Foot Pain Should Not Ruin the Joy of Pregnancy!

Pregnancy is a joy but the foot pain is not something first time mothers expect to experience. Do not worry; we have some solutions for you! Even if you are not a first time mother, you do not have to go through that aching pain for nine months any longer. Healthy weight gain can increase foot pain because as the waistline expands, the posture changes by altering the center of gravity. The most common symptoms a pregnant woman will experience are swollen feet, overpronation or flatfeet, and cramps in the legs and feet. For proper treatment, a podiatrist should be sought to ensure all treatments are done properly and safely.

Feet swell because of excess fluid collecting in the foot tissue; this is also called edema. To treat swelling of the feet, try maternity waist-high support stockings. To prevent swelling of the feet, prop up your feet whenever relaxing, do not cross your legs while sitting, Always stretch when sitting down, and wear comfortable shoes making sure to measure your feet periodically since feet can lengthen and widen during pregnancy causing an improper fit in shoes.

Flatfeet can occur because of the extra weight gain applying pressure to the arches, which in turn can cause overpronation when the feet start rolling inward. The release of hormones during pregnancy can also have an effect on the feet. To treat this condition, podiatrists recommend good inserts, whether they are custom made or APMA approved over-the-counter inserts. To prevent flatfeet and overpronation, wear supportive shoes with good shock absorption such as Danskos or Crocs; do not wear high heels, and wear a running shoe for extra shock absorption if you need a good walking or athletic shoe.

In addition to flatfeet and overpronation, the weight gain can also cause stress to the plantar fascia causing plantar fasciitis. A good treatment is to tape your feet and wear proper supportive inserts recommended by your podiatrist. To help prevent plantar fasciitis,  always warm up and stretch before any exercise, stretch multiple times a day (Podiatrist will give specific stretching exercises made for this condition), do not walk barefoot, and wear shoes with good arch support and firm heels.

Cramps can be very common during pregnancy, but foot cramps might be something that can be stopped or prevented. Cramps occur due to increased blood volumes, which cause progesterone levels to increase in order to relax the blood vessels. Relaxed blood vessels slow down circulation causing the cramps. Eating a healthy balanced diet during pregnancy will ensure there are no vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Stretching calves and wearing support shoes will decrease the cramps. To prevent the cramping and poor circulation, rotate your ankle ten times to the right and then ten times to the left on each leg for ten reps to increase the circulation.

For more information, visit: http://www.apma.org/pregnancyfeet

Erythromelalgia, or Mitchell’s Disease is a rare disease seen in the lower extremities that cause neuropathic pain.

Erythromelalgia is a rare neurovascular peripheral pain disorder of blood vessels in the hands, feet, and face.  Blood vessels are periodically blocked causing the skin of the hands, feet, and even face become hyperemic (red) and inflamed. This flushing causes burning pain.  Triggers that cause these flares are heat, long periods of standing, activity, exertion, insomnia, and stress.

Research has found that there are two types of Erythromelalgia, primary and secondary. Secondary results from various other conditions such as essential thrombocytosis, mushroom or mercury poisoning, and some autoimmune disorders. Primary Erythromelalgia is linked to a genetic mutation of sodium channels on gene SCN9A.

Mitchell’s disease is very hard to diagnose, because most patient have flares when they are at home, making it difficult for a doctor to see the symptoms. The best way to diagnose the condition is by genetic testing. 

For more on  this rare disease that causes neuropathic pain, check out this website: www.erythromelalgia.org

Treating athletes with 5th metatarsal fractures:

Fractures occurring in the base area of the 5th metatarsal are a difficult burden for athletes.  The area lacks a healthy blood supply and a tendon attaches at its base. The tendon, if not immobilized in a cast of boot, will keep pulling on the fracture fragment. This repetitive pulling keeps the fracture from healing well. Conservative treatment for competitive athletes, and NOT the average joe, have been found through research to be inadequate.

This fracture can take close to 8 weeks to heal and has a higher rate of fracturing again, especially with early activities.  Surgical intervention, therefore is the way to go.  One recent podiatric journal stated that on average the athletes they operated on took a mean of 9 weeks to return to activities – some were even close to 14 weeks of recovery!  The only benefit of having the fracture surgically fixed is to hopefully heal the fracture sooner and prevent a recurring fracture. In a nut shell, it is a tough injury and a tough recovery regardless of if you do surgery or not!

More on common injuries to athletes here.

With snow arriving, we need to make sure we have the correct footwear on. This means waterproof boots that will keep your feet warm and dry when walking outside through the snow. However, any waterproof boot is not good enough. Your boots need to fit well to ensure that foot problems do not arise. To do this, have your foot measured by a knowledgable sales person or a professional. The best time of the day to be measured and try on any shoe is in the afternoon as your feet tend to swell later in the day. Feet should be measured every year, because the size can always change. Also a good tip to remember is that different brands of  boots may fit differently so when looking for boots, keep in mind that you should have a thumb length between the tip of your toes and the tip of the shoe. This will allow some room for your foot to expand when walking without being jammed as well as prevent blisters. When being measured, you may notice your feet are not the same size. ALWAYS go with the bigger size. One foot may have more room, but you do not want to create pain for the larger foot by cramming it into a smaller size.

