Whether you took a bad tumble or your child had a rough collision while playing sports, it’s important that you do not just recognize the signs of a broken foot but that you also seek immediate medical attention. Of course, we know that it isn’t always easy to differentiate a break from a sprain. Here are some signs that your foot is broken and need to be seen by a qualified podiatrist,- Pain that occurs immediately after an injury or accident
- Pain that is directly above a bone
- Pain that is worse with movement
- Bruising and severe swelling
- A cracking sound at the moment of injury
- A visible deformity or bump
- Can’t put weight on the injured foot
The symptoms of a sprain are far less severe. You can often put weight on the injured foot with a sprain; however, you may notice some slight pain and stiffness. You may also have heard a popping sound at the moment of the injury with a sprain, while a broken bone often produces a cracking sound. The pain associated with a sprain will also be above soft tissue rather than bone. A podiatrist will perform an X-ray to be able to determine if you are dealing with a break or a sprain.
Rest is key to allowing an injury, particularly a fracture, to heal properly. Along with rest, your doctor may also recommend either an over-the-counter or prescription-strength pain reliever, depending on the severity of your fracture. Those with more moderate to severe fractures may require a special boot, brace, or splint. Those with more severe fractures may need to wear a cast and use crutches, so they can avoid putting any weight on the foot.
Everything from wearing shoes that are a little too loose to increasing the number of miles you run can leave you dealing with painful blisters on your feet. Blisters can be quite a nuisance, making it difficult to move around, especially when wearing shoes. If you deal with blisters rather regularly here are some simple ways to treat the problem.If possible, try to keep the blister intact. Do not try to pop or drain a blister that hasn’t popped on its own. It’s important not to put pressure on the blister, so avoid any shoes that may be too tight. If you’re going to put on shoes, make sure to apply a bandage (some band-aids are designed specifically for covering blisters) to the area first.
If the blister popped on its own, clean it with warm water soap (do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the blister). Once the area is clean, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to the area and apply a bandage over the blister. These simple steps can prevent an infection from occurring.
You should only drain a blister if it’s very large, painful, or affects your ability to move. In this case, you should sterilize a needle with alcohol and then make a small hole in the blister to let it drain. You may need to carefully squeeze the blister to help it drain fully. Once the blister has drained, rinse out the area with soap and warm water before applying antibiotic cream to the area and placing a bandage over it.
You mustn’t keep the same bandage on your blister day in and day out. You should check the blister every day to make sure it isn’t infected. You should clean the area daily with soap and water and then reapply another bandage.
Let’s start with simple lifestyle changes for protecting hammertoes from getting worse.
While bunions often get the most recognition when it comes to foot deformities, it’s also just as important to recognize that the joints of the smaller toes can also become deformed. If you notice that your smaller toes are curled downwards, you could be dealing with a foot deformity known as a hammertoe. From the office of our Danbury, CT, podiatrists Dr. Joseph Treadwell, Dr. Christian Davis, and Dr. Rihamary Jimenez, here’s how to get a hammertoe under control.
I think I have hammertoes now what?
If you can force your toe straight, then the good news is that you have a flexible hammertoe. At this point, it’s incredibly important that you practice good foot care to prevent the hammertoe from getting worse. Some ways to protect your hammertoes from getting worse include,
Wearing appropriate footwear: Wearing shoes that crowd and bunch up your toes is going to be a big no-no. We are particularly shaking our fists at high heels and shoes with pointed toes. If you want to prevent hammertoes from getting worse, it’s important that you only wear shoes with wide toe boxes that give toes ample room.
Keep feet active: It might sound strange but just as you exercise the rest of the joints, muscles, and ligaments in your body to keep them limber and strong, you should also do the same for your toes. Daily exercises that involve extending and curling the toes can help to strengthen the muscles to prevent the joint from getting worse.
Use a non-medicated pad: A bent joint can make it more likely for a corn or callus to form due to friction with shoes. If you find that even the best-fitted shoes still rub against the deformed toe joints, you can apply a non-medicated pad to the area to prevent pressure and irritation.
Apply ice: Ice is a great way to reduce both pain and swelling. If you find toe pain or inflammation flaring up, you may just want to apply a towel-wrapped ice pack to the foot for up to 15 minutes to ease symptoms.
