Feet talk. Of course, they don’t rattle on like some annoying relative. They do often mirror overall health, at times being the first place to show signs of serious medical problems.

Is That Pain in the Foot a Tumor in the Neck?

For example, when a 41-year-old man came to my office with pain and swelling in his foot, he thought he had injured himself playing baseball; instead, we discovered a tumor in his neck. The tumor was altering chemicals in his body. One of these, uric acid, was so severely elevated that it couldn’t be contained in his bloodstream and entered several joints in his foot, causing his pain. The patient had the tumor removed, and a month later his foot pain disappeared. This case was especially rewarding because had this tumor not been caught, it could have affected his heart, possibly becoming fatal. (Read more about it HERE).

Most instances of feet revealing medical conditions are not this dramatic, but many systemic problems often show up in our feet first.

Nailing Down Nails

Let’s start with our toenails. Nowadays, with MRIs, CT scans, and hundreds of blood tests to choose from, few doctors look at toenails. Sadly, some don’t even give feet a cursory glance. But in ancient times, examining the toenails was as important as having patients stick out their tongue.

A small change in our toenails’ color, shape and pliability may be the only indication of a more serious medical problem. Toenails that become rounded or “clubbed” may mean the person has lung cancer, emphysema, liver disease or a heart problem.

Brittle nails could signal poor circulation, an iron deficiency or a kidney or thyroid problem. Short, small nail beds may be a sign of heart disease, and grey nails may mean the person has glaucoma.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamins

If you’re not eating your vegetables, toenails can reveal that too. A spoon-like or flat nail could mean a lack of certain B vitamins. Splitting and fraying of toenails may signal a need for folic acid or vitamin C. Small white patches on toenails could signal a zinc deficiency. (Read more about vitamins and our feet HERE).

Is That Redness on Your Foot an STD?

A rash or redness on the feet could be a sign of infection, a circulation problem or a sexually transmitted disease. That’s right, STDs—in my practice, I’ve seen signs of AIDS, herpes, syphilis and gonorrhea show up in the foot.

People are usually surprised to hear about sexual diseases in the foot. But when feet, oftentimes the big toe, get involved in sexual activity they are just as susceptible as any other body part to infectious diseases. Some diseases, like AIDS, cause growths and other skin changes on the feet, and others, like herpes, spread to the feet when the person removes their underwear.

Are your feet swelling up? When only one foot swells, it often signals a problem within the foot itself, such as infection or a fracture. It might also be due to a blood clot or a circulation problem. If both feet swell, it could mean you have heart, kidney or liver failure.

Is it just Dry Skin or Something More?

The skin of our feet tells us a lot, too. Dry skin may be a sign of an under-active thyroid, diabetes, poor circulation or malnutrition. Sweaty skin could mean an overactive thyroid, menopause, anxiety or a psychiatric disorder.

Bone deformities, such as heel spurs or bunions, may be a clue that the person has certain types of arthritis. Your doctor should check for these, as many arthritic diseases can affect the entire body, including the heart.      

Final Thoughts on Reading Your Feet

So, feet can reveal quite a lot of information about a person’s overall health, even when the condition has nothing to do with feet. On the lighter side, feet reveal plenty about a person’s personality as well. People love to adorn their feet with toe rings, ankle bracelets and even tattoos.

The most interesting tattoo I’ve seen was a trail of black ants on a young man that began at his big toe and went up his leg, apparently to his groin—I didn’t check.

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Most people don’t think much about their feet, let alone take time to look at them. But, nearly everyone cares about their weight.

Now, a remarkable new scale—the Insight Foot Care scale—facilitates daily foot exams when you weigh yourself.

Still, most people are probably wondering why they should check their feet daily. One word: melanoma. This disease can affect anyone and can lead to a foot amputation and even death. 

Before we discuss melanoma, let’s talk about the main reason for the Insight Foot Care scale—prevention of diabetic foot amputations.

For diabetics, the smallest sore, blister, or infection can quickly accelerate to a severe problem or gangrene, and quickly lead to the need for amputation of a toe, the foot, or even the leg.

Studies show that one in five diabetics will endure an amputation. Sadly, most of these amputations are preventable, if caught early.

Diabetes often causes decreased sensation in the nerves of feet and as a result, people with diabetes may not feel a sore or infection on the bottom of their foot.

