Charcot Foot
« Previous EntriesOverlapping Toes
Monday, September 21st, 2009All about Overlapping Toes
Unless you were born with overlapping toes, the most likely cause of the problem is continuously wearing shoes of a poor design or those that fit poorly. There are, however, other causes that bear mentioning.
The Causes of Overlapping Toes Include
Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis can cause deformities in the joints, which can cause the toes to overlap or press on each other. Any of the joints of the toes and feet can be affected.
Hammertoes are sometimes seen as overlapping. The hammer toe deformity usually occurs in the joint closest to the back of the toe, opposite the toenail. The ends of the toes point downward like a hammer or mallet.
Mallet toe is similar to hammertoe, but the deformity occurs in the joint closest to the end of the toe or toenail. In the second, third and fourth toe there are two joints. Either one can become deformed.
In Charcot foot, the big toe leans against the second. The most common cause of Charcot foot is diabetes, particularly when it is poorly controlled.
A bunion on the big toe or a tailor’s bunion on the small toe can cause the toe to bend in towards the other toes. This misalignment can cause any of the toes to overlap and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Congenital abnormalities or birth defects may be the cause. If that is the case, other symptoms may or may not be present. The condition is usually diagnosed at birth and other symptoms are evaluated to see if the problem is more serious.
Problems Caused by Overlapping Toes
Overlapping toes can cause the formation of calluses and corns. Blisters may form when walking or running. The rubbing can lead to infection or ulceration.
As the pain and irritation becomes worse, the rest of the joints of the feet may be affected. Pain in the heels, ball of the foot, knees and lower back may occur, as posture is negatively affected. Unconsciously, people change the way that they walk, in order to reduce the pressure on the bent toe.
Treating Overlapping Toes
Stretching and retraining the toes to straighten them is possible, without surgery, if you begin soon enough. Corn pads and cushions can and should be used to provide temporary relief and to prevent additional deformities to the other toes.
A variety of spacers, trainers and cushions are available from FootSmart.com. Start taking better care of your feet, today.
Foot & Heel Pain
Friday, September 11th, 2009Foot & heel pain can be caused by a number of different conditions. But, the most common cause is wearing poor-fitting (or poorly designed) shoes.
Whether or not you spend a great deal of time on your feet, it is important that your arches are properly supported, that the shoe is wide enough and that the heels are not too high.
High-heeled pointy toed shoes cause more aches and pains than just the ones experienced in the feet. The knees, hips and back can suffer as well.
On the other hand, well-fitting, well-designed shoes can resolve those problems, help to tone your legs and improve your posture.
Below, you will see a list of conditions that will cause foot & heel pain, a brief description, other symptoms that are associated with the condition, if applicable, and the causes.
Treatments for these conditions are listed here or on other pages of this website.
Pain-relieving drugs are often taken, but they are accompanied by unwanted side effects, of both a short and long-term nature, including liver damage.
The treatments listed here provide support, pain-relief and promote healing, without unwanted side effects.
Achilles Tendonitis
- Inflammation of the Achilles tendon
- Symptoms: pain primarily concentrated in the heel area, when standing or during physical activity
- Causes: overuse, poor training
- Recommended treatments: listed on the Achilles Tendonitis page of this website
Arthritis
- Damage to the joints accompanied by inflammation
- Symptoms: knee, ankle, foot & heel pain, sometimes accompanied by redness, swelling or enlargement of the joints
- Causes: multiple causes, depending on the type
- Recommended treatments and products: anti-inflammatory creams, such as DynaFreeze, shoe orthotics or removable insoles, shoe stretchers to accommodate enlarged joints, foot and ankle supports and orthopedic footwear
Bursitis
- Inflammation of the shock-absorbing cushions that protect the joints from injury
- Symptoms: pain and swelling, particularly in the morning, can affect any joint of the foot or heel, as well as other parts of the body
- Causes: overuse, repetitive motion, such as occurs during running; inappropriate hiking, running or walking shoes
- Recommended treatments and products: HTA pain relief spray, DynaFreeze anti-inflammatory cream, Sol Step to reduce pressure in the heel area, silicone insoles and orthopedic footwear
Charcot Foot
- Deformity of the feet, characterized by high arches, hammertoes and loss of strength
- Symptoms: before deformities become apparent, swelling, foot & heel pain and/or redness is noticed in the toes and other joints of the feet
- Causes: Genetic defects, diabetic neuropathy and diseases involving the nerves
- Recommended treatments and products: adjustable slip-on shoes, such as those made by Drew
- Read more about Charcot Foot
Cuboid Syndrome
- Chronic strain, partial dislocation or inflammation of the joints or ligaments in the area of the cuboid bone, which along with the calcaneus is responsible for lateral (side to side) foot stability
- Symptoms: pain near the outer or inner edges of the feet, sometimes radiating from one side to the other; general weakness of the feet
- Causes: improperly healed injury to the joints, ligaments or bones of the foot; repetitive injury or motions; landing from a jump; inappropriate athletic shoes
- Recommended treatments and products: manipulation of the foot by a trained podiatrist; custom orthotics; insoles; appropriate athletic shoes, such as Wellness Shoes
Diabetic Neuropathy
- Damage to the nerves of the feet
- Symptoms: foot & heel pain, tingling, numbness, burning sensations
- Cause: a complication of diabetes
- Recommended treatments and products listed on the diabetic neuropathy/diabetic foot care page
Fallen Arches/Flat Feet
- Conditions in which the arch of the foot is weak, damaged, collapsed or non-existent; the foot lays flat on the floor, rather than arching in the middle
- Symptoms: varies from no pain, at all, to pain in the feet and calves to reduced ability to walk
- Causes: genetic, the arch never developed, injury, illness, prolonged stress on the foot
- Recommended treatments and products: arch braces, such as those made by Foot Smart, custom orthotics, cushion insoles, appropriate shoes
Fatigue/Overuse/High Heels
- The most common causes of foot & heel pain
- Recommended treatments and products: rest; wearing appropriate shoes; soaking in a foot bath, such as the Hot Spa Ultimate; massage, a variety of massagers are available from Foot Smart, including the Total Leg and Foot Massager, which improves circulation and promotes healing
Diabetic Foot Care & Diabetic Neuropathy
Monday, September 7th, 2009Diabetic foot care encompasses steps that are aimed at preventing infection and relieving the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
A neuropathy is a disorder that affects the nervous system. A diabetic neuropathy can affect nearly any part of the body, but the feet are typically affected first.