Is surgery necessary for a hammertoe?
The goal is to avoid surgery whenever possible, and the good news is that most people won’t require surgery to correct a hammertoe if caught and treated properly. Your Danbury, CT, podiatrist may only recommend surgery for a hammertoe if,
- You aren’t experiencing relief from your symptoms with nonsurgical treatment options
- Your hammertoe causes severe pain and swelling
- You have trouble with your daily routine or with certain activities due to your hammertoe
- Your hammertoe is affecting your quality of life
Foot & Ankle Specialists of Connecticut has offices in Plainville, Danbury, and New Milford, CT, and is proud to serve the New Britain, Bristol, Southington, Farmington, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield, CT, areas. If you are dealing with hammertoes and want to see a podiatrist for treatment, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment by calling (203) 748-2220, (860) 355-3139, or (860) 747-2200.
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, and it is characterized by joint pain, inflammation, and damage. RA, like other kinds of arthritis, is progressive, which means that symptoms will gradually get worse over time if left untreated. So, how do you know if you might be developing RA in your feet? While a podiatrist can certainly provide you with a definitive diagnosis, here are some telltale signs of rheumatoid arthritis.- You experience pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints of the foot, particularly the toes
- You experience aching feet, particularly after activity or long periods of standing
- Some parts of your foot may feel oddly warm to the touch or may emanate heat while the rest of the foot feels normal
- The joints of the toes and ankles may swell
What does RA do to the feet and ankles?
Along with painful joints and stiffness, you may also notice other changes to your feet over time. Some of these changes include,
- Bunions
- Corns
- Hammertoes and claw toes
- Bursitis
- Circulation issues (e.g. atherosclerosis; Raynaud’s phenomena)
Since RA is not curable, your podiatrist will focus on crafting a treatment plan that will help to alleviate your symptoms and slow the progression of the disease to prevent severe and irreparable joint damage. Prescription medications known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are biologics that can reduce inflammation and prevent the progression of the disease.
Of course, there are also lifestyle changes you can make along with taking prescription medication that can also ease symptoms,
- Warm soaks
- Custom insoles or orthotics
- Pain relievers
- Compression
- Stretching exercises for the feet
- Bracing
- Steroid injections (for targeting severe inflammation)
Most people with RA will eventually develop foot and ankle problems, which is why it’s important to have a podiatrist on your team that can help you manage your RA effectively.
Here’s what you can do to prevent foot pain caused by high arches.If you have high arches, you may notice them but not experience any problems; however, those with high arches bear more weight on the balls and heels of the feet. Over time, you may develop corns, calluses, hammertoes, painful calf muscles, or foot pain. If you have high arches, a podiatrist can provide you with a variety of ways to support your feet to prevent these problems.
Consider wearing custom orthotics
Orthotics are special devices that are placed inside the shoes to improve stability and to cushion the foot. These devices can reduce shock absorption while standing, walking, or running. While there are over-the-counter orthotics that you can buy, they aren’t specifically designed to fit your feet or treat the issues you’re dealing with.
A podiatrist can provide you with custom-fitted orthotics that can help to support the arches of your feet and distribute weight more evenly among the foot to prevent heel pain and pain in the ball of the foot.
Wear shoes that support your feet
You must be also wearing shoes that can accommodate your high arches, especially if you are on your feet most of the day or participate in physical activities. Those with high arches are prone to stress fractures and ankle sprains, and you must consider shoes that have,
- A high top that can cushion and support the ankles
- A spacious toe box that won’t put pressure on the toes or cause irritation to preexisting deformities such as hammertoes or bunions
- A midsole that has added cushioning to reduce pressure
- A high-abrasion rubber outsole that will provide more durability (especially important for running shoes and athletic footwear)
Talk to your podiatrist about bracing
In some cases, your podiatrist may also recommend bracing the feet and ankles to help stabilize them and provide additional support. If your podiatrist has told you that you also have a drop foot, which means that you have trouble lifting the front of your foot, then bracing may also be a great way to manage this problem and provide a more natural and comfortable gait when walking.
While high arches alone aren’t a cause for concern it can be good to know about potential issues that it can cause along the way so you can take the necessary precautions now to protect your feet. If you are dealing with foot pain or other problems, a podiatrist can help.
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