Common Foot Problems

Bunions

Bunions occur when the big toe deviates from the normal alignment. Bunions are a common problem that most people experience as a bony protuberance at the base of the big toe. A bunion, however, is more complicated than simply a bump on the foot. When a patient has a bunion, the big toe angles in towards the other toes, a condition called hallux valgus. Bunions are most common in women, and the cause is almost always due to unsuitable footwear. The word ‘bunion’ is derived from the Latin word bunio, which means turnip.

What causes a bunion?

Tight fitting shoes are thought to be the cause of bunions in about 90% of patients. Shoes such as high heels are particularly damaging to the toes. These shoes have a sloping foot piece and a narrow toe box. The slope causes the front of the foot to be pushed with force into the narrow toe box. The narrow toe box causes the toes to become squeezed together. Depending on factors such as duration of wearing constraining footwear, skeletal maturity, and individual factors, the toes can become permanently adapted to the new position and lead to the formation of a bunion.

If you have symptoms of bunions , see your doctor for an evaluation.

Flat Feet

You probably don’t give much thought to the steps you take. However, walking is actually quite a complex act, especially for your feet. Because your feet support all of your weight and help you balance when you stand, they’re subject to substantial pressure and risk of injury. One foot condition is flat feet (pes planus). If you have flat feet, the arch on the inside of your feet is flattened. Flat feet are usually not an issue, however, it can contribute to problems in your feet, ankles and knees. Simple corrective devices are available to help prevent complications of flat feet.

Flat feet is a condition in which the foot doesn’t have a normal arch. It may affect one or both feet. Most people have a gap between in the inner side of the foot and the ground when they are standing. This is referred to as an “arch”. Feet that have a low arch or no arch at all are referred to as flat feet or fallen arches. On standing the patient will have a flat arch and the foot may roll over to the inner aspect. The symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition. Individuals may experience corns and hard skin under the sole of the foot. The arch area may be tender and shoes will tend to wear out quickly. In severe cases the patient may experience calf, knee, hip and back pain.

Not all feet are the same

Flat feet are normal in infants and toddlers, because the foot’s arch hasn’t yet developed. Most people’s arches develop throughout childhood, but some people never develop arches. This is a normal variation in foot type, and people without arches may or may not have problems. Lax ligaments can cause flat feet, as can conditions present at birth. Arches can also fall over time. Years of wear and tear can weaken the posterior tibial tendon, which runs along the inside of your ankle, from above your ankle to your arch. The posterior tibial tendon is the main support structure for the arch. An overload to this tendon can cause inflammation of the tendon (Tendonitis) and even tearing of the tendon. Once the tendon is damaged the foot’s arch loses support and can flatten. You may lose support in your arches due to:

Ongoing stresses in your feet. One of these stresses may be long-term wearing of high heels, which can affect your Achilles tendon and change the mechanics of your ankles. Compensation by the posterior tibial tendon may eventually cause it to break down and your arches to fall.
Obesity
Traumatic injury to your foot or ankle
Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes

If you have symptoms of flat feet, see your doctor for an evaluation.

Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition of the toe. It occurs when a sharp corner of the toenail digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. Pain and inflammation at the spot where the nail curls into the skin occurs first.

If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can progress to an infection or even an abscess that requires surgical treatment.
Ingrown toenails are common in adults but uncommon in children and infants. Any toenail can become ingrown, but the condition is usually found in the big toe.

What causes an ingrown toenail?

While many things can cause ingrown toenails, the major causes are shoes that don’t fit well and improperly trimmed nails. Shoes that are too tight press the sides of the nail and make it curl into the skin. Nails that are peeled off at the edge or trimmed down at the corners are also more likely to become ingrown. To avoid ingrown toenails, you should cut your nails straight across. The top of the nail should make a straight line.

Mortons Neuroma

A neuroma is a benign tumor of a nerve, or better described as a thickening of the tissue that surrounds the digital nerve leading to the toes. It occurs as the nerve passes under the ligament connecting the toe bones (metatarsals) in the forefoot. Morton’s neuroma most frequently develops between the third and fourth toes, usually in response to irritation, trauma or excessive pressure. The incidence of Morton’s neuroma is 8 to 10 times greater in women than in men.

If you feel like you are “walking on a marble,” and you have persistent burning pain in the ball of the foot that may radiate into the toes, you may have a condition called Morton’s neuroma. Normally, there are no other signs, like redness or visible lumps. The pain generally intensifies with activity or wearing shoes. Night pain is rare. There may also be numbness or an unpleasant feeling in the toes. Runners may feel pain as they push off from the starting block. High-heeled or tight fitting narrow shoes can also aggravate the condition as it compresses the toe bones and pinching the nerve.

If you have any of these conditions and wish to be advised on the most appropriate treatment alternatives, please call Dr Hugh Blackley on 09 522 2980 during office hours to schedule an appointment.