LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR FEET ARE "SAYING TO YOU"

Part 3

Your feet can tell you some really important things about your health, if you look for the signs and heed the messages they are sending.  Over the next few blogs, Madison Podiatry Associates and Dr. Jacob will share these “foot messages”.

Foot problems may foretell unexpected consequences. Pain can cause a person to move less and gain weight, for example, or to shift balance in unnatural ways, increasing the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

If your feet are sending out some of these messages, it is important to listen.  Usually it means something important is going on.

7. You have suddenly enlarged, swollen big toe

Might probably be gout.  This disease is still here—and you don't have to be elderly to get it. Gout is a form of arthritis (also called "gouty arthritis") that is typically caused by too much uric acid (a natural substance). The uric acid builds up and forms needlelike crystals, especially at decreased bodily temperatures.  The coolest part of the body is the big toe which is the farthest from the heart and you can develop a “red hot swollen toe” as the first indicator of gout.

Other symptoms include swelling and/or shiny red /purplish skin—along with a sensation of heat and pain—can also occur in the instep, the Achilles tendon, the knees and the elbows. Men in their 40s and 50s are especially prone but anyone can develop gout (women with gout tend to be postmenopausal).

See your doctor and foot specialist who can help relieve pain and preserve function.

8. Numbness in both feet

Being unable to "feel" your feet or having a heavy pins-and-needles sensation is typical of what is called peripheral neuropathy, or damage to the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral neuropathy has many causes, which include diabetes and alcohol abuse (current or past). Chemotherapy is another common cause. The symptoms can also appear in hands and may gradually spread up to arms and leg. See a physician and foot doctor to try to pinpoint the cause (especially if alcohol addiction doesn't apply).

9. Sore toe joints

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a degenerative joint disease, is often first felt in the smaller joints, such as the toes and the knuckles of the hands. Swelling and stiffness can accompany the aches and the pain tends to be symmetrical; for example, it happens simultaneously in both big toes or in both index fingers. RA develops more suddenly than degenerative arthritis, and attacks may come and go. Women are almost four times more affected than men. A full workup is always needed to pinpoint the cause of any joint pain. For RA, there are many therapies that can minimize pain and preserve function, though early diagnosis is important to avoid permanent deformity. (In the feet, the toes can drift to the side.) See a doctor and podiatrist.

Remember that foot/ankle pain is NOT NORMAL.

Madison Podiatry Associates in Sterling Heights MI

Dr. Bruce Jacob

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LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR FEET ARE "SAYING TO YOU"

Part 2

Your feet can tell you some really important things about your health, if you look for the signs and heed the messages they are sending.  Over the next few blogs, Madison Podiatry Associates and Dr. Jacob will share these “foot messages”.

Foot problems may foretell unexpected consequences. Pain can cause a person to move less and gain weight, for example, or to shift balance in unnatural ways, increasing the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

If your feet are sending out some of these messages, it is important to listen.  Usually it means something important is going on.

4. There is a sore that won't heal on your foot

This could indicate diabetes. Elevated blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in the feet—this means that even minor scrapes, cuts or irritations caused by pressure or friction that often go unnoticed can become ulcers and if not treated can lead to infection, even amputation.

Oozing, foul-smelling cuts are especially suspected because they've probably been there a while. There are other symptoms of diabetes, which include feeling thirst more than usual, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, extreme hunger and weight loss.

You should get the ulcer treated immediately and see a doctor for a diabetes evaluation. Diabetics need to inspect their feet daily (older people or the obese should have someone do this for them) and see a healthcare professional every three months.

5. You have cold feet

Women, especially, report cold feet. It may be nothing—or it may indicate a thyroid issue. Women have a slightly lower core body temperature than men, which makes them more vulnerable to being cold even when they're perfectly healthy. Women over 40 could have an under-functioning thyroid, the gland that regulates temperature and metabolism. Poor circulation (men and women) is another possible cause. Hypothyroidism’s symptoms are pretty subtle and appear in many disorders (fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin). See your doctor.

6. Thick, yellow, really ugly toenