Morton’s Neuromatherapy

Platform shoes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Morton’s neuroma is a condition that develops over time. It is characterized by the sensation that there is a lump on the bottom of your foot, or everything is all scrunched up down there. It can make day to day activities painful, especially when pressure is placed on the bottom of the foot near the third and fourth toe. Other sensations may be tingling in the toes, progressively worsening to sharp burning pain. Since the condition develops gradually, the pain is often intermittent, possibly going for long periods of time with no pain at all. The nerve between the toes (usually between the 3rd and 4th toes) becomes irritated, inflamed and thickens.

The exact cause of Morton’s neuroma is not known, but theories suggest pressure, compression and injury as possible factors. Women are affected more than men, especially those who wear poorly padded, ill formed shoes, such as high heels. Runners and other athletes who have hard repetitive action on the balls of their feet are also commonly affected.

If you want to be free of Morton’s neuroma then you should try to avoid:

    •    High heels
    •    Shoes with restrictive or poorly formed to boxes
    •    Shoes that cause abnormal toe positions

Dr. Blaakman can diagnosis Morton’s neuroma by examining, manipulating and attempting to cause the same conditions that may restrict your foot. Tests may be ordered to rule out other possible conditions that show the same type of pain. Dr. Blaakman can develop a treatment plan based on your specific case. 

Treatment will depend on your needs and severity. Non-surgical treatment options may include:

    •    Icing to help reduce swelling
    •    Shoe inserts to alleviate pressure on the affected area
    •    Padding
    •    Change of foot wear to allow toes more room
    •    Oral NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen
    •    Physical therapy
    •    Change or reduction in activity until condition improves

If conservative treatment methods are not successful, surgery may be recommended, but early diagnosis and treatment can possibly avoid this or at least reduce recovery time. If you experience pain that may indicate Morton’s neuroma, call Dr. Blaakman at (877) 941-3338 (FEET) or visit our website. With his expert help and treatment, your feet can last a lifetime.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mortons-neuroma/DS00468/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.foothealthfacts.org/footankleinfo/mortons-neuroma.htm

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Sky High Fashion

Image via WikipediaAs you watched the Oscars a couple weeks ago, what amazed you more, the dresses or the shoes? Remember when the fashion news included who the stars’ dress designer was?  Well now the commentary isn’t complete unless we know who the shoe designer is also. This is all well and good, but to spend so much money on something that you can’t stand to be in for more than a few minutes, seems extravagant, even for Hollywood.  On February 26th, our favorite girl next door, Sandra Bullock, attended a pre-Oscar party wearing black pants, a black lace top, white jacket and a pair of black and white stilettos.  A couple of hours after arriving at the party, she was seen leaving, with shoes in hand.  She was walking the concrete carpet in her bare feet!  Now that makes more sense.

It really doesn’t make sense to become such a slave to fashion. Women are willing to undergo hours of torture and torment by cramming their feet into ill formed, poorly fitting shoes that force them to mince along, teetering like they are walking a cliff’s edge.  All attention is focused on how to maintain an unnatural balance, with a fake smile glued to the face, which covers the pinched expression the face would make and give away the painful feeling in the feet.

Understand that Hollywood egos are all about glamour and one-upsmanship, but really, can’t a shoe designer make an attractive pair of shoes with a two inch heel?  Why do heels have to be six inches high?  The foot is forced into such an unnatural position, all of the weight bearing being done on the ball of the foot.  Feel the neuromas developing now.  Oh, the burning pain from the friction.

The logical thing to do would be to start a new trend.  A designer who could actually make a shoe with a modest two inch heel and one that is elegant enough to wear with haute couture.  Now that designer could really create a niche for himself in the marketplace.  Until that happens, though, women will probably continue to stumble and trip along the red carpet, complain about their sore, tired feet and doff their shoes at the first opportunity.  Meanwhile, Hollywood podiatrists can continue to offer post-Oscar specials.

Do you love wearing high heels, but struggle with foot pain afterward?  What do you do to relieve the pain?  Comment below, we would love to hear from you.  Also, if you would like more information about foot pain and high heel wear, please contact Dr. Blaakman at (877) 941-FEET (3338).

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Hammertoes – Our Poor Battered Feet

Image via WikipediaHave you sat and contemplated your feet recently and come to the realization that you need to put your Podiatrist on retainer. This is not a decision to be made lightly, nor should it be based solely on aesthetics.  At the same time while giving your feet a cursory inspection, also pay attention to how they feel.  When was the last time you really examined your feet. It probably never fell real high on your list of priorities.   Have you noticed over the years that your toes may have taken a downward turn? Do your toes look like they are in a constant position of trying to pick a pencil up off the floor? Do they feel a little uncomfortable or irritated? If so, you may be showing signs of hammertoes, which is a bending of the toes that occurs over time. It gets progressively worse and will not get better on its own. For this reason, early intervention is recommended.

