Common Painful Foot Issues You Can Get Treated
Your feet take a beating every day you walk on them. They can develop sores and deformities that cause you pain and make walking difficult. Most of these issues can be resolved by a local podiatrist so you can get back on your feet again without pain. Here are some of the common foot problems you might encounter.
Bunion - Bone growth at the base of the large joint in your big toe can cause your toe to be pushed over toward the other toes. Friction from your shoes rubbing on this joint causes pain, redness and swelling. You may even have trouble wearing shoes comfortably. Surgery to shave away this excess bone will get rid of the bump and allow your big toe to be properly aligned with your other toes.
Hammer toes - The tendons in your toes become contracted, pulling your toes in toward your foot so they point downward. Your shoes rub against the tops of these toes, causing pain, redness and sores. Your doctor can try a shoe insert to put pressure on the tendons to get them to relax. If this isn't enough, surgery is available to release the tendons to allow your toes to relax back into their natural position.
Plantar corns - When the skin over a bony place on your foot is constantly irritated by your shoes, a rough callus forms, called a corn. Cushion pads are available to cover up the corn to reduce irritation. Medicine can also be used to slowly soften and dissolve corns. If these remedies don't help, surgical removal of the corn can be done.
Neuromas - Constant irritation of bones in the toes, especially between the third and fourth toes, can create an inflamed nerve. The nerve becomes red and painful when you walk. It can even be painful just to have a sock rubbing over the nerve. Your foot doctor can remove the irritated tissue to reduce the inflammation and pain. This is a procedure they can often do in their office using a local anesthetic.
Bone spurs - Tiny calcium deposits form on the heel bone in response to the pulling of the tendons on the bone. These bone spurs are often not a problem, but a particularly large one can irritate the tendon causing pain and swelling. The podiatrist can order custom-orthotics to support the heel until the bone spur goes away on its own. If the pain is persistent, surgical removal of the bone growth is available to give you immediate relief.
For more information, contact a local foot clinic like Aboite Podiatry Associates PC.