Wide Foot Facts

Living the Good Life with Wide Feet!

Category: Corns

Corns and Calluses

Calluses are a thickening of the surface layer of the skin, usually occurring in response to pressure.
Calluses often form on the ball of the foot, the heel, and the underside of the big toe.
Corns are also a thickening of the surface layer of the skin but usually form on the top of toes, tip of toes and between the toes. Both corns and calluses have symptoms of pain when pressure is applied and discomfort wearing tight fitting shoes.
Calluses and corns are both more common in women than men, because women wear tight fitting shoes, socks and stockings more often than men.
The formation of calluses is caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells that harden and thicken over an area of the foot. A corn is caused by too much pressure. The pressure may be from:
• tight fitting shoes
• tight socks
• tight stockings
• shoe rubbing against the toe
• deformed toes
• crooked toes
Calluses and corns can be treated with medications to relieve pain along with changes in footwear to relieve pressure. read more

Diabetes and Your Feet

Did you know that about one in five people with diabetes enters the hospital for foot problems? In fact, many people with diabetes have mild to severe nerve damage. This can cause diminished feeling in the feet. As a result, you may not feel cuts, scratches, and breaks in the skin on your feet. These wounds can lead to unnoticed infection.
There are several specific problems that you should be aware of as a diabetic:
• Poor circulation can make your feet less able to fight infection and to heal.
• Calluses occur more often and build up faster on the feet diabetics. If not trimmed they can get very thick, break down, and turn into ulcers (open sores).
• Diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy) also can lessen your ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. Loss of feeling may mean that you might not feel a foot injury.
• Foot ulcers occur most often over the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers on the sides of the foot are usually due to poorly fitting shoes. Neglecting an ulcer can result in infections, which in turn can lead to loss of a limb.
If the above problems are not cared for, amputation of the foot or leg may result.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms:
• Changes in the color of the skin on your feet
• Changes in skin temperature
• Pain in the legs, either at rest or while walking
• Swelling of the foot or ankle
• Open sores that are slow to heal
• Ingrown or fungus-infected toenails
• Corns or calluses that bleed within the skin
• Cracks in the skin, especially around the heel
Check your feet every day. Inspect the top, sides, soles, heels, and between the toes. read more

Hammer Toe

Hammer toe is a term that is commonly used to describe any type of toe deformity which may or may not be a problem. In a hammertoe the deformity usually exists in one toe (at the proximal inter phalangeal joint) – the base of the toe points upward and the end of the toe points down.
The symptoms of a hammer toe are usually first noticed when a corn or bunion develops on the top of the toe and becomes painful, usually when wearing tight shoes. There may be a bursa under the corn or instead of a corn, depending on the pressure. Most of the symptoms are due to pressure from footwear on the toe. There may be a callus under the metatarsal head at the base of the toe. Initially a hammer toe is usually flexible, but when longstanding it becomes more rigid.
Some families are more prone to develop hammer toes other simply have weaker small muscles in their feet.
Prevention of a hammer toe can be difficult as symptoms do not usually start until the problem is well established. However, there are several things that you can do:
• Wear appropriate footwear. The correct amount of space in the toe will allow the toes to function without excessive pressure. Shoes should be one-half inch longer than your longest toe.
• Treat any corns or calluses that are present.
• Use padding to get pressure off the toe.
• Use hammer toe crests and hammer toe splints.
• Ger gel toe shields and gel toe caps.
If conservative treatments are not successful, surgery may be used to correct a hammertoe, usually as a day procedure. read more

High Heels…is the Pain Worth the Gain?

“To minimize foot problems, just wear high heels for special occasions.” We have probably heard that before.
You love shoes. Shopping for them, trying them on and — most of all — buying them. Most professional women use high heels as part of their image. But what if your feet don’t feel so good, and they look even worse? Forced too often into the tight confines of the narrow toe box of your high heels, your toes bend into an unnatural positions. As a result, bumps and areas of thickened skin rub painfully against your shoes.
Are your beloved high heels the source of your foot problems? Yes, they probably are. High heels are one of the biggest factors leading to foot problems in women. The other is age. Frequently wearing high heels can set the stage for many common foot problems including blisters, calluses, corns, foot odor, hammer heel and others.
So, bottom line, wear them occasionally but consider other options for everyday. read more