Many diabetics often don’t realize they have an infection or sore on their foot until they try to remove their sock and it sticks the foot (from pus).

In fact, I have had diabetic patients come to see me for sores on the bottom of their feet and when I take an x-ray, I discover a needle or other sharp object inside the foot. Because these patients have decreased sensation, they usually don’t have any pain, and as a result, are surprised to learn they stepped on a needle or other sharp object.

Loss of sensation in diabetic feet is often due neuropathy, which literally means, “a disease of the nerves.” Neuropathy is nothing to get nervous about, but you do need to take it seriously.

Neuropathy affects millions of people each year, and though diabetics are most affected, it also occurs in people with thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, and some types of arthritis, and as a possible side-effect of chemotherapy treatment.   

Anyone with neuropathy (lacking normal sensation in the feet) is at higher risk for recognizing serious foot problems too late.

Healthy people, without diabetes, can feel pain and this is the body’s way of alerting us that there is a problem. But, without that pain sensation the only way to catch a problem is to see it—that is why diabetics or those people without normal sensation must check their feet daily. In a moment, I will explain how the Insight Foot Scale makes checking your foot easy.

First, let us return to melanoma, a deadly disease that can affect anyone.

Melanoma is a cancer that often starts as a small mole, lesion, or freckle.

When melanoma occurs on the foot it is usually not caught until it is too late, often resulting in the loss of the foot or leg, and even death. Each year more than 8,000 people die from melanoma—nearly one death every hour.

Fortunately, when caught early, most people with melanoma survive.

Melanoma does not discriminate. It occurs in the young and old, in African-Americans and in Caucasians, and in males and females. Though, Caucasians or fairer-skinned people are at higher risk.

Any suspicious moles, lesions, or freckles on your foot could be melanoma and a podiatrist should evaluate these. The Insight Foot Care scale makes checking for melanoma on the bottom of the foot easy.

The Insight Foot Care scale makes examining your feet not only easy, but also fun.

The scale arrived in a well-padded box and came with detailed, easy to follow instructions.

Since my partner in practice with me at Friendly Foot Care, Dr. Michael Lacey, is a type 1 diabetic, I asked him to help me test the Insight Foot Care scale.

The scale appears to be well built and sturdy. Certainly, able to withstand being stepped on repeatedly by some of the populations heavier people.

The scale’s has a modern, sleek design ensures it would never be an eyesore in even the most luxurious of bathrooms. As far weighing yourself, the numbers are large and easy to read.

The real innovation of the scale is its two illuminated tilted mirrors that magnify the bottom of your feet. These mirrors allow you to observe every detail of the bottom of your feet each day your weigh yourself.

Dr. Lacey and I found the Insight Foot Care scale easy to use, fun, and most importantly it succeeds in doing what it advertises: allows great visualization of the bottom of your feet.

In summary, I believe everyone should have (and use!) this scale, especially if you are diabetic or have neuropathy. 

I give the Insight Foot Care scale 5 Toes Up!

Link: Insight Foot Care scale 

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Is Dr. Nirenberg a real doctor? Hear what Seinfeld has to say:

Podiatrists, or Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), are, in fact, real physicians.

Podiatrists specialize in treating foot and ankle problems. Podiatrists treat all problems related to the foot or ankle, and the variety of cases is endless. However, the most common problems I see are:

• Heel and/or arch pain

• Ingrown toe nails

• Bunions (bumps on the inside of the big toe)

• Hammertoes (bent toes)

• Flat feet

• Foot or ankle arthritis

• Fungal toenails

• Sores (ulcers)

• Infections

• Sprains and fractures

• Ankle pain or weakness

• Nerve problems and neuropathy (numbness, burning, or tingling)

• Shin splints

• Gout

• Athlete’s foot

• Sports medicine and diabetics foot problems

• Children’s foot problems

• Swelling or discoloration

• Plantar warts

• Arthritis of foot and ankle

• Heel spurs

• Arthritis

• Tendonitis

• Blisters

• Corns and Callouses

• Moles, cysts, tumors or lesions

When to Call a Podiatrist:

1. You Have Foot or Ankle Pain

Some aches and pains in our feet or ankles may go away in a day in a two; others do not, and that is when you need to go to a podiatrist.

