Why Your Feet Hurt

It’s probably due to one of these ailments. Here’s how to treat them. For serious pain, see a podiatrist or a podiatric surgeon.

1. Plantar Fasciitis

Feels like:  A sharp pain in your heel (or heels) that’s at its worst when you get out of bed.
What causes it:  Inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from the heel to the toes. People with all arch types―high, medium, or low―can be prone to this type of irritation, says Carly Robbins, a podiatric surgeon in Columbus, Ohio. Wearing shoes with very flat or very high heels can worsen the problem. “If a shoe doesn’t support the arch, the fascia will be stretched, and that can cause inflammation,” says Robbins. And if your Achilles tendon often feels tight, it can exacerbate the issue.

 Treatment strategies
 

·         Wear structured shoes. Look for pairs that support the arches and enclose the heels. Avoid going barefoot or wearing ballet flats or flip-flops.

·         Stretch your Achilles tendons in the morning. “The plantar fascia is in a relaxed position when you’re sleeping,” says Jacqueline Sutera, a podiatric surgeon in New York City. “Then it gets a jolt of tension when you put weight on it.” Before hopping out of bed, wrap a towel or a T-shirt around your feet and pull the toes back to stretch the tendons.

·         Reduce swelling. Fill a plastic bottle with water, freeze it, and roll it under your foot for a few minutes to soothe the pain.

·         Consider custom orthotics. A podiatrist can make inserts that are molded specifically for your feet, which will control their motion and decrease strain on the plantar fasciae when worn inside shoes.

 

2. Ingrown Toenail

Feels like:  A throbbing sensation, usually on the side of a big toe. It might look red and swollen.
 What causes it: This often occurs when the nail edge grows sideways into the skin of the toe. The pressure on the nail jabs into the surrounding skin, causing discomfort. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too narrow can exacerbate the problem. Cutting toenails incorrectly can also be a culprit.

 Treatment strategies
 

·         Wear pointy-toed shoes infrequently. And if you’ll be walking a lot, carry them and wear shoes with roomy toe boxes until you reach your destination.

·         Keep feet well moisturized. When the skin on your toes gets inflamed, a callus can develop, causing more pressure on the ingrown nail. Keeping skin soft helps alleviate this problem.

·         Cut toenails straight across. And don’t file the corners down. If you get pedicures, be sure the technician follows these rules.

·         See a podiatrist if you suspect infection. Signs include significant swelling and redness. “Don’t try any bathroom surgery,” says Robbins. “Digging around the nail and trying to cut out the ingrown part can lead to more irritation.”

 

3. Bursitis

Feels like:  A bump, usually on the back of a heel.
 What causes it: “This condition can occur when you have a genetically enlarged heel bone,” says Marlene Reid, a podiatric surgeon in Naperville, Illinois. “It’s often called ‘pump bump’ because the bone can become irritated from wearing a shoe like a pump with a stiff back.” When the unforgiving shoe rubs against the bone, you can inflame the bursa, the protective sac of fluid in the tissue.

 Treatment strategies
 

·         Switch to shoes with open backs (or at least with more give) until the irritation subsides.

·         Use a donut pad. Try Dr. Scholl’s Foam Ease Callus Cushions ($4.50 at drugstores). Place one over the bursa to alleviate pressure. At the end of the day, ice the area to soothe the inflammation.

·         Consider seeing a doctor. If the problem causes chronic pain, a podiatric surgeon can remove the bursa and the enlarged part of the heel bone.

4. Stress fracture

Feels like: A tender area, often on the front part of the foot, at the second or third metatarsal (the metatarsals are the long bones in the midfoot).
 What causes it: Repetitive stress on a bone, like walking or running on hard surfaces, especially in shoes that aren’t designed to absorb shocks. “Every summer, I see fractures in women who walk the city sidewalks all day in flip-flops,” says Sutera. High heels can also make you more susceptible to stress fractures, because the heel’s tilt distributes your weight over your foot unevenly.

 Treatment strategies
 

·         See a doctor no matter what. A podiatrist will give you a surgical shoe to wear as you heal (it has a hard bottom that doesn’t allow the affected bones to bend) or advise you to wear some other kind of rigid shoes.

·         Slow down. Stress fractures take four to eight weeks to heal. During that time, you’ll need to stop running and limit your walking to what’s absolutely necessary.

·         Prevent recurrences. Maintain a healthy weight and wear supportive, well-cushioned shoes.