One of the known causes and aggravating factors of hammertoes is poorly fit shoes that either crowd the toes side to side, or are too short to give the toes enough room, often the case with high heels.  Common symptoms of hammertoes include:

    •    Pain or irritation of the affected toe(s) when shoes are worn

    •    Red and swollen

    •    Development of corns or calluses

    •    Increased bending and deformity of the toes

Treatment methods can be non-surgical or surgical. After Dr. Blaakman has examined your feet, he will recommend a treatment plan which addresses your specific needs. A non-surgical approach may include roomier shoes, orthotics, pads for corns or calluses and splinting or strapping to bring the toes back into alignment. On occasion surgery is necessary. This usually happens when the toes become stiff enough to cause pain or open sores develop as a result of the angle of the toe being so pronounced that it rubs on the shoe.

In determining the right course of treatment, Dr. Blaakman will take into consideration the extent of the deformity, your age and activity level and any other factors that enter into play. If you have hammertoes and would like more information about possible treatment, contact us for an appointment.

References:

http://www.fothealthfacts.org/footankleinfo/hammertoes.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hammertoe-and-mallet-toe/DS00480

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Haglund’s Deformity-A Walking Nightmare

Image via WikipediaHaglund’s deformity, sometimes referred to as the “pump bump” is a bony protrusion in the heel area, which is thought to be caused primarily by pressure from shoes, although there may be other factors involved. Between the bone and the Achilles tendon is a small sac of lubricating fluid which allows for easier movement. A prominent heel bump can squeeze the soft tissue between the bone and the shoe. This can cause inflammation and a build-up of tissue that creates even more pressure.

The most notable symptom of Haglund’s deformity is pain in the back of the heel. The tissue that thickens in this area and forms a callus type buildup doesn’t usually impede function or interfere with walking, but the bursitis, which causes swelling and inflammation, can create a great deal of pain when shoes are worn.

Diagnosis of Haglund’s deformity can usually be made visually, but our office will probably want to get x-rays to have a better picture of how the heel bone is shaped, and rule out other possibilities that might cause your heel pain.

Treatment can be either non-surgical or surgical. However, much of that depends upon your diagnosis.  Below are some non-surgical options, which include, but not limited to:

    •    Taking over-the-counter medications - such as Ibuprofen to reduce swelling and discomfort.

    •    Icing the area – you can use a towel between ice and skin, and apply it  to the inflamed area for 20 minutes, then wait at least 40 minutes before applying again.

    •    Exercising – this will help relieve tension in the Achilles tendon.

    •    Heel lifts or heel pads – these may help relieve pressure and lessen irritation.

    •    Changing your shoes – wearing a backless shoe will help to avoid irritation.

You can find more information by clicking here.

If non-surgical treatments fail to provide relief, surgery may be required. Dr. Blaakman will determine what course of treatment best suits you.

If you have swelling and pain in one or both heels, call our office at (877) 941-FEET (3338).

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Foot Risks - Is it worth exposing your feet in the winter?

Image via WikipediaSo as we get into the cooler seasons of the year, one thing you need to think about is the risk there can be to exposing your feet.  Wearing high heels, sandals, any open toe shoes, open heel shoes, or just going barefoot runs a high risk on you feet that you will not see in spring or summer time.  Due to the colder temperatures, exposed feet have the risk of getting frostbite.  While we don’t get the extreme cold temps that northern states get, South Carolina still gets cold at night, cold enough to freeze your toes off.  But what exactly happens when your feet get frostbite?

Frostbite starts to show itself through a painful tingling or burning sensation.  Then the area with frostbite starts to turn numb and a change occurs in the color of the area’s skin.  The color is usually turns from a red or pale color to a blue or black color.  The other problem is that once an area of skin gets frostbite, it is much more prone in the future to get frostbite again.  So how does one treat frostbite once they have it?

First of all, make sure to get yourself or the other person out of the cold as fast as possible.  Then make sure that the area effected is dry and also warm.  Make sure that you don’t expose the skin to extreme warm like a fire or by putting it too close to a heater.  You’ll end up burning the area instead of helping it.  Make sure to seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible to prevent any long term injury.  If you live in an area that facing extreme cold often and you are out in that weather a lot, make sure to take precautionary measures to prevent frostbite.  Measures like making sure all areas of skin are covered at all times and wear many layers to keep you warm.  If you get cold, make sure to warm up as soon as possible.  For us who live in South Carolina, make sure to cover up, even your feet, in the colder temps we’ll be facing these next couple of months. 

If you have any questions regarding your foot health, contact us by giving Upstate Footcare a call at 877-941-FEET (3338) or visit our website.

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