May 2016: Your Aging Feet
Thank you to Heather Hall Morse, DPM, FACFAS, of Northside Podiatry. According to Dr. Morse, people always ask her how can she stand to be a podiatrist and look at feet all day. She tells them it could be a lot worse. She could be a proctologist.
Some of Dr. Morse’s helpful tips:
Common Foot Issues
Neuroma is a painful growth of nerve tissue in the foot, most often between the toes. It forms when foot bones press together and irritate a nerve. It may be caused by tight shoes, poor-fitting shoes or high heels. It may also be caused by repeated stress on the foot, injury or a foot deformity. As a neuroma worsens, it can be very painful.
Bunion (excess or misaligned bone in the joint at the big toe) is one of the most common big toe problems. In addition to causing pain, a bunion changes the shape of your foot, making it harder to find shoes that fit.
Pressure ulcers are sores that occur when pressure cuts off the blood supply to the skin. Stress caused by the body’s weight and the impact of striking the ground place the ball of the foot, the big toe and the heel at greatest risk. Left untreated, an ulcer may allow infection to enter your body.
Warts (rare in adults) is an infection caused by a virus, which can invade your skin through small cuts of breaks. Over time the wart develops into a hard, rough growth on the surface of the skin, a wart is most commonly seen on the bottom of the foot but can also appear on the top.
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen and irritated, making your heel or the bottom of your foot hurt when walking or standing.
Dr. Morse and her group can help you with all these issues.
Some of Dr. Morse’s helpful tips:
- Don’t buy shoes because your eyes like them; buy them because your feet do. She discussed the importance of wearing the right shoe for the activity, so the shoe’s support and cushioning meet your needs. Also, choose shoes with good arch and heel support.
- Pedicures are really a no unless you are going to take all of the extra precautions (see flyer below).
- To avoid foot fungus, it is important to wear a water shoe in damp public areas. It is also important to keep your feet dry and clean.
Common Foot Issues
Neuroma is a painful growth of nerve tissue in the foot, most often between the toes. It forms when foot bones press together and irritate a nerve. It may be caused by tight shoes, poor-fitting shoes or high heels. It may also be caused by repeated stress on the foot, injury or a foot deformity. As a neuroma worsens, it can be very painful.
Bunion (excess or misaligned bone in the joint at the big toe) is one of the most common big toe problems. In addition to causing pain, a bunion changes the shape of your foot, making it harder to find shoes that fit.
Pressure ulcers are sores that occur when pressure cuts off the blood supply to the skin. Stress caused by the body’s weight and the impact of striking the ground place the ball of the foot, the big toe and the heel at greatest risk. Left untreated, an ulcer may allow infection to enter your body.
Warts (rare in adults) is an infection caused by a virus, which can invade your skin through small cuts of breaks. Over time the wart develops into a hard, rough growth on the surface of the skin, a wart is most commonly seen on the bottom of the foot but can also appear on the top.
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen and irritated, making your heel or the bottom of your foot hurt when walking or standing.
Dr. Morse and her group can help you with all these issues.