Many people who see me for a painful foot or ankle have had pain for several days or weeks, but some have been limping around for several months or even over a year!

Pain is the body’s way of telling us something is wrong. Don’t ignore it.

However, not all people with foot or ankle problems have pain. For example, diabetics who have neuropathy (a deterioration of the nerves of their feet) may fracture a bone or develop an infection or sore on their foot and not have any pain.

Recently, I had a patient with diabetes come to see me complaining of a small sore on the bottom of their foot; an x-ray revealed a needle inside the foot.

Because the patient had very little feeling in her feet she didn’t know she had stepped on anything sharp.

In all patients, foot and ankle problems can quickly become serious, but diabetics are especially at risk.

Diabetics who don’t seek podiatric care promptly often develop gangrene and need a toe or the whole foot amputated.

Prompt treatment is essential. All diabetics or anyone else with decreased feeling in their feet need to have any foot or ankle problems checked by a podiatrist immediately.

2. You Notice Changes in Your Feet

Some people may notice one foot swelling or flattening.

Diabetics and others with neuropathy may not have pain, however these are the people most at risk for a particularly serious problem called charcot arthropathy.

In charcot arthropathy, the bones of the foot weaken and slide out of position, and may actually break through the bottom of the foot, leading to infection and even amputation.

For other patients, a rapid flattening of one foot may mean the main tendon holding up their foot has torn.

It is a good guideline for anyone who notices swelling, redness, increased warmth, or a change in the shape of his or her foot or ankle to see a podiatrist promptly.

3. You Find Something Abnormal On Your Foot or Ankle

A podiatrist should check any lumps, bumps, cysts, tumors, or moles on your foot or ankles. These problems are usually harmless, but occasionally they can be cancer and life threatening.

Final Thoughts on Foot and Ankle Problems

If you have a foot or ankle problem or pain, the best advice I can give you is: Don’t wait for it to go away—it may not.  

If you experience persistent pain, notice changes in the shape or color of your feet, or find an abnormality, then see your podiatrist right away. To learn more about podiatry, podiatrists, and podiatric medicine, visit the website of the American Podiatric Medical Association

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Our feet take a beating.

We put in long hours, walking an average of seven to ten miles a day.

We tread on artificial surfaces such as asphalt, concrete and tile, often carrying a briefcase, purse, baby or laptop—and for some of us all four!

And with each step two to three times our body weight comes down on our feet, not to mention the strain of jogging, stair stepping or high impact aerobics.

So what can you do to keep your feet healthy, beautiful and strong enough to make it through the day?

I hear this question often as a podiatrist and more often from female patients, which doesn’t surprise me, since women experience four times more foot problems than men.

Fortunately, both men and women can do simple, inexpensive things to care for their feet, and when your feet feel great, your whole body will too. Consider the following five ”musts” for healthy, beautiful feet.

1. Use a good moisturizer

The skin of your feet is increasingly prone to drying out as you age. Dry skin is not only ugly but can crack open and possibly become infected, especially in diabetics or those with poor circulation. A good moisturizer can soothe dry skin.

The secret to finding a good moisturizer is not by price; more expensive doesn’t mean better.

Read the ingredients and avoid products with alcohol or alcohol derivatives.

Generally, lotions contain alcohol to make them absorb faster, but the alcohol hinders the product’s ability to moisturize your skin.

The best dry skin products tend to be creams without alcohol. These are gooier and absorb slowly, so I recommend applying them just before going to bed.

2. Keep your feet dry

This may seem to contradict using moisturizer, but dampness around your feet, specifically between your toes, can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

When washing your feet, be sure to dry them well, especially between the toes.

Towels can pick up bacteria or fungus, especially if they are damp or dirty, so wash them often with bleach or hot water and never use the towel that dried your feet on the rest of your body or face.

A good tip to keep feet, and especially toes, free from moisture is to use a foot powder enriched with zinc or menthol, or even both. A sprinkle a day will not only keep toes from perspiring, but also lessen odor.

3. Beware of nail polish and acrylic nails

Men can skip this tip, but women should heed it. Nail polish and acrylic nails trap moisture, increasing the chance of fungus infecting toenails, causing the nails to thicken and turn yellow or, in severe cases, black.

