Your feet work hard for you every day. You rely on them so much that it’s easy to dismiss minor aches and pains as an unfortunate side effect of your busy day.
But you may want to pay more attention to your feet. Many foot problems develop slowly over time, and early treatment may prevent serious problems.
Our proactive podiatrists, Dr. Jordan Katz and Dr. Richard Hochman, at Katz Regenerative Foot and Ankle in Coral Gables, Florida, believe in the power of preventive care when it comes to foot health.
April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, and we want to share some of the signs of underlying foot disease.
You might expect foot pain after standing for long periods of time or wearing shoes that are too tight, but foot pain is also a common symptom of many foot diseases. The type and location of your pain can help pinpoint the problem.
Pain in the heel is a common symptom of plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. Flatfeet also causes heel pain, as well as achiness in the arch.
Other types of foot discomfort may also indicate underlying foot disease. For example, numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the feet is a sign of neuropathy, a nerve pain condition common in people with diabetes.
Proper foot care is essential if you have diabetes, especially if you’re experiencing these symptoms, since they may mask other symptoms that require wound care.
Swelling in your feet or ankles is another symptom that may occur after you’ve been standing or sitting for long periods of time. This is especially common in women during pregnancy.
But swelling and inflammation at the joint of the big toe, along with pain, may mean you have a bunion, a progressive foot deformity that affects alignment of the bones of the big toe joint.
Inflammation and swelling at the outer corner of a toe, usually the big toe, is a sign of an ingrown toenail. Without proper care, an ingrown toenail can lead to an infection that requires antibiotics.
Pain, swelling, and inflammation in your foot or ankle also occurs with broken bones and sprains. These conditions don’t improve on their own and need expert podiatry care for a safe and fast recovery.
Changes in the color, thickness, or strength of toenails is a common sign of a fungal infection. The infection may start out as a white spot on the nail that grows over time, affecting the look and shape of the nail.
Toenail fungus isn’t always a serious infection, unless you have diabetes or poor circulation to your legs and feet. That said, the infection is difficult to treat, which is why we use innovative laser treatment to kill the fungus quickly.
How your shoes feel may also be a sign of an underlying foot disease. Shoes that unexpectedly feel too small or uncomfortable may occur with many common foot problems, including bunions, hammertoe, and plantar fasciitis.
Arthritis, flatfeet, and Morton’s neuroma (thickened nerve tissue on the ball of the foot) may cause swelling that affects foot comfort when wearing shoes.
Pain, swelling, and changes in how shoes fit are potential signs of underlying foot disease. If you have concerns about your feet and want professional guidance, call our office in Coral Gables, Florida, today or request an appointment online.
We can evaluate your foot, run appropriate tests, and develop a treatment plan that addresses your symptoms and benefits your feet.
