[Joint Pain] › [Foot Pain]
The foot is complex in its anatomy with 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendon and ligaments holding it together…Foot pain has a number of sources – some of them more unusual than others…
For your research and home treatment, you will need to look into these topics to gain clarity regarding what may be happening with your foot…(I will link them as I write the pages for the site…)
If you are experiencing foot pain, it is necessary to consider your own case history, for example : where have you been, for example – have you been traveling in other countries…?
What have you been up to, for example – are you an athlete? Or a dancer?
Have you been outdoors barefoot…?
The other consideration is diabetes…
A diabetic retinopathy can be the cause of foot ulcerations and severe injury to the foot…
The foot itself is complex in its anatomy comprising of 26 bones and 33 separate joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments…
The Origins Of Foot Disease
Foot ulcerations for example may have multiple origins such as an initial laceration to the skin followed by a secondary bacterial infection, followed by a parasitic infestation depending on what part of the world you live in, and if you do not have, or do not wish, to wear shoes…
Toe pain, for example, can have its origins in ill fitting shoes or a genetic deformity…
In the case of Athletes foot; this is caused by a fungus that grows in dark, damp, moist places, such as a sweaty shoe…
Foot Pain Caused
By Athletes Foot…
Athletes foot is caused by fungus that causes pain, burning and cracked skin under the toes…
Athletes Foot can cause foot pain due fungus that grows in shoes planting itself in any crack and fold in the skin of the feet, making them red, sore, cracked, and itchy – with a specific odour…
If you are having a bout with athletes foot, you need to do two things in this order…
- Treat the foot with a pre-inscription strength anti – fungal. Over the counter remedies usually do not work well or for long…
- Replace your shoes…!
If you treat your foot and put on the same shoes, the fungus is going to come back…
Even if the shoes are fairly new, and even if you wash them…
It will be well worth your time and energy to get treated and replace your shoes. Worn down shoes can also cause other kinds of foot trauma that will make your foot susceptible to ongoing joint pain and possibly a recurrence of fungus – fungus once it is inside the foot seeks out damaged places to lay down roots in…
Toe Nails And Surrounding Skin
If pain is radiating through your foot from your toe area, there are a couple of different possibilities that can be causing this…
- An Ingrown Toe Nail…
- Fungus…
- Corns…
- Calluses…
Ingrown toe nails can get infected…
Ingrown toe nails can be extremely painful. If an ingrown toe nail has just started causing you foot pain, there is a chance the nail can be trimmed back to take the pressure off…
If this is a chronic condition minor surgery will be needed to remove the nail…
It is important to treat your toe nail, not just because of the pain it will continue to cause, but also you will want to avoid it becoming infected for a pro-longed period of time as this can cause damage to your toe, and ultimately, to your foot…
Ingrown Toe Nails Can Get Infected.
Ingrown toe nails can be extremely painful. If an ingrown toe nail has just started causing you foot pain, there is a chance the nail can be trimmed back to take the pressure off…
If this is a chronic condition minor surgery will be needed to remove the nail…
It is important to treat your toe nail, not just because of the pain, but also you will want to avoid infection for a pro-longed period of time as this can cause damage to your toe, and ultimately, to your whole foot…
Fungus And Bacteria Can Damage
Skin And Toe Nails…
Fungus and bacteria growing underneath the toe nail will not only itch and have a strong odour, it will discolour the nail and cause damage to your surrounding skin…
I had a fight with this myself…
There are all kinds of natural remedies that do not work on this condition, so do not waste your money!
What I recommend doing is going to the GP and letting them examine the your foot. They will need to take a sample of the affected area to determine if you have fungus, bacteria or both…
There are two drugs specifically that will get rid of the fungus:
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Where bacteria is concerned:
- A broad spectrum anti-biotic called Flucloxacillin may be prescribed…
I have taken it without side effects, and my toe improved visibly in a week; the fungus was gone in the space of one month and left me with a healthy toe nail and a new respect for the damage a fungus can do…
Don’t mess with this one, or procrastinate; the fungus will only set itself deeper into your foot if you do…!
Corns And Calluses Come From Ill Fitting, Or Overly High Footwear
I know what you are going to say : My dress doesn’t look right if I don’t wear my Jimmy Choos…
I understand – only to a degree, because I do not wear dresses – but I understand the importance of the look; and that glamour does not come in the shape of sensible shoes…
So, wear your Jimmy Choos, please, they really do look fab…
But! Get your feet treated at the spa, or soak them in salt water when you get home and oil up with some nice peppermint essential oil, or spearmint oil mixed with coconut oil and start rubbing them down…!
Get them buffed, get your heels shaved and toes manicured! An ounce of very enjoyable prevention will be worth a pound of cure – eventually…
If you already have corns, put medicated pads on and try to soften and reduce them…
See if your pedicurist or chiropodist can give you advice on specific treatments you can do at home in between a monthly visit…
Sounds like a lot of time and money…?
It is – remember, women (and some men) of the world, those feet of yours are worth as much time and money as is your hair and clothing…!
Diabetes Can Cause Catastrophic Problems With Your Feet
This is a mild ulceration. I did not want to put the more severe pics up on my site due to the content being difficult viewing…
A diabetic retinopathy causes nerve damage making the foot lose sensory perception…
There have even been extreme cases where the patient presented with severe leg pain and fever…
Upon examination the finding was a nail that had managed to embed itself into the bottom of the foot…
The patient had no knowing of this due to nerve damage and lack of feeling in his foot from his diabetic condition…
Unfortunately he became an amputee; having had his foot, and lower leg removed soon after…
So, if you are brittle diabetic, you need to keep your feet protected with shoes or slippers at all times because you may not feel foot pain when you should do. This also means your feet need to be cleaned and checked for fungus everyday. Shoes will need to be changed and replaced often…
Please do not make the mistake of going barefoot or neglecting your feet or footwear…!
If excess weight in the gut area is a problem and you need to check your feet yourself, I suggest using a mirror. Place it on the floor and put your foot over it and have a good look…
This simple maneuver can keep you from suffering the dire consequences of losing one or both of your feet to diabetic retinopathy…
Summary.
The message here is simple; take care of your feet! They are the only ones you have and you will not be getting too far without them…!
[Joint Pain] › [Foot Pain]
Disclaimer – This is information on joint pain. I teach, but I do not diagnose, prescibe or treat people who contact me. You are responsible for your condition using your own best judgement combined with what you have learned. Just a heads up – bodies carry unusual differences from time to time, in saying that, you could be one of those rare and unusual beings; if you are in doubt, please contact a physician in your area, so you can rule it out.
Move Freely and Knowledgeably and Be Well!
Dr. Jo
P.S… “Greater certainty of your condition alone can be a powerful form of pain relief.”