Your new boot should be comfortable when trying it on in the store. Do not settle for a cute boot and say “I will break it in”. The best material for a boot is a natural material such as leather, which will keep your feet dry and comfortable during these winter months. Another good tip when looking for a boot is to make sure it has good traction; you do not want to be slipping when walking to your car or shoveling that drive way. The most common winter injuries are ankle sprains and fractures as a result to a slip, usually on ice, in addition to winter sport injuries.

One last tip: Check for spiders in the winter boots that you may have had packed away all summer.

Ever hear of OSHA? Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It’s a good abbreviation to remember if your feet hurt.  Especially when any and all chairs are removed at your work place based on “decreased productivity”.  Can your work place prove that you, occasionally sitting to DO WORK and not BREAKING from WORK, causes productivity to decrease?  I THINK NOT!  Show me the statistically significant research paper on this claim for your office then!?  If the chairs were there the first day of work, they should be available today for work. Just remember that…I am sure your feet will.

What is it?
Charcot foot is a condition caused by weakening of the bones in the foot usually seen in patients with neuropathy or nerve damage. The bones in the foot may fracture, the joints may collapse and the foot will change shape and become deformed with repetitive use. Charcot foot is a serious condition that can lead to deformity, disability and even amputation so it is important to take preventative measures and seek immediate care if signs or symptoms appear – especially those patients with diabetes or neuropathy.

Causes:
Charcot foot usually develops as a result of neuropathy because patients have decreased or no sensation for pain, temperature or trauma. These patients continue to walk on the injury without knowledge and make it worse. Patients with neuropathy are therefore at risk for developing Carcot foot.

Symptoms:

• Warmth to the touch (affected foot feels warmer than the other)
• Redness in the foot
• Swelling in the area
• Pain or soreness

Diagnosis:
To arrive at a diagnosis the podiatrist will discuss history, examine the foot, take x-rays or possibly order further imaging studies. X-rays will be taken periodically during treatment to assess progress.

Treatment:
Non-surgical treatment may consist of:

• Immobilization: The foot and ankle are fragile in the early stages of Charcot foot and must be stabilized in order to allow the weakened bones and joints heal properly. Complete non-weight bearing is necessary to prevent further collapse.
• Custom Shoes and Bracing: Bracing may be required if the deformity is significant. Shoes with special inserts may be used to help prevent recurrence of Charcot, development of ulcers as well as to enable the patient to return to daily activities.
• Activity Modification: A patient who develops Charcot in one foot is more likely to develop in in the other foot, so activity modification may be necessary to prevent injury and protect both feet.
• Surgery: Surgery maybe necessary in some cases, your podiatrist will determine the proper timing and procedure in each individual case.

Preventative Care:
You can play a vital role in preventing Charcot foot:

• Keep blood sugar levels under control to reduce the progression of nerve damage.
• See your podiatrist regularly for check ups.
• Check both feet every day
• Try to avoid injury such as bumping the foot or over exercising to strain the foot.
• Follow your podiatrist’s instructions for long-term treatment and prevention.

  
  
  Normal Lateral Foot X-Ray
  
  
  
   
  Charcot Foot X-Ray
  
  

No, turf toe is not the equivalent of a green thumb on your foot. It’s name represents  injury to the (metatarsophalangeal) MPJ joint located at the base of the toe – a sprain caused by overuse or hyperextension. Turf to can also be called a metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain. This type of injury is common among dancers and athletes, especially those who play on artificial turf (hense the name), but is not restricted to athletes. Anyone who hyperextends their big toe is capable of this type of injury.

Symptoms of turf toe are usually sudden as a result of injury (you may hear or feel a pop), but can also happen over time. Pain around the MPJ joint is a common symptom; sometimes swelling and stiffness can occur at this location as well. Turf toe is diagnosed with a thorough history, physical exam and x-rays.

Unfortunately for our athletic patients, treatment for turf toe often requires rest for at least a month. Bracing the MPJ joint isn’t easy, but limiting dorsiflexion (upward bending) of the toe can be done with taping the toe and wearing shoes with a rigid sole. A walking boot or cast may be used to immobilize the foot and toe. Physical therapy may be prescribed and NSAIDS can be used to decrease pain and inflammation. If left untreated, turf toe can become a chronic problem that is slow to heal, so don’t ignore it!

Although keyboard and mouse control from your feet may not sound like the most useful or easy to use device, for some, this could be a huge breakthrough.  This key pad for your feet makes it easier for people with disabilities, disease or amputations of the hands and arms to use a computer or even play video games! With this keypad for your feet, called the Soft Step KeyWorx multitouch foot controller, you can open and close applications including the internet, enter text, scroll and navigate with the cursor, bring a browser forward, control volume and zoom, and more. The 10 keys are fully customizable for functions that you use or need and it can be used with either a Mac or Windows.
Check out this video demonstration of the Soft Step KeyWorx foot controller. For more information and where to buy this device go to the company’s website.

