My role as a podiatrist includes treating all ages from newborn to grandma and grandpa turning 90 years old. We provide treatment for everything on the foot from minor issues, such as ingrown toenails, warts or a simple callus to the most complicated problems Involving surgical reconstruction of congenital deformities or trauma repair.
Foot problems are extremely common in the United States. According to data from the American podiatric medical Association and the CDC there are approximately 77 million doctor visits annually in the United States for FOOT AND ANKLE problems. Now let’s answer the question of what the most common questions are.
- Why do my heels hurt when I get out of bed in the morning? This is a very common symptom of a condition known as plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a structure that travels on the bottom of our feet from the heel bone traveling out towards and attaching to all five toes. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation and pain as a result of a small tear of this piece of tissue away from or near the heel bone. When we sleep at night, we lay flat in the bed, taking pressure off the foot for seven or eight hours, and this provides an opportunity for our bodies to start to heal or mend the tear of the plantar fascia, but then when we stand up in the morning, our foot suddenly goes to 90°, all our body weight is placed through the foot and we end up re-injuring or re-tearing what was healed or repaired the previous seven or eight hours while we were sleeping. This new injury in the morning is what causes the pain that we feel when we first get out of bed.
- Is it normal to have bunions and are they always surgical? It is estimated that approximately 1/3 of all Americans are affected by bunions also known as hallux valgus. Bunions are caused by deviation of the first metatarsal bone, which then can cause the opposite deviation of the big toe, creating a bump on the side of the big toe joint. The main cause of pain is the misalignment of the toe joint and/or shoe pressure. Not every bunion is painful, and the standard recommendation is not to have surgery for non-painful bunions. Hallux valgus can be treated with supportive shoes that have extra wide toe box, arch supports or Orthotics and physical therapy.
- What is the best treatment for toenail fungus? The two most common treatments are oral medication or topical medication. Oral medication does provide a higher cure rate However, this decision has to be made between you and your podiatrist based on your past medical history. Topical medication does cure a significant percent of all infections however, compliance is a key. topical medication must be put on the toe consistently every day for sometimes many months.
- Are custom Orthotics really worth it? Orthotics are a custom-made prescription device that can only be prescribed and dispensed by a doctor. Similar to prescription eyeglasses, the process is quite complicated. The important factors in the development of an orthotic include a correct diagnosis of the foot problem, an accurate non-weight-bearing impression of each foot individually, a pathology directed prescription and then thorough education on the break-in period and usage of the prescription orthotic. There is strong clinical data to support the benefits of Orthotics treating many issues, including flat feet, high arches, ankle pain, knee pain, and even low back pain.
To summarize, foot pain is not normal. Regular checkups or a consultation with your local foot doctor can help keep you pain-free. Remember, if you have a foot question…ask us!
Written by
Dr. Jeffrey S. Hurless
DPM, FACFAS Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon/Podiatrist
Medical Director, HealthyFeetStore.com
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