 

5. Bunions

Feel like: Sensitive, protruding bumps, typically at the heads of the big-toe joints.
 What causes them: Bunions are thought to be hereditary, and you can develop them if you have low arches or if you overpronate (your feet roll inward). “As the bump gets bigger, it’s actually your bone moving,” says Robbins. Wearing certain shoes―such as those with narrow, pointy toes and high heels―won’t cause bunions to form, but they can speed their progression.

 Treatment strategies
 

·         Choose the right shoes. Specifically, pick pairs with a wide toe box and a low heel.

·         Try gel pads. Place them over the bunions to help cushion the areas and reduce pain.

·         Consider surgery. If your bunions continue to get worse, become very painful, or begin to affect your feet’s mobility, a podiatric surgeon can realign the joints and shave off the protruding bones.

 

6. Neuroma

Feels like: A shooting pain in the ball of the foot.
 What causes it: Pressure on the nerve tissue in the underside of the foot, usually between two adjacent metatarsals. This pressure irritates the nerves, and the area swells. “Narrow, pointy shoes can put added pressure on an already irritated nerve,” says Robbins.

 Treatment strategies
 

·         Wear shoes with a wide toe box. And stick to those with low heels.

·         Employ anti-inflammatories. Take ibuprofen, or if that’s not enough, see a podiatrist and ask about a cortisone injection, which should bring down the swelling of the nerve immediately.

·         Consider surgery. For a stubborn neuroma that won’t go away with less invasive treatments, a doctor can use cryotreatment, a surgical technique in which a probe is inserted to eradicate the problem nerve.

Source: RealSimple by Sally Wadyka

The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office is located in the Las Vegas and the Henderson area, which we have 2 convenient locations to serve you.  To take the first step to better foot health, call today @702-878-2455.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com where all of your questions may be answered and to schedule your appointment on-line.

When pain or injury occurs, you deserve highly personalized treatment using the most advanced techniques.  At the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center (FallCenter), you’ll enjoy an unsurpassed level of quality care.  Dr. Ricciardi, Dr. Shalev and Dr. McLeod are proud to provide comprehensive solutions for all types of foot and ankle problems. 

Your quality care begins the minute you arrive, as our staff greets you by name and answers your questions.  Our team of foot and ankle specialists will inspire your confidence and their genuine warmth and compassion will earn your trust.

You’ll receive a prompt and thorough assessment, including on-site diagnostic ultrasound and digital x-rays.  Your treatment plan is designed to resolve your condition without surgery whenever possible.  When surgery is needed, your feet are in the hands of leading foot surgeons with expertise in the latest minimally invasive techniques.  As a result, you’ll be back on your feet and back to your active life as quickly as possible.

Without proper treatment, an injury or chronic condition can keep you from performing even the simplest everyday tasks. To meet patients’ most critical health needs,

Dr. Ricciardi, Dr. Shalev and Dr. McLeod have developed the following treatment programs:  Bunion Solutions, Heel Pain, Diabetic Foot Care and Sports Medicine.

Get a Leg Up On the Best Surfaces to Run On

Knowing the pros and cons of different running surfaces can help you stay on your feet.

Source: Muscle & Fitness

If you want to get the most from your workouts, variety is not just the spice of life; it's one of the basic food groups. Certainly you know that's true for your weightlifting routine. And if running is your main source of cardio work, then that axiom is equally applicable - especially when it comes to the types of surfaces upon which you pound those peds.

According to Edward A. Schwartz, DPM, a podiatrist who works with many runners at Coordinated Health Systems, the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based orthopedic medicine clinic, using many types of running surfaces "helps you vary the different types of stresses that your lower extremities have to accommodate. And that's better overall for your muscle groups and joints." Adds Bob Howard, MS, ATC, head athletic trainer at the University of Connecticut, "Every surface offers a different type of training. You want to be able to switch things up." This will help keep your body challenged but also injury-free. So get out there and mix it up, but before you lace up, know what you are in for. M&F's guide to running surfaces will give you the "dirt" on all levels.

Grounded Advice

Mixing up the surface you run on ensures the best overall fitness results. But each surface comes with its own set of pros and cons. For direction in your selection, we asked Edward A. Schwartz, DPM, and Bob Howard, MS, ATC, lead athletic trainer at the University of Connecticut (Storrs), for their advice. Here are their evaluations:

CONCRETE

Pros: Gives more spring, and typically is a more level surface. Often the only choice for urban runners.

Cons: Concrete has less give and there's more shock that the body has to absorb. There can also be many breaks and shifts in cold weather, which can create safety problems. Most coaches try to keep their runners off concrete as much as possible.

ASPHALT

Pros: Has a little more give than concrete and requires less energy expenditure than softer surfaces. Generally, a pretty level surface with few irregularities. In the summer it may have even more give than in winter, when it can be rock hard. Often the most convenient choice for many runners.