Shoe Shopping Tips to Minimize Foot Problems

The next time you’re shoe shopping, keep these tips in mind:
Choose sensible heels, an inch and a half or less, with a wide heel base. Narrow, stiletto-type heels don’t give good support.
Recheck your shoe size occasionally, they can get longer and wider as you age.
Don’t rely on shoe size alone, try them on.
Compare the width of the shoe with the width of your foot. Stand next to the shoe in your bare feet. Which is wider — your foot or the shoe? Avoid shoes that are too narrow for your feet, no matter how much you like them.
Try on both shoes for comfort. Fit the larger of your two feet, many people have slight differences between their feet.
Make sure you have at least a finger’s width between your longest toe and the end of your shoe.
Fit the shoes to your feet late in the afternoon or in the evening because your feet may swell up as the day goes on.
Shoes should feel comfortable from the beginning. They are not going to fit better after you have worn them.
Select materials that breathe and allow flexibility, such as leather or nylon mesh.
Stay away from shoes with seams across the toe box, which can rub. read more

Orthotic Shoe Devices

Orthotic shoe devices are molded pieces of rubber, leather, metal, plastic, or other synthetic material that are inserted into a shoe. A foot pad or heel insert are considered an orthotic device, so is a custom molded, individually designed shoe insert or brace. Their purpose is to balance the foot in a neutral position, cushion the foot from excessive pounding and improving the overall function of the foot or ankle.
Custom-made orthotic devices may control pain if you have a specific problem, such as an unusual-shaped foot, or your foot rolls toward the arch (pronation). Custom-made orthotics are available by prescription. Insurance companies differ in how much of the cost they cover.
Some examples, are a wedge inserted into the inner side of the sole of a shoe can be used to help support a flatfoot, thus reducing the risk of tendinitis. An ankle-foot brace can help relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis in the heel or ankle. A heel flare can be used to increase support and help prevent ankle sprains. Heel cushions can help absorb impact and relieve stress on the heel and ankle when you walk or run.
Although custom orthoses are considerably more expensive than off-the-shelf devices, they last much longer and provide more support or correction. In some cases, however, an over-the-counter device can be just as effective, particularly when combined with a stretching and exercise program. Before investing in an expensive pair of custom-made orthotics, consider trying good-quality nonprescription orthotics. They can usually be found at drugstores, supermarkets, and sporting goods stores. You can test the effectiveness of several different devices without great expense, which may help you decide whether a more durable custom-made device would be helpful. read more

Surgery of the Foot

Based on the condition and the chronic nature of the disease, surgery can provide relief of pain and restore mobility in many cases. There have been various modifications and surgical enhancements regarding surgery of the foot. Your podiatric surgeon will determine which method is best suited for you.
There are certain conditions that are commonly relieved through surgical procedures. Most often are Arthritis, Joint Disease, Bunions, Ingrown toenails, Heel Spurs, Neuromas and many foot deformities. read more

Over-the-counter Treatment for Corns

Excessive pressure on a particular area of the foot may cause a corn to form. A corn is a growth of skin protein or a toughening of the outer layers of the skin. Soft corns are nodules that grow between the toes, most often the fourth and fifth toes. Perspiration causes soft corns to break down and become extremely tender. It may be difficult to distinguish soft corns from athlete’s foot.
Hard corns generally occur on the sole of the foot or the top of the toe. Hard corns frequently are tender and have a clear, hard center when shaved. This distinguishes them from warts, which are not very tender and may bleed slightly when shaved.
Corn plasters, which are felt pads containing 40% salicylic acid, are available without a doctor’s order for hard corns. They may be effective in treating corns by eating away at the skin’s surface. To relieve pressure on toes, try Silopos toe sleeves, polymer gel (such as Cushlin Gel), foam padding or lamb’s wool. read more

Toenails – What Do They Tell You?

Your toenails, like your fingernails, should be smooth and consistent in color. Made of Keratin………it’s also in your hair and skin. Certain types of nail discoloration and rates of growth can signal lung, kidney, heart or liver diseases. It could also be diabetes or anemia.

Horizontal ridges can be a sign of a heart attack, malnutrition or respiratory disease. White spots or vertical ridges are harmless and there should be no worry as they are very common.

More minor issues include ingrown toenails, fungal and bacterial infections, blisters, corns and warts. read more

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