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Bunions: A bunion is a bone deformity caused by an enlargement of the joint at the base and side of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint). Bunions form when the toe moves out of place. The bony enlargement cause friction and pressure as they rub against footwear.
- Cause: wearing shoes that are too tight, flat feet, injuries
- Treatment:
- Conservative treatment: changing to appropriate footwear to accommodate for the bunion, over-the-counter orthotics, and night splints
- Surgical treatment: bunionectomy to remove bunion and realign the toe
Nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin, often causing infection
- Cause: improper nail trimming, shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, heredity, and poor foot structure.
- Treatment: Soaking your feet in warm water and Epsom salt, properly fitted shoes to decrease pressure on toenail, over the counter pain relievers.
- If home treatment does not improve ingrown nail, a podiatrist can perform an in-office partial or full nail removal.
A wound or sore that forms at the bottom part of feet in patients with diabetes. The ulcer is usually caused by neuropathic or circulation complications in patients with diabetes.
- Causes: Presence of diabetes, poor circulation to the feet, neuropathy, obesity, alcohol and/or tobacco use, foot deformity
- Treatment: Antibiotics, wound care consisting of ointment and dressing, debridement of dead tissue, skin grafts, off-loading of affected area
- Prevention: Checking your feet daily for the presence of open sores, ulcers, or wounds, especially if you have neuropathy; it is especially important to examine the soles of your feet and the spaces in between your toes.
A neuroma is an enlarged, benign growth of nerves, most commonly between the third and fourth toes.
- Cause: Neuromas are caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating the nerves. Pressure from poorly fitting shoes or an abnormal bone structure can also lead to this condition.
- Treatment: wearing corrective shoes or orthotics and/or receiving cortisone injections. In severe cases, surgical removal of the growth may be necessary.
Warts that appear on the bottom side of the foot caused by the human papillomavirus.
- Cause: Human papillomavirus entering through small cuts in the skin or coming in contact with another wart
- Treatment: minor procedure to remove the wart using local anesthetic, cryotherapy to freeze and remove wart
Fungal infection that causes toenails to thicken, discolored and/or brittle.
- Causes: circulation problems, diabetes, excessive sweating, and history of athletes’ foot.
- Treatment: Oral or topical anti-fungal medication and removal of nail
Heel Pain/Plantar Fasciitis
An inflammation of the connective tissue, called plantar fascia, that stretches from the base of the toes, across the arch of the foot, to the point at which it inserts into the heel bone.
- Causes: Excessive inward motion of the foot, inappropriate shoes, lack of stretching, obesity
- Treatment: Stretching of appropriate muscles, properly fitted shoes, custom orthotics, steroid injections, and in severe cases, surgery to release the plantar fascia