Wide Foot Facts

Living the Good Life with Wide Feet!

Category: Nerve Disorders

Clogs – Good or Bad

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On April 15, 2015

In Ball of Foot Pain, Heel Pain, Morton's Neuroma, Nerve Disorders

Clogs – Good or Bad

Don’t fall into the misconception that all clogs are good for you. Clogs may be harmful to the health of your feet, legs and/or back. Back pain, foot pain, heel pain, bunions, stress fractures, neuromas can all be attributed to the clog shoe.

Wooden shoes have absolutely no give, so clog wearers tend to drag their feet. If you are planning on walking long distances, clogs are the last shoe you should choose.

Dansko makes professional clogs that are perfect for professionals’ shoes, such as nurses, chefs, and older people on their feet. read more

Fun and Interesting Foot Facts

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On April 2, 2015

In Arthritis, Ball of Foot Pain, Circulatory Disorders, Diebetes, Exercise, Nerve Disorders, Pain Caused by High Heels, Plantar Warts, Toenails, Wide Foot Tips

3 out of 4 people in the US experience serious foot problems but only a small percentage is born with foot problems.
Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. A quarter of all the bones in your body are in your feet.
Walking is the best exercise for your feet, contributing to general health by improving circulation.
Conditions like arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can have their initial symptoms in the feet – so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.
Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. Doctors generally blame high heels for the difference.
Your two feet have about 250,000 sweat glands and can excrete as much as a cup of moisture per day.
Neglect and a lack of proper care, including ill fitting shoes, bring on foot problems.
If you put on weight, the bone and ligament structure of your feet might change. Get your shoe size rechecked to make sure you are buying shoes that are best for your feet.
Approximately 65% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage, which in severe forms can create the need for lower limb amputations. Approximately 56,000 people a year lose a foot or leg to diabetes.
Walking barefoot can cause plantar warts. The virus enters through a cut.
Your two feet may be different sizes and the ball of the foot is twice as wide as the heel. Be sure to get shoes that fit.
About 5% of Americans have toenail problems in a given year.
The average person takes about 9,000 steps a day. That means that by 70 most people would have walked around the earth 4 times! read more

Diabetes and Your Feet

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On April 2, 2015

In Ball of Foot Pain, Callusses, Circulatory Disorders, Corns, Diebetes, Exercise, Heel Pain, Nerve Disorders, Side of Foot Pain, Swollen Feet, Toenails

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

Claw Toe

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On April 2, 2015

In Claw Toe, Nerve Disorders

People often blame the common foot deformity claw toe on wearing shoes that squeeze your toes, such as shoes that are too short or high heels. However, Claw Toe is actually a toe that is contracted at the PIP and DIP joints (middle and end joints in the toe). Often the result of nerve damage caused by diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, it can which can weaken the muscles in your foot and lead to severe pressure and pain.
Claw toes can occur in any toe, except the big toe. They are classified based on the mobility of the toe joints. There are two types – flexible and rigid. In a flexible claw toe, the joint has the ability to move. This type of claw toe can be straightened manually. A rigid claw toe does not have that same ability to move. Movement is very limited and can be extremely painful.
Occasionally Claw Toe can be related to neurological problems. Therefore, a trip to the doctor will be time well spent.
Treatment and Prevention
Changing the type of footwear worn is a very important step in the treatment of claw toes. As with most feet and toe problems, choosing a well fitting shoe can make a lot of difference. Always make sure the toe box (toe area) is high and broad, and can accommodate the claw toes. A shoe with a high, broad toe box will provide enough room in the forefoot area so that there is less friction against the toes.
Other conservative treatments include using forefoot products designed to relieve claw toes, such as toe crests and hammer toe splints. These devices will help hold down the claw toe and provide relief to the forefoot. Gel toe shields and gel toe caps are also recommended to eliminate friction between the shoe and the toe, while providing comfort and lubrication.
If the pain is too much or your daily activities are limited by the pain, surgery may be considered. Unfortunately surgery may not help or the claw toe may come back. Talk to your doctor about the options available. read more

Burning Feet

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On April 2, 2015

In Burning Feet, Diebetes, Nerve Disorders

Burning feet may be a temporary problem, such as athlete’s foot or sensitivities to fabrics or leather dyes. But if it continues over a longer period, it can be a more serious issue. A visit to the doctor for evaluation is recommended.
A serious cause of chronic burning feet is sensory peripheral neuropathy. This results from damage to the nerves that transmit sensation from the arms, hands, legs and feet to the brain. Causes of sensory peripheral neuropathy include:
* Diabetic neuropathy
* Alcohol abuse
* Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia)
Treatment of burning feet is directed at the underlying condition, if known. To help relieve discomfort, try these tips:
* Wear socks made of cotton — which allows your feet to “breathe” — rather than synthetic fabrics.
* Avoid standing for long periods.
* Take a pain reliever when needed.
* Bathe your feet in cool water read more

Morton’s Neuroma

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On April 2, 2015

In Ball of Foot Pain, Callusses, Morton's Neuroma, Morton's Toe, Nerve Disorders, Pain Caused by High Heels

A neuroma is a benign tumor of a nerve. Morton’s neuroma isn’t really a tumor, but just a thickening of the tissue that surrounds the digital nerve which leads to the toes. It usually happens between the third and fourth toes because of an irritation, injury or a lot of pressure.
Most of the time you can’t see anything by just looking at your foot. But you may feel a burning pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into the toes. The pain generally worsens when walking, running and also wearing your shoes. In fact, you usually can’t feel it at all when not on your feet.
You should have a doctor diagnose your pain. During the exam, your doctor will usually be able to feel the mass between your bones. He will also try to replicate the pain and look for calluses or evidence of stress fractures in the bones that might be the cause of the pain.
Initially you will need to change your shoes. Avoid high heels or tight shoes, and wear wider shoes with lower heels and a soft sole. This lets the bones spread out and might reduce pressure on the nerve, giving it time to heal. Your doctor might also recommend shoe inserts and pads to relieve irritation and the pressure the nerve. In some cases, your doctor may want to use an injection of a corticosteroid medication to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerve, bringing some relief. If all else fails, surgery can resect a small portion of the nerve or release the tissue around the nerve, and generally involves a short recovery period.
Interestingly, Morton’s neuroma is 8 times greater in women than in men. read more

Surgery of the Foot

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On April 2, 2015

In Ankle Pain, Arthritis, Ball of Foot Pain, Burning Feet, Calcaneocuboid Joint, Callusses, Claw Toe, Corns, Cuboid Fifth Metatarsal, Economy Class Syndrome, Gouty Arthritis, Hammer Toe, Heel Pain, Mallet Toe, Metatarsalgia, Morton's Neuroma, Morton's Toe, Nerve Disorders, Osteoarthritis, Overlapping Toes, Pain Caused by High Heels, Plantar Fasciitis, Plantar Warts, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Side of Foot Pain, Sinus Tarsi Syndrome, Surgery, Toenails

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

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