Every day, your feet take you where you need to go. Plus, they may dance for joy, run for miles and even look cute in sandals.
So, when a foot problem occurs, it can really limit how you live your life. Luckily, a foot specialist, known as a podiatrist, can help you find relief for these common foot conditions and more:
1. Achilles tendinopathy. This causes acute and chronic pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon at the back of the lower leg and ankle. Poorly fitting or worn-out shoes, incorrect running form, or being overweight are typical culprits.
2. Bunions. Too-tight shoes can cause a painful, bony bump at the base of your big toe joint. Eventually, arthritis can develop. Wearing wider shoes can help ease pain. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.
3. Hammer toe. Usually affecting the second toe—or sometimes the third or fourth—this condition is characterized by a Z-shaped bend in the toe that cannot be easily straightened. Injuries, badly fitting shoes, rheumatoid arthritis or genetics can cause it. Surgery may be needed to straighten the toe joint.
4. Corns. These hard bumps on top of your toe joints often hurt and are the result of pressure and friction from poorly fitting shoes. Topical treatments can soften corns, or a podiatrist can remove them.
5. Neuropathy. Diabetes is the most common cause of this condition, which involves loss of sensation due to nerve damage. Treatment may help slow the disease's progression and ease any pain.
6. Gout. Uric acid buildup can cause severe, sudden joint pain; redness; and swelling in the feet. Family history, excessive alcohol use and being overweight are risk factors. Gout can go away on its own, but medicine can bring relief sooner.
7. Plantar fasciitis. This is a common cause of heel pain, triggered by strain or injury to the band of tissue that connects your heel to the ball of your foot. It's usually worse in the morning and after resting. A podiatrist can diagnose it and recommend effective treatments.
Sources: American Podiatric Medical Association; Merck Manuals Online Medical Library; UpToDate