When To Call A Podiatrist

A Podiatrist should be visited twice a year as part of your overall health maintenance. But when should you visit a Podiatrist outside of a routine checkup? If you experience any of the following, make an appointment to get checked out. 

• You have sudden, severe foot pain
  
• Your foot pain began following an injury, especially if your foot is bleeding or bruising, or you cannot put weight on it
  
• You have redness or swelling of the joint, an open sore or ulcer on your foot, or a fever
  
• You have pain in your foot and have diabetes or a disease that affects blood flow
  
• Your foot does not feel better after using at-home treatments for 1-2 weeks
  
• You have persistent pain in your feet or ankles
  
• You have noticeable change to your nails or skin
  
• Your feet are severely cracking, scaling, or peeling
  
• There are blisters on your feet
  
• There are signs of bacterial infection, including: Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat. Red streaks extending from the affected area. Discharge of pus
  
• Spreading of the infection to other areas, such as the nail bed, or skin under the nail, the nail itself, or the surrounding skin
  
• Your toenail is getting thicker and causing you discomfort
  
• You have heel pain accompanied by a fever, redness (sometimes warmth) or numbness or tingling in your heel, or persistent pain without putting any weight or pressure on your heel, or the pain is not alleviated by ice, aspirin, (or ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
  
• You have diabetes or certain diseases associated with poor circulation and you develop athlete's foot. People with diabetes are at increased risk for a severe bacterial infection of the foot and leg if they have athlete's foot

What To Expect At An Office Visit

First, our friendly staff will check you in. They will ask for insurance documentation and if this is your first visit, they will ask you to fill out a few forms regarding your medical history. Then I will perform a physical exam by examining the feet, legs, back, posture, and how you walk. I will also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. Some of those questions are:

• Do you have pain in one or both feet?
• What part of the foot hurts?
• Does the pain move from joint to joint, or does it always occur in the same place?
• Did the pain begin suddenly or slowly?
• How long have you had the pain?
• Is it worse at night or when you first wake up in the morning?
• Is it getting better?
• Does anything make your pain feel better or worse?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• Do you have numbness in your toes?

X-rays may be done to help diagnose the cause of your foot pain.
Treatment depends on the exact cause of the foot pain. Treatment may include:

• A cast, if you broke a bone
• Removal of plantar warts, corns, or calluses
• Orthotics, or shoe inserts
• Physical therapy to relieve tight or overused muscles
• Foot surgery

Pedicure Pointers

Follow these Do's and Don'ts when getting a professional pedicure.

Safety

Do: Schedule all pedicures in the morning as salon foot baths are cleaned in the morning or the night before. If your must go in the afternoon or night, ask the salon to clean the foot bath prior to use. If you have your own pedicure utensils, bring them with you. This will minimize the chance of passing bacteria from other clients.
Don't: Shave prior to the pedicure appointment. I know this may be difficult, but little cuts on the legs can allow for bacteria to enter.

Smooth Skin

Do: Soak feet for 5 minutes in warm water. Then use a pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub to get rid of thick, dead skin.
Don't: Use a razor to remove dead callused skin. If incorrectly used, permanent damage can occur and infections can arise if too much skin is removed.

Nail Trims

Do: Use a toenail clipper with a straight edge.
Don't: Use a rounded fingernail clipper. Nails should be cut straight across to prevent ingrown toenails.

Nail Files

Do: Use an emery board and file the nail in one direction, not in a back and forth motion.
Don't: Share emery boards. If the salon does not use a new emery board for every client, bring your own to the salon. Emery boards are porous and can't be sterilized.

Cleaning

Do: Use a wooden or rubber manicure stick under the nails to keep them clean. This helps remove the dirt and build-up.
Don't: Use anything sharp that may cut the skin. This may lead to infections.

Lotion

Do: Use lotion to keep proper moisture balance in the lower extremities.
Don't: Leave moisture in between the toes as this can promote Athlete's foot.

Cuticle Care

Do: Use a rubber cuticle pusher or manicure stick to gently push back cuticles.
Don't: Cut cuticles. They are the barrier against bacteria. If cuticles are pushed too far back, this can cause them to become thicker.

Polish

Do: Use any color you like if you have healthy nails.
Don't: Apply nail polish to unhealthy discolored thick nails. This could be a sign of fungal infection so make an appointment with a Podiatrist. Nail polish blocks out the moisture that nails need to breathe.


Citation:
Image by Desirae. (2009). 4 pedicures. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/residae/3914761136/

Teens & Their Feet

Teen Statistics:

• "Six out of 10 teens suffer from foot pain at least some of the time 
• Sports are the number one cause of foot pain among teens 
• Nearly half of those surveyed (46 percent) reported that playing a sport was the cause of their pain 
• 75 percent of high school students play a school or recreational sport, and nearly 40 percent of that group has injured their feet while doing so 
• Two out of 10 teens suffer from pain due to wearing high heels and other uncomfortable footwear. High heels are the most painful, reported by 64 percent of girls 
• Less than two out of 10 teens have ever seen a podiatrist to treat foot problem" 

Let's face it, most teens are not concerned about how their feet feel. They're more concerned with what the hottest trends in shoes are for prom and finding the cheapest and cutest flip flops for the summer. Some teens even have a hard time getting rid of their favorite worn out smelly gym shoes.

