anywhere in your body. If you are experiencing frequent or recurring foot pain, it’s time to visit your doctor.

 
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Should You Consider Orthotics for Your Foot Pain?

28 Jul



Many people with arthritis foot pain benefit from orthotic inserts. Orthotics is the science of constructing or custom designing foot appliances such as arch supports, shoe inserts, shoes, etc., to aid in preventing and correcting deformities that may inhibit normal, comfortable movement in a person. Orthotics also assists in supporting and properly aligning the foot to help improve the overall function of the body’s moveable part.

Although you may think a good athletic shoe (I.E. walking, running) provides you with enough support, this is untrue for someone who suffers or is prone to foot pain. The reason is because while an exceptional shoe can provide your feet with cushioning and motion control, it doesn’t provide adequate arch or heel support, or shock absorption.

Therefore, after you purchase a well-made pair of shoes, you need to take out the insole that came with the shoe, and replace it with an orthotic insole.

What types of foot pain benefit from orthotics? Orthotics are generally recommended for treating those who suffer from the following foot problems causing pain -

- Arch strain and pain

- Bunions

- Calluses

- Corns

- Crooked toes

- Hammer toes

- Heel pain

- Heel spurs

- Metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot)

- Over-pronation

- Plantar fasciitis

Is there more than one type of orthotic insole? Yes. Orthotics come in various sizes and can be used for a number of different shoe styles. However, before we take a look at the different orthotics, keep in mind that not all insoles are orthotics. If the word “orthotic” is not on the packaging, the insoles are not made with the same science. Unlike other insoles, orthotics are designed to mold themselves to the foot when worn. The following are the different types of orthotics -

Functional orthotics – This type of orthotic is designed to correct defects of the arch including over-pronation, common in people with flat feet, and supination, common in people with high arches. Both foot problems can cause heel pain (plantar fasciitis) and puts excessive strain on muscles and joints throughout the back, hip and leg. Functional orthotics provides proper correction of these foot problems.

Supportive orthotics – These orthotics are designed to fix problems that occur in the arch, and provide the arch with proper support.

Weight-dispersive or accommodative orthotics -These orthotics are designed to provide padding and help support sesamoid bones (bones embedded in a tendon) metatarsal heads, collapsed tarsal bones, inflamed toes and sores. They help relieve pain and pressure from these areas.

Where can you obtain orthotic inserts? There are two ways a person can obtain orthotic insoles -

1. Ready-made orthotics -There are a variety of ready-made orthotic insoles sold online and in local super centers, drug stores and pharmacies. Most ready-made orthotic insoles provide arch support and a certain level of correction and cushioning to a person’s step. The following is a list of ready-made orthotic product brand names you can look for – Dr. Scholls, Spenco Insoles, and Footlevelers.

2. Custom orthotics – Custom orthotics will provide you better relief than ready-made orthotics because they are designed specifically for your foot and to treat your specific foot issue. The only problem is custom orthotics are hundreds of dollars, making them significantly more expensive than the ready-made variety.

Custom made orthotics are prescribed by health care professionals such as a family practitioner, chiropractor or podiatrist. The actual fitting of orthotic insoles is done at an orthotics lab by a pedorthist. The pedorthist constructs custom orthotics based on the diagnosis of the doctor and by taking a plaster cast of the patient’s foot.

Despite the type of orthotic insoles you decide to obtain for your feet, remember that you should always have your doctor diagnose your foot pain and ask for recommended treatment options.

 
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Podiatrists – The Right Doctors For Feet Problems

26 Feb



Foot doctors are quite rare, as compared to heart doctors, skin doctors, brain doctors, or even breast enhancement doctors. Formally referred to as podiatrists, they are medical experts who concentrate on providing health care to your feet, ankles, and lower legs. A podiatrist is required to take state and national exams, as well as be licensed by the state in which he/she practices. If you want to find a podiatrist to take care of your foot problems, a podiatrist directory is accessible on the internet.

The feet are given the task of bearing a bigger percentage of our weight. Therefore, in these modern times that most people are overweight, more feet have been suffering. Corns, calluses, infected toenails, and athlete’s foot are the most typical feet disorders among others. Diabetes and arthritis are more serious diseases that can also lead to a visit to the podiatrist. Fractures, sprains, and other lower extremity trauma are dealt to by foot doctors.

Podiatrists may choose to give specific medicines, therapy, or surgery to administer relief from pain. The use of orthotics, custom shoes, casts, and straps may also be requested to treat foot and leg abnormalities. Orthotics are corrective shoe inserts, which are quite cool to design. With the use of a computer, a plate attached to it will be stepped on by the patient to imprint his/her feet marks, which can show pressure points and weight distribution. Based on this data, a podiatrist can draft the shoe insert needed to fix the defect, or just prescribe a different form of cure if it is not that worse.