Did you know that keeping your sugar in tight-control can help prevent foot pain or nerve damage? A national study involving 1,441 people with type 1 diabetes was published in the journal Diabetes Care, which showed patients who kept their sugar in tight control were 51 percent less likely to have nerve problems. Neuropathy, which causes foot numbness, plays a major role in the 80,000 foot and leg amputations performed every year on Americans with diabetes. About two-thirds of diabetic patients have this condition due to their diabetes. The study showed that after the eight years, those 1,441 people had no symptoms of neuropathy at the end of the trial.

” In all, participants who had begun with tight blood-sugar control and stuck with it were 51 percent less likely to report symptoms of neuropathy, and 43 percent less likely to show signs of it, than those who had started out with regular blood-sugar control and then gone to tight control. There were also differences between the two groups in the incidence of open sores requiring medical or surgical treatment, and in incidence of amputation.”

Even though this study was only done with type 1 diabetes, the most commonly seen diabetes today is type 2. The results did show implications for those with type 2 diabetes; “It suggests that good glucose control clearly protects patients over the long term” says senior author Dr. Eva Feldman.

Read more by going to this link

Dreading to wear those winter shoes that cause your feet to smell?? Well we might have some good news for you!

With these cold days creeping up fast, flip flops and sandals are no longer a good option to let your feet air out that bad smell. First, we need to discuss how that “bad smell” even exists. Bacteria love moist/warm feet, socks, dead skin, and shoes. The bacteria found in these places are the cause of your unfortunate embarrassing foot odor.

Luckily for you, we have some healthy remedies to help prevent this foot odor as well as some home remedies to treat foot odor. We will start with the healthy habits first.

• Wash your feet often and try to use a pumice stone to get rid of the dead skin.
• Wear shoes made of natural materials, such as leather, which tend to breathe better than those man-made shoes which don’t let heat escape.
• Wear socks that allow your feet to breathe too. You should change your socks at least once during the day to prevent sweat to build up and NEVER wear the same pair two days in a row.
• Avoid shoes that are lined with solid rubber or synthetic materials.
• Wash your shoes, if possible. Most shoes, such as sneakers, can be washed right in the washing machine. However, let them air-dry instead of putting them in the dryer. (Better for your shoes and better for your bill!)
• It is best to alternate shoes everyday. You do not need to have five pairs of shoes but try to have two good pairs and alternate them. While doing this, air your shoes out in between wearing them by loosening up the laces and pulling up on the tongue.
• Believe it or not but what you eat can determine the smell too. Try to avoid foods with strong-flavoring such as garlic, onions, scallions, and peppers because the aroma can pass through your bloodstream and concentrate in your sweat.
• Getting stressed or anxious with the holidays coming fast? This will cause an increase in production of sweat, which gives the odor-causing bacteria more to feed on.

Now that we have talked about some healthy habits to help prevent that smell, let’s talk about some home remedies to stop your foot odor. Don’t try all of these at once, pick one or two that you can do daily (or at least 3-4x a week) and stick with it. If it doesn’t work – move on to another method!

• Pour two to three teaspoons of liquid chlorophyll (Chlorophyll helps sweeten your feet) into a bucket filled with a gallon of warm water, and soak your feet for 15 minutes. Make sure to dry your feet completely after soaking.
• Soak your feet in one third cup of apple cider vinegar, added to a small pan of warm water, several times a week.
• Make a pot of black tea and pour it into a dishpan. Soak your feet for ten minutes once the tea has cooled down a little. Tea contains tannic acid, which helps eliminate foot odor.
• Apply tea tree oil on your feet, toes, and nails thoroughly after showering to kill the fungus and give your feet a nice smell.
• Sprinkle some baking soda inside your shoes to absorb the moisture and the odor.
• Zinc, a vitamin, makes the skin more resistant to odor-causing bacteria and may reduce or eliminate the odor within a week or two. You can take 15 to 30 mg of Zinc per day either alone or in a multi-vitamin. DO NOT take more than 30 mg of zinc since high levels can interfere with the absorption of copper and can damage the immune system. Talking to your primary care physician is recommended before taking anything.
• Spray or sponge on colloidal silver on your feet and let them air dry. The colloidal silver can be very effective at eliminating odor-causing bacteria.
• A lot of people know of ginger as helping with nausea, but it can also help with foot odor. Mash a one or two inch piece of ginger into a pulp, put it into a handkerchief or piece of gauze, and soak it in hot water for a few minutes. Rub the ginger liquid onto each foot each night after taking a shower.
• Juice about two dozen radishes, add 1/4 teaspoon of glycerin, and put it in a squirt bottle or a spray-top bottle. Spray the feet and let them air dry to help decrease some of the foot odor.