The above statistics are from a recent survey done by the APMA. They questioned 1000 teens about their attitudes toward foot health, foot care, and their knowledge of and experience with podiatrists.

This survey prompted the APMA to launch a myFEET health awareness campaign geared towards teens which provides tools like Footcare 101 and Avoid Pain & Raise Your Game: Shoes for Sports.


Citation:
Image by Made Underground. (2007). Teen romance. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/52871206@N00/1286382332/

What Is Wrong With My Foot?

Skin Problems

Bottom of your feet
Problem: It feels like you are walking on pebbles
You may have: plantar warts


Heel or ball of feet
Problem: Thick tough skin on the heel or ball of the foot
You may have: a callus, corn, blister or skin growth


Toes
Problem: Red, peeling, cracking, burning, and itchy skinYou may have: Athlete's foot or shoe dermatitis


Toenail
Problem: Red, swollen and painful skin
You may have: ingrown toenail or an infection


Soles
Problem: red, swollen, painful soles of the footYou may have: bacterial infection

Joint Problems

Toe Joints
Problem: rapid pain, redness, swelling, and heat
You may have: gout or an infection


Problem: swelling or bump at the base of the big toeYou may have: a bunion


Problem: swelling or bump on the outside of the little toeYou may have: a bunnionette


Problem: joint pain, stiffness and swelling
You may have: arthritis, lupus, or gout

Numbness or Tingling

Between Toes
Problem: pain, burning, tingling or numbness in the 3rd and 5th toes, or ball of the foot
You may have: Morton's neuroma

Back & Leg
Problem: pain, numbness, and tingling that begins from the back all the way down the leg to the foot
You may have: pinched nerve


Foot & Ankle
Problem: numbness or pain in the foot or ankle, or a weakened foot
You may have: pinched nerve in the ankle or back


Feet
Problem: burning, numbness or lack of feeling
You may have: poor circulation or PAD

If you have any of the above problems, make an appointment with my office for a diagnosis. The above are generalized & does not constitute an official diagnosis.

Citation:
Image by Praveen Tomy. (2006). Pebbles. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/praveenmt/3220243348/

When to Examine Children's Feet

As a new parent, have you wondered when you should start examining your child's feet and what you're looking for when you do examine? Here's a general guideline to get you started.

Birth - Newborns should have their foot and legs examined for any potential problems. Podiatrists look for abnormalities such as clubfoot, overlapping toes, web toes, and extra toes. If there is any limitation of motion or problem, it will be addressed immediately.
4-6 mo - Next evaluation should be done at four to six months of age, right around the time that children are beginning to stand. Podiatrists will make sure that the child is developing normally and will have no problems in the upcoming months learning to walk.

1 yr - Around the one year mark, the child begins to walk. Podiatrists will look for conditions like flat feet, bowlegs, knock knees, leg length differences, and any ankle problems.

Annually - Checkups are essential for proper foot care and prevention of problems. As the body changes and grows, so do the feet. This will help identify and allow treatment of most conditions without letting them get too advanced.

Aside from regular checkups, if a child is experiencing any of the following, make an appointment to have their feet look at right away.

• shoe wear is uneven
• lumps or bumps are evident on the feet
• pain in the feet or legs exists
• tripping and falling occurs
• skin or toenail problems are present

Citation:
Image by 5 flip-flops Earl. (2012). Kaitlin's foot. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics2enjoy/807017660/

Detecting Foot Problems in Children

Feet and ankle problems often go unnoticed in children. If not caught early, problems can escalate and make treatment difficult. In between checkups, parents can help reduce or eliminate problems by inspecting the child's shoes and feet.

Let's start with the foot inspection:

1. What is the size of each foot? Don't just measure one foot and assume the other one is the same size. Most people have one foot that is larger. Have feet measured at the store, which unfortunately means you have to bring the child with you to the store. 
2. Do you notice any blisters, bunions, corns or spots that are just plain red and irritated? 
3. Do you see any large patches of excessively dry skin? 
4. Give your child a foot massage and watch for signs of pain or cramping. 
5. Make note of any problems that necessitate a visit and make an appointment. 

To determine if shoes need to be replaced and not break the bank doing so, inspect current shoes prior to purchasing new ones.

1. If shoes are snug and too small, purchase new shoes. Shoes that are slightly too big can be worn as long as they will not hinder the child's walk. 
2. What does the sole of the shoe look like? Was it thin to begin with? Is it thinning due to use? 
3. Is either heel loose? 
4. Does the child have adequate toe room? Are there places where the shoe rubs and causes friction against the skin? 
5. Evaluate the child's walk in the shoes compared to how they walk barefoot. 

Depending upon the answers, some shoes can be repaired instead of replaced. 

Citations:
Basson, Kent. Disabled World towards tomorrow. (2008). Healthy Feet for Children. Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/child-feet.shtml#ixzz22z0oUAd8
Image by Gramody. (2008). Feet! Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/gramody/2362085621/