Other radiological tests such as X-rays and laboratory tests may be needed to identify foot problems. As previously mentioned, arthritis and diabetes, along with some heart diseases manifest on the lower extremities. In these cases, foot doctors must refer the patient to another medical specialist.
Our feet have their own surgeons, too, who are podiatrists that have acquired certification from the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. After diagnosis of a severe foot disorder or injury, they can operate on the specific area of the feet or lower legs that have been afflicted.

Podiatrists are not often seen in most hospitals. Orthopedic surgeons are the most common specialist who handle similar cases. Most foot doctors practice privately, managing their own foot clinics or working on a bigger clinic that offers foot medical care. Some podiatrists have other specializations like sports medicine, radiology, or orthopedic surgery. Some can also be seen in nursing homes or first-aid centers.

To become a podiatrist, one most get a 4-year bachelors degree, then go through four years of Podiatric Medical School, where they are awarded a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree (DPM). They then go through two to three years of a hospital-based residency program, which qualifies the podiatrist to get a certification in surgery.

Employment of podiatrists can evolve even faster, although some measures are being taken to control the costs of specialty medicine. Insurance providers balance the expense of sending patients to podiatrists in contrast to the professional fee and availability of alternative health care practitioners like physicians and physical therapists. Chances are more favorable to board-certified podiatrists since most manage-care organizations demand this prerequisite. Newly trained podiatrists will have more probability of employment in group medical practices, clinics, and health networks than having their own foot clinic. Setting up a practice in a region where podiatric medicine is being offered to colleges and universities will be harder since podiatrists are concentrated in that area.

 
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Need Relief from Flat Foot Pain?

06 Feb



Flat feet, also known as fallen arches, is a condition that occurs when the arch in the foot collapses. The collapse of the arch causes the entire sole of the foot to come into complete contact, or almost in complete contact, with the floor. As a result, people with flat feet are unable to tread normally and are forced to alter their steps.

What causes flat feet?

- Genetics – In most cases, (approximately 20-30% of the population) flat feet is genetic and both feet are affected. Those born with naturally flat feet usually have a malformed joint, or two or more bones may have merged together that caused the feet to become stiff and flat.

- Injury that causes stiffness and distorts the foot joints such as a ruptured tendon

- Arthritis

- Illness – Diseases that affect the nervous system or muscles (I.E. spian bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy) can cause flat feet because muscles become week and stiff, and can no longer function effectively together.

- Natural aging process

- Pregnancy – Sometimes pregnant women develop flat feet from the temporary changes caused by an increase in elastin in their body.

Usually, flat feet is a permanent condition.

What symptoms can occur from having flat feet? People with flat feet are at a higher risk of developing foot problems because they suffer from over-pronation. Over-pronation is when the feet roll excessively inward due to the stress overload placed on the ligaments and tendons of the ankle. This weakens the ankle and inside portion of the foot causing it to turn inward. Over-pronation can lead to painful symptoms including -

Bunions – A deformity of the big toe that occurs when the joint becomes misaligned and protrude outward.

Calluses – When the big toe loses flexibility, calluses usually occur under the sole of the foot near the second toe where stress is being placed.

Hammer toes – When the angle of the big toe increases inward, it begins to slide under the second toe. As a result, the metatarsal bone rises up and causes a hammer toe to form.

Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs – The Achilles tendon becomes shorter and pulls up on the heel of a person with flat feet, causing the arch to flatten and the foot to become longer. Thus, the plantar fascia (tight band of muscle under the foot arch) becomes abnormally stretched, which can lead to pain in the heel bone (plantar fasciitis) and heel spurs.

Low back pain – This usually occurs due to strain on the sciatic nerve. This nerve links the lower back to the foot via the leg. The strain is typically caused by repeated shock from running and over-pronation.

Finding relief from symptoms – There are different methods for treating flat feet, such as -

- Stretching exercises – Engage in exercises (2 – 3 times daily) that focus on the arch of your foot and Achilles’ tendons (IE. rolling your foot back and forth over a rolling pin or foot gymnastics). This will help increase flexibility and reduce the stress and pain felt by these areas.

- Lose weight – If you are overweight, losing weight helps to provide relief for your feet.

- Wear supportive shoes – Keep an eye on the stability of your footwear. Don’t wear shoes that are worn, tight, or tilt inwards. These shoes only increase your risk of injury and pain. Also, use orthotic insoles for your shoes to provide your foot with better support.

- See a professional – If you suffer from chronic discomfort or pain, seek the attention of a foot specialist such as a podiatrist or orthopedist. They can help provide you with proper shoes and orthotics that are custom made for your foot. They can also recommend exercises and even surgery if it is in the patient’s best interest.

 
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