Common Foot Problems
Ingrown toenails - when the corner or sides of the nails dig painfully into the skin. Ingrown toenails are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but also by shoe pressure, injury, fungal infection, hereditary or poor foot structure.
Treatment of ingrown toenail - bathe the foot in a salt foot bath to help prevent infection and reduce inflammation. Visit your podiatrist to remove offending bit of nail.
Corns & calluses - areas of hard thickened skin that develops when the skin is exposed to pressure or friction.
Treatment of corns and callous - Proper fitting shoes and orthoses if needed. Regular use of a pumice stone and moisturise your skin.
Bunions - is a misaligned big toe joint which can become swollen and tender, causing the first joint of the big toe to deviate outwards. Bunions tend to be hereditary but can be aggravated by footwear that are too narrow in the forefoot.
Treatment of Bunions - Can be treated with good fitting footwear, orthoses or surgery.
Plantar fasciitis - is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia it gets weak, swollen and inflamed.
Treatment of Plantar fasciitis - Anti inflammatory medication, ice the area, gentle stretching, proper footwear, orthotics or cortisone injection.
Achilles tendonitis - is irritation and inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone. It can be caused by improper warm up or over training.
Treatment of Achilles tendonitis - rest, ice, anti inflammatory medication and orthotics.
Mortons neuroma - involves thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to the toe. It causes a sharp burning pain. Most common between 3rd/4th toes.
Treatment of Morton’s neuroma - Proper fitting footwear, orthotics, cortisone injection or surgical removal of the growth
Shin splints - pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or tendon inflammation. It is often related to excessive foot pronation. But can be a muscle imbalance between muscle groups in the leg.
Treatmeant of Shin splints - Can be treated with proper stretching and corrective orthoses.
Athletes foot - is a fungal infection of the skin usually found between toes. Infection can spread causing discomfort, itching and pain. Causes - people walking around swimming pools and changing rooms in their bare feet. Wearing shoes that are warm and damp.
Treatment of Athletes foot- keep feet clean and dry. Apply anti fungal treatment. Change socks daily and alternate footwear. Wear flip flops in changing rooms and swimming pools.
Diabetic neuropathy - over time high blood sugar levels can damage nerves in the feet. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, pins and needles and pain in the feet. This can contribute to a greater risk of a person experiencing cuts or injuries to the feet due to a lack of feeling.
Treatment of Diabetic neuropathy - maintaining good health and blood sugar control can help a person treat diabetic neuropathy. It is advised that you have annual foot screening. And regular podiatry visits.