Neuropathies do not affect the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal column, but the peripheral nerves which transmit signals to the brain, via the spinal column. In diabetic neuropathy, the nerves are not functioning properly. So, the signals that are transmitted to the brain are abnormal.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy?
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy vary, depending on which nerves or which area of the body are affected. Since we are focusing here on diabetic foot care, the symptoms may include:
- Decreased sensitivity to pain
- Hypersensitivity to pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Shooting, burning or electric pains
- Cold feet/inability to judge temperatures
- Foot ulcers
- Infections
- Muscle and bone deformities (hammertoes or Charcot foot)
It is important to recognize the symptoms and spend extra time inspecting the feet, checking for injury or infection on a daily basis. Infections can go unnoticed leading to ulceration and gangrene. In some cases, partial or total amputation is required to prevent blood poisoning.
What Causes Diabetic Neuropathy?
High glucose or blood sugar levels over a long period of time cause damage to the blood vessels that supply the nerve endings, throughout the body. Since, the blood vessels and the nerves in the hands and feet are some of the smallest; those are the areas of the body that are affected first.
The nerves and the blood vessels depend on each other. The nerves control dilation and constriction of the blood vessels. In order to function properly, the nerves need adequate blood flow. If blood flow is reduced, the nerves may cause constriction of the blood vessels, which further reduces the blood flow. Eventually, the nerves can simply die, due to lack of oxygen and nourishment from the blood. When the nerves die, the blood supply to the toes and other extremities is reduced even further.
So, the condition may become progressively worse, even when blood sugar levels are kept under control with medication and proper diet. Doctors theorize that in type II or adult-onset diabetes, the earliest damage may occur before a person even realizes that they have diabetes.
How Is Diabetic Neuropathy Treated?
Prescription drugs, such as anti-depressants or anticonvulsants may be prescribed, but there are no treatments, currently, that will reverse neuropathies. Tight blood glucose control is essential to help prevent the conditioning from progressing rapidly. Effective diabetic foot care helps to relieve the pain and prevent the most serious complications.
What Are the Essential Steps for Diabetic Foot Care?
1. Inspect your feet daily. Use a mirror if necessary to see the bottoms of your feet or the area between your toes.
2. Any sores or blisters should be treated with an antibacterial ointment and covered with a bandage or treated by a physician. Do not attempt to remove corns, calluses or ingrown toenails at home. See a podiatrist in the case of swelling, increased redness, pain or signs of infection.
3. Use a good moisturizer or lotion on heels and feet, but not between the toes. The area between the toes is prone to dampness, which creates an environment for fungal infections. There are a number of different moisturizers to choose from. Each has different benefits, depending on the ingredients. Lotions recommended by podiatrists include:
- Healthifeet Foot Cream—contains the amino acid L-arginine which may help improve circulation and “warm up” cold feet.
- Total Foot Recovery Cream with Tea Tree Oil—Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial activity, which may help prevent infections, one of the goals of diabetic foot care.
4. Never go barefoot. A splinter or tiny scrape can lead to a serious infection, because of reduced sensation and because of reduced blood flow.
5. Wash your feet daily with warm (not hot) soapy water. Do not use a heating pad or hot water bottle to warm cold feet, a burn could occur.
6. Trim your toenails carefully and cut them straight across the top, to avoid an ingrown nail.
5. Wear seamless socks that do not restrict circulation. Choose orthopedic or therapeutic footwear designed specifically for diabetic foot care.
There are a number of different orthopedic shoe styles to choose from, as well as seamless socks designed specifically for diabetic feet. They will not restrict circulation, but resist sagging and bunching.
Another good alternative for diabetic neuropathy and diabetic foot care, in general, is the Arch Craft customized insole, which can be worn with your own shoes. They cradle your feet in comfort, eliminating pressure points and pain, without restricting circulation.