Cons: There's still a lot of force on impact. And there's also more of a slope - you'll want to change which side of the road you run on because one foot has to continually pronate (turn inward) and the other supinate (turn outward) to accommodate the road surfaces. This can create serious foot problems, which can cascade into knee, hip or back problems.

ALL-WEATHER TRACKS

Pros: Polyurethane tracks are level and have even surfaces with some give. The newly designed Tartan tracks are made with materials that offer good traction and a hard but giving surface.

Cons: Depending on the materials used, they can often be either too hard, in which case they don't cushion well, or too soft, in which case they slow you down.

CINDER/CRUSHED LIMESTONE TRACKS

Pros: There's not a lot of force on impact. Overall, cinder is an easy surface for your joints.

Cons: There can be more energy expenditure depending upon how loose the cinders are, which means footing may not always be really solid. They're hard tracks to find.

CLAY TRACKS

Pros: They have a little more give than concrete and asphalt.

Cons: Can be weather dependent, and can be almost as hard as concrete in hot, dry weather. Clay tracks are somewhat hard to find.

DIRT TRAILS
Pros: Cushion well. Try to get half or more of your runs on a typical back road or dirt trail.

Cons: You might have to work a little harder. And you need to watch out for rocks or any other irregularities - they can result in an ankle injury.

WATER

Pros: Very little mechanical stress. You can burn a lot of calories with very little stress on the muscles and joints.

Cons: You won't develop much force in your legs if you do it a lot. There's a learning curve before you can sustain an adequate workout. It doesn't typically put you in the most anatomical position to be running. You have to find a comfortable cadence.

GRASS

Pros: Lots of give, minimal shock. If you go on a hard surface for a few days, try a grassy surface to recover.

Cons: Beware of roots, rocks and holes, which can result in an injury. Watch out for slippery dew if you run shortly after sunrise.

SAND

Pros: Not a lot of force on impact with sand.

Cons: Running on sand requires muscles and tendons of the foot to really work overtime to stabilize the foot, so there's a lot of energy expenditure. Don't be fooled into thinking you can run barefoot, or you may end up with a stress fracture. If running at the beach, run closer to the water's edge, where the sand is more compact and less irregular.

TREADMILLS

Pros: Treadmills are convenient. They're generally in a weather- and light-controlled environment, they give you direct feedback on running speed and elevation, and the surface gives, to some degree.

Cons: It's a somewhat unnatural form of running. You're basically standing still while the surface is moving. You don't typically run on a treadmill, you "hop" because you have to project yourself into the air to let the belt roll under your feet. Try to do most running off the treadmill and save it just for an occasional run.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

Individual foot structure plays a key role in what kinds of surfaces a runner should select, says Schwartz. "A high arch is not the best shock absorber, so you may not want to do a lot of training on hard-impact surfaces," he explained. "I'm not saying you can't, but you should minimize it." The opposite would be true for someone with a very flexible foot, the kind that over-pronates (rolls inward) upon striking the ground. "You probably don't want to spend a lot of time training on soft surfaces," Schwartz offers. "It would create more stress on muscles and tendons."

The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office is located in the Las Vegas and the Henderson area, which we have 2 convenient locations to serve you.  To take the first step to better foot health, call today @702-878-2455.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com where all of your questions may be answered and to schedule your appointment on-line.

 When pain or injury occurs, you deserve highly personalized treatment using the most advanced techniques.  At the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center (FallCenter), you’ll enjoy an unsurpassed level of quality care.  Dr. Ricciardi, Dr. Shalev and Dr. McLeod are proud to provide comprehensive solutions for all types of foot and ankle problems. 

Your quality care begins the minute you arrive, as our staff greets you by name and answers your questions.  Our team of foot and ankle specialists will inspire your confidence and their genuine warmth and compassion will earn your trust.

You’ll receive a prompt and thorough assessment, including on-site diagnostic ultrasound and digital x-rays.  Your treatment plan is designed to resolve your condition without surgery whenever possible.  When surgery is needed, your feet are in the hands of leading foot surgeons with expertise in the latest minimally invasive techniques.  As a result, you’ll be back on your feet and back to your active life as quickly as possible.

Without proper treatment, an injury or chronic condition can keep you from performing even the simplest everyday tasks. To meet patients’ most critical health needs, Dr. Ricciardi, Dr. Shalev and Dr. McLeod have developed the following treatment programs:  Bunion Solutions, Heel Pain, Diabetic Foot Care and Sports Medicine.