Your Feet Aren’t Supposed to Hurt
Healthy, pain-free feet play a vital role from work to play and require regular attention. At the first sign of pain, seek professional podiatric medical care by calling our office for an evaluation. Your feet must last a lifetime, and most Americans log an amazing 75,000 miles on their feet by the time they reach age 50. Regular foot care can ensure your feet stay healthy. With proper care, most foot and ankle problems can be addressed and provide you independence and pain-free walking. Remember that the advice provided on this website should not be used as a substitute for evaluation and treatment by our doctors.
Top 10 Foot Conditions
1. Achilles Tendinitis - Irritation and inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone. Achilles tendinitis can be caused by improper warm up or overtraining.
2. Bunions - Misaligned big toe joints which can become swollen and tender, causing the first joint of the big toe to slant outward, and the second joint to angle toward the other toes. Bunions tend to be hereditary, but can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot and toe.
3. Hammertoe - A condition, usually stemming from muscle imbalance, in which the toe is bent in a claw-like position. It occurs most frequently with the second toe, often a bunion slants the big toe toward and under it, but any of the other three smaller toes can be affected.
4. Heel Spurs - Growths of bone on the underside, forepart of the heel bone. Heel spurs occur when the plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel bone. This area of the heel can later calcify to form a spur.
5. Ingrown Toenails - Nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin. Ingrown toenails are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but also by shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, heredity and poor foot structure. Women are 50% more likely to have ingrown toenails than men.
6. Neuromas - Enlarged benign growth of nerves, most commonly between the third and fourth toes. They are caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating the nerves. Pressure from ill-fitting shoes or abnormal bone structure can create the condition as well.
7. Plantar Fasciitis - Plantar fasciitis (or heel pain) is commonly traced to an inflammation on the bottom of the foot.
8. Sesamoiditis - Sometimes known as the "ball bearings of the foot," the sesamoids are two small bones found beneath the first metatarsal bones. They can inflame or rupture under the stress of exercise.
9. Shin Splints - Pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or tendon inflammation. It is commonly related to excessive foot pronation (collapsing arch), but may be related to a muscle imbalance between opposing muscle groups in the leg.
10. Stress Fractures - One of the various types of fractures, stress fractures require vastly different treatment. Stress fractures are incomplete cracks in bone caused by overuse.
Please call our office, 281-395-FEET (3338) to meet with Drs. Jacobs/Manriquez. During your visit Drs. Jacobs/Manriquez can provide a thorough evaluation and recommendations in regards to your specific foot concerns.
(c) 2009 American Podiatric Medical Association, Inc and Your Total Foot Care Specialist, PA. All rights reserved.
The advice provided on this website should not be used as a substitute for evaluation and treatment by our office, Your Total Foot Care Specialist. Our doctors have been trained specifically and extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners of foot conditions. This training encompasses all of the intricately related systems and structures of the foot and lower leg including neurological, circulatory, skin, and the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. |