Toenail fungus can also infect the surrounding the skin and in some cases, particularly when the person is diabetic or has poor circulation, can lead to the loss of a toe or even the foot.

Some women who notice their toenails beginning to darken or yellow from fungus cover the nails with polish to hide them; ironically, this only makes the problem worse.

Am I saying you shouldn’t wear nail polish or acrylic nails? Not at all. Nail polish or acrylic nails can cheer up the ugliest of feet, don’t cost a lot and are generally among the safer pleasures for your feet.

When using nail polish or acrylic nails think of them like a dieter having a scoop of ice cream: occasionally it is okay, but not every day.

If you have a special event, feel free to wear nail polish or acrylic nails; just remove the polish or fake nails when you get home. The more your nails can “air out” the better.

4. Wear sensible shoes

This seems obvious, but many people choose style over comfort (one study showed that 88 percent of women have at some point knowingly squeezed their feet into shoes that were too small).

Like eating that fattening scoop of ice cream, wearing Jimmy Choos or other stylish shoes occasionally, for brief periods usually won’t cause problems.

However, wearing ill-fitting shoes too often can cause the toes to crunch up, possibly causing permanent deformities, pinched nerves, corns, calluses or other problems.

People with diabetes or poor circulation need to be especially careful, as these problems can result in serious infections.

The secret to making sure shoes fit properly is to shop for them late in the day when your feet are likely most swollen.

When you walk in the shoes you try on, try to avoid the soft, plush carpet found in most shoe stores. If you’re in a mall, leave the shoe store and walk on the mall’s tile floor.

Most importantly, if shoes hurt in the store they will hurt when you get them home–a shoe should never need to be “broken in.”

5. Check your feet daily

The last tip to taking care of your feet is more common sense than secret. Check your feet every day.

It’s amazing how many people don’t look at their feet; or if they do see a problem or have pain, they shove their foot into a shoe and try to forget about it.

When examining your feet, watch for any blisters, redness, swelling or open sores, and be sure check between the toes as this is a common area for infections to start. A good way to see the bottom of your feet is to use a mirror.

If you find a foot or ankle problem, see a podiatrist promptly.

Most foot and ankle problems are easy to take care of when caught early. The biggest complaint I hear from my patients is, “I wish I had come to see you sooner.”

Your lifetime of healthy, beautiful feet

Your feet work hard all day long, and they need a little care to remain strong.

When you use these tips to take care of your feet, they can be healthy, beautiful and ready to carry you anywhere.

To learn more about podiatry, podiatrists, and podiatric medicine, visit the website of the American Podiatric Medical Association

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Bunions, Flat Feet & Weak Ankles

Most of us don’t think about our feet until they hurt.

Even then, we limp around hoping the pain will go away. But with two to three times our body weight pushing down on each foot with every step, it usually doesn’t.

Fortunately, you can do a few things for relief.

1. Wear Only Great-Fitting Shoes

In one study, 88% of women admitted that at some point they knowingly squeezed their feet into shoes that were too small.

Further, as we age, our feet tend to become larger, but most people insist on wearing the same shoe size they wore years ago.

In addition to making sure your shoes fit properly, make sure they have a good arch support and that the heel counter—the area that wraps around your heel—is firm and strong.

2. Feet Need Exercise, Too

I can hear the couch potatoes now:  “My feet get enough exercise.”  Perhaps, but walking to the fridge or standing in line at McDonald’s isn’t exactly exercise.

Most people agree our entire body needs exercise, but few people think about keeping their feet in shape.

Yet, with the average person walking over a hundred thousand miles in their lifetime, feet need all the help they can get.

Foot exercises tone, stretch, and strengthen feet, while alleviating fatigue, soothing soreness, and increasing blood flow.

3. Take the Plunge

Nothing soothes sore, aching feet more than a relaxing footbath.

You can use a bathtub or plastic basin, or for some serious relief, I recommend buying a massaging footbath.

Make sure the water is warm, not hot (I’ve seen patients soak in water so hot they received second-degree burns).

Add good quality bubble bath to the water; and for those who are not diabetic or have poor circulation, adding Epsom salts is great, too.

4. Moisturize Your Way to Healthier Feet

Good moisturizers can sooth dry, irritated skin.

