Specific Types of Ailments to the Feet

Specific Types of Ailments to the Feet

Ankle Sprain
A twisted ankle, ankle sprain, inversion sprain or an ankle that rolls over are all terms for injuries to the human ankle. 90% of ankle injuries usually occur on the outside (lateral side) of the ankle. Medial or inside ankle injuries occur in 10% of the cases. The following is regarding a lateral ankle sprain.

An ankle sprain or a simple turning of the ankle results in pain, ecyhmosis (bruising) and tenderness over the outside portion of the foot and ankle. Mild sprains can be treated with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). These conditions are usually self-limiting and clear up in a few days.

Arthritis
Artho means joint and itis means inflammation. There are approximately 38 causes of arthritis and most of these conditions affect the human foot. The most common of these conditions is osteoarthritis. This is the simple wearing and tearing away of the cartilage of the joints. Age, excessive weight, ill-fitting shoes and trauma (injury) are the basic causes of osteoarthritis. Fortunately, this condition is very treatable.

The first step in the diagnosis of arthritis is a good complete history. The second step is an x-ray evaluation to view the bone structure of the foot. In more advanced cases of arthritis an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computerized axial tomography) are extremely helpful. In more complicated cases of arthritis, blood tests are used to differentiate between one arthritis type and the next.

Athletes Foot and Fungus Problems
Athlete's foot typically affects the skin on the feet between the toes, but can move anywhere on the foot and can affect the toenails.

Athlete's foot is an infection of the skin and the nails, usually on the feet. The infection is usually found on the skin between the toes. Sometimes the fungal infection spreads to the toenails, which become thick and distorted. Fungi are plant organisms (tinea pedis) such as mold and mildew and grow best in conditions that are moist. Bacteria may thrive as a secondary infection, which worsens the symptoms of the disorder and makes it more difficult to cure. A fungal infection is one of the most difficult nail and foot conditions to treat.

It is common to catch athlete's foot from other people who have it by walking on floors that are moist or wet (e.g. at swimming pools and in shared bathroom facilities). Athlete's foot is also much more common in people who tend to have moist feet. Athlete's foot can also be spread by sharing other people's shoes or personal care items such as towels and wash cloths.

Athletes Foot and Fungus may spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails. It can be spread to other parts of the body, notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch the infection and then touch themselves elsewhere.

Burning Feet
Burning feet is a common complaint among many groups of people, most commonly in the older group over 50 years of age. It has a multi-factorial etiology (many different causes for the formation of the symptom of burning feet). This symptom is most prevalent in diabetics who present with a symptom of mixed neuropathy with loss of sensation on the plantar aspect (bottom of the feet).

However, there are many other causes for this symptom. Alcohol is high on the index of suspicion for this complaint. Neuropathy and loss of sensation secondary to alcohol ingestion over long periods of time. Other causes include thyroid dysfunction and gastric restriction in morbid obesity produce symptoms of burning feet.

Some of the infectious diseases, such as leishmaniasis, a rarely reported neurologic change secondary to a bacteria, also cause these symptoms. Thrombocytopenia also produces this symptom. However, the most common denominator for burning foot syndrome is usually a diabetic who has been insulin dependent for many years, producing a variety of secondary complaints such as vitamin deficiency to include thiamin.

Mechanical causes include nerve entrapment syndrome such as tarsal tunnel syndrome, which causes compression of the never as it enters the foot from the ankle. Neuroma pain, a pinched nerve between the 3rd-4th toes has been implicated in the symptom of burning feet.

Bunions
A bunion is a common term for a medical condition known as Hallux Valgus. Hallux Valgus if the tilting of the toe away from the mid-line of the body. It is usually characterized by a lump or bump that is red, swollen and/or painful on the inside of the foot in and around the big toe joint. There are many causes of bunions, but the primary one is tight, ill-fitting shoes, shoes that constrict the forefoot over a long period of time. High heels and constricting forefoot shoe gear are the primary causes of Hallux Valgus.

Corns, Calluses, IPK
Corns and calluses are the most common conditions on the skin of the foot. A corn, which is a thickening of the outer layer of skin, usually occurs on the tops of the toes. Calluses, which are the same condition on the bottom of the feet, are caused by sheering pressures. Corns and calluses are the foots defense against friction and pressure. These conditions are usually painful but can respond to conservative care.

Diabetes
Diabetes is probably the most damaging disease that a patient can encounter with regards to their feet. Diabetes comes in two basic types; type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is usually associated with juvenile diabetes and is usually a hereditary type of disease. Type 2, commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes, is usually characterized by elevated blood sugars by people who are overweight and have not attended to their diet as they should.

Diabetes can be controlled with medications, diet and exercise. But a serious condition occurs if the sugars are out of control and a lesion (sore or ulcer) develops on the plantar (bottom) of the foot. The goal and treatment of diabetics with foot ulcers is to relieve the pressure, prevent infection and ultimately ensure the patient does not lose their limb. It is important that a patient with a foot ulcer consult their podiatrist, vascular surgeon, orthopedist or family doctor.

Dry Cracked Heels
Dry cracking heels (xeorosis) is a condition of thickening and fissuring (cracking of the bottom part of the heels). In most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem. But when the problem persists, especially in diabetes or people with impaired vascular sufficiency, this can lead to a serious medical problem.

Flat Feet
Flat feet of themselves are not necessarily a problem. But people with a flat foot or the opposite condition, a highly arched foot, that are painful, are certainly in need of treatment. Flat feet and high arches that are associated with ankle, knee or low back pain are also in need of treatment.

Sweaty Feet/Foot Odor
Sweaty feet (hyperhydrosis) and smelly feet (bromohydrosis) are two very common, annoying conditions of the feet. While some cases of excessive smelling or sweating of the feet are systemic (throughout the whole body) in nature, such as anemia (low blood count) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), these conditions are usually of a local cause.

Shin Splints
A shin splint is technically the tearing away of the anterior tibial muscle from the bone. Shin splints, or tenosynovitis of the anterior tibial muscle (the muscle that runs from the mid portion of the foot up the front of the leg, just below the knee, on the inside front of the calf) is usually caused by over-use. Beginning runners or other people who engage in sport activities who have not sufficiently allowed their muscle tone to build up over a proper conditioning program, or whose conditioning program is too rigorous in the beginning, develop shin splints.

Ugly Nail Syndrome
Athlete's foot typically affects the skin on the feet between the toes, but can move anywhere on the foot and can affect the toenails.