The secret to finding a good moisturizer for your feet is not by price; more expensive doesn’t mean better.

Read the ingredients and avoid products with alcohol or alcohol derivatives—the best dry-skin products tend to be creams without alcohol.

These are gooier and absorb slowly, so I recommend applying them just before going to bed.

5. Nailing Down Nails

Caring for your nails will go a long way in helping to alleviate foot problems.

Long, jagged, and thickened toenails can catch on socks or pantyhose, dig into adjacent toes, or suffer injury by pressing against the inside of our shoes.

In my practice, I have seen unkempt nails lead to blisters, infections, ingrown toenails, and even gangrene.

When trimming your toenails, follow the contour of the toe and avoid cutting into the corners. Smooth any rough edges with a nail file.

Final Thoughts on Aching Feet

Caring for your feet is your responsibility. However, when problems don’t go away, become serious, or if you have diabetes or poor circulation, get professional help and see a podiatrist.

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Many of my older patients wish they had taken better care of their feet when they were younger.

Thankfully, doctors and the health food industry are finally recognizing what many people have wanted for years: safe, natural ways to keep their feet strong and healthy.

The safest, simplest way to keep your feet healthy throughout life is already in your kitchen: water.

Water regulates temperature and metabolism, delivers electrolytes to muscles and lubricates our joints.

With each foot containing 33 joints and depending on 19 muscles, even slight dehydration can cause your feet to cramp and fatigue.

I recommend drinking eight glasses of water a day.

Guzzling Mountain Dew, Mocha Frappuccinos or six-packs of Bud Light isn’t the same.

Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages can actually cause dehydration.

Drinking water, not only for your feet, but also for your whole body, should be common sense, yet at any time, 75 percent of Americans are mildly dehydrated.

Moderate or severe lack of water can make feet cold and more vulnerable to infection.

Dehydration can also make toenails brittle and the skin of our feet dry.

Dry skin may not seem like a big problem, but on the feet, dry skin can crack and develop deep, painful fissures that are at risk for infection.

A patient with dry skin on their heel.

I’ve seen simple breaks in the skin, particularly in the feet of the elderly and people with diabetes, lead to catastrophic infections, at times resulting in the foot’s amputation.

However, dry skin on the feet may indicate more than just a lack of moisture.

Sometimes it’s psoriasis, a fungal infection or a sign of a more serious condition, such as diabetes, poor circulation or a thyroid disorder.

If your feet have severe or persisting dry skin, you should see a podiatrist.  

The best way to soothe dry skin is with moisturizers and applying vitamin A, D and E. You can put these on your feet separately, mix a concoction or buy a vitamin-enriched cream.

When choosing a cream, don’t go by price; more expensive doesn’t mean better.

Read the ingredients and avoid products containing alcohol or alcohol derivatives, which actually dry skin. Surprisingly, alcohol is common in many so-called moisturizers.

Dry, irritated skin also responds to foot powder, particularly when the powder is enriched with zinc or menthol.

A sprinkle a day will not only help keep the skin moisturized, but also lessen odor and perspiration.

Urea also helps keep feet healthy. A natural compound, urea attracts moisture, slowing its escape from the skin. Look for it by itself or in moisturizers.

For patients with severely cracked heels, I often prescribe medicated creams containing 40 percent urea.     

I also recommend urea for frail, brittle toenails.

To strengthen toenails, apply Biotin, a B vitamin, and take calcium and vitamin A. Vitamin C helps nails too—not that they have to fight off colds, but they can get painful hangnails, which this vitamin prevents.

Caring for your feet as you age also means keeping your bones strong.

Bones form the foot’s foundation, in turn supporting our entire body. With aging, bones lose strength and develop osteoporosis.

Combine osteoporosis in your feet—each foot a jigsaw puzzle of 28 small bones—with a one hundred and fifty or two hundred pound person landing on them repeatedly and you have a great chance for fractures.

Women past menopause are at the greatest risk for osteoporosis.

A simple test can check for osteoporosis and, if necessary, your doctor will prescribe medication.

To help prevent osteoporosis, eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D and exercise regularly, doing activities that put weight on your feet such as walking, aerobics or weight lifting.

Lastly, vitamins and minerals—and in rare cases, even water—are not always safe for everyone. Before starting any supplements, always check with your doctor.

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Painful Hammertoes & Fungal Toenails

Eighty percent of people, at some point in their lives, have a foot problem that requires medical care.

However, many people let their problems persist and worsen untreated.

Here is a list of the most common foot problems I see in my practice that you can watch for to ensure the health of your feet.

Heel Pain

Heels get a bad rap. The dictionary defines a heel as a dishonorable person, and the term “Achilles’ heel” refers to a fatal weakness.

The reality is your heels are quite strong, though no other part of your foot malfunctions more. Heel pain is the number one reason people come see me.

Heel pain can be very complicated and may have a variety of causes, including a stress fracture, pinched nerve, bone cyst, or tumor.

Most patients with heel pain believe they have a heel spur.

This may be part of the problem, but the most common cause of heel pain—whether or not a heel spur is also present—is inflammation of the largest ligament in our foot, the plantar fascia. In doctor-speak, this problem is called plantar fasciitis.

 Treatments for plantar fasciitis range from custom-made arch supports (called orthotics), to simple stretching exercises, to the revolutionary, high-tech shockwave treatment. 

Nerve Problems

 Burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting pain in your feet or ankles often means something is wrong with a nerve.

Nerve problems are common in feet, so if you have one, don’t get nervous. Most of the time, the treatment is relatively simple.

The main nerve problems I see are:

• Morton’s Neuroma

Not to be confused with Morton’s Steakhouse—which may cause a full stomach—Morton’s neuroma causes cramping, tingling (a feeling of pins and needles), burning, or shooting pain in the toes or ball of your foot.

A neuroma is a painful growth on a nerve that forms when the nerve becomes irritated.

Treatment for neuromas consists of using a special arch support, called an orthotic, and sometimes injections are needed. Surgery is rarely necessary.   

• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Almost everyone has heard of carpal tunnel syndrome in the hands, but few people realize the same problem occurs in our feet.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome may cause burning, tingling, shooting pain, or a cramping sensation in your foot.

The good news is that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is often easily treated with orthotics, injections or a short, outpatient procedure.   

• Neuropathy

Neuropathy literally means a “disease of the nerves,” and it affects millions of people each year. Persons with neuropathy often experience loss of sensation, burning, tingling, or shooting pain.

The number one body part affected by neuropathy is the feet. Persons with diabetes are those most afflicted with neuropathy, but it also occurs in people with thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, and some types of arthritis.

Neuropathy has many treatment options and some people might opt for a new, somewhat controversial, procedure that involves surgically freeing up the nerves to restore normal sensation to their feet.

Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, or just plain old “Arthur” is a deterioration of the joints between our bones.

When Arthur visits people’s feet or ankles, many believe they just have to live with it. This is far from the truth. The reality is podiatrists have many techniques to alleviate arthritis, including a high-tech, tiny arthroscopic camera that can remove arthritis from sore ankles.    

Nail Problems

I am not talking about rusty nails on your garage floor, but ingrown toenails and fungal toenails. Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail grows deep into the flesh of the toe.

These are painful and can become infected. Fortunately, a brief, in-office technique can alleviate ingrown toenails, often permanently.

Fungal toenails are another story, and usually require a long course of medication.

Bunions

These are protrusions of bone or bumps that form on the inside of the foot at the joint at the base of the big toe.

If you wear ill-fitting shoes, don’t blame them for bunions—blame your parents. Bunions are inherited. However, poor footwear can contribute to the formation of a bunion.

Numerous conservative treatments, such as trying wider shoes or foot soaks, can alleviate painful bunions, though getting rid of them requires a short, outpatient surgical procedure.

Other Big Toe Problems

• Hallux Rigidus

With hallux rigidus, the big toe may look normal; however the inside of the joint at the base of the big toe is deteriorated and painful.

Sometimes the big toe won’t bend. Like bunions, simple treatments can lessen the pain, but in on some cases surgery is necessary.

• Gout

Known as the “rich man’s disease,” gout doesn’t just affect the rich. Gout is a type of arthritis that most often occurs in the joint at the base of the great toe, causing redness, swelling, and pain.

Some patients have said the pain was so severe that they couldn’t stand the bed sheet resting on their toe. Other patients describe less intense symptoms.

Gout occurs when too much uric acid is present in your body. Uric acid is a natural chemical that your body manufactures, and you ingest in certain foods, like pork, beer, or liver.

Treatment consists of altering your diet to limit the amount of uric acid you ingest, and if that isn’t enough, medication is prescribed.

Corns and Callouses

Corns have nothing to do with plants that grow ears. Painful corns (and callouses) are a build-up of hard, dead skin that often occurs due to an abnormal bony prominence or a bone out of position.

Corns occur on toes and callouses are found on the bottom of the foot.

Contracted toes (hammertoes) cause corns to form, and callouses form when a bone or bones are out of position. Treatment of a corn or callous depends on what is wrong with the bone underneath them.

Final Thoughts on Common Foot Problems

These are the top foot and ankle offenders, but the list of problems I see in my practice is endless. If you have foot or ankle pain or another problem, the best thing you can do is have it checked by a podiatrist.

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28 year old woman with a bunion and hammertoe

Not everyone goes to the doctor when they have a medical problem, and when many people do go, they don’t always seek out the best trained doctor for their problem. Today, medicine is very specialized. There are entire medical journals and textbooks for every part of the body: head, stomach, veins, and yes, feet. That is where podiatrists come in.

What is a Podiatrist?
Podiatrists or Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) are physicians who specialize in the treatment of foot and ankle problems. Most podiatrists have spent at least three or four years studying the basic sciences in a university or college after graduating high school, then studied four more years at a school of podiatric medicine, and then most go on to do foot and ankle residencies for two to three additional years or in some cases, even more.

What Kinds of Problems Do Podiatrist Treat?
Podiatrists treat all problems related to the foot or ankle, and the length is endless. However, the more common problems I see are heel pain, arch pain, ingrown toe nails, bunions (bumps on the inside of the big toe), hammertoes (bent toes), flat feet, foot or ankle arthritis, fungal toe nails, sores (ulcers), infections, sprains and fractures, ankle pain or weakness, nerve problems and neuropathy (numbness, burning, or tingling), shin splints, gout, athlete’s foot, sports medicine and diabetics foot problems, children’s foot problems, swelling or discoloration, plantar warts, dry skin, and moles, cysts or tumors.

When Should I Call a Podiatrist?
Some aches and pains in our feet or ankles may go away in a day in a two; others do not, and that is when you need to go to a podiatrist. Many people who see me for a painful foot or ankle have had pain for several days or weeks, but some have been limping around for several months or even over a year! Pain is the body’s way of telling us something is wrong. Don’t ignore it.

Some people with foot or ankle problems never have pain. For example, diabetics who have neuropathy (a deterioration of the nerves of their feet) may fracture a bone or develop an infection or sore on their foot and not have any pain. Recently, I had a patient with diabetes come to see me complaining of a small sore on the bottom of their foot; an x-ray revealed a needle inside the foot. Because the patient had very little feeling in their feet they didn’t know they had stepped on anything sharp.

In all patients foot problems can quickly become serious, but diabetics are especially at risk. It is not unusual for diabetics who don’t seek podiatric care promptly to develop gangrene and need a toe or the whole foot amputated. Prompt treatment is essential. All diabetics or anyone else with decreased feeling in their feet needs to have any foot or ankle problem checked by a podiatrist immediately.

Some people may notice one foot swelling or flattening. Diabetics and others with neuropathy may not have pain, however these are the people most at risk for a particularly serious problem called charcot arthropathy. In charcot arthropathy the bones of the foot weaken and slide out of position and may actually break through the bottom of the foot, leading to infection and even amputation. For other patients, a rapid flattening of one foot may mean the main tendon holding up their foot has torn.

It is a good guideline for anyone who notices swelling, redness, increased warmth or a change in the shape of his or her foot or ankle to see a podiatrist promptly.

Lastly, a podiatrist should check any lumps, bumps, cysts, tumors or moles on your foot or ankles. These problems are usually harmless, but occasionally they can be cancer and life threatening.

Final Thoughts on Foot and Ankle Pain
The most common complaint I hear from my patients is, “I should’ve come to see you sooner.” If you have a foot or ankle problem, the best advice I can give you is, don’t wait for it to hopefully go away—it may not.

To have Dr. Nirenberg look at your foot or ankle problem, visit Friendly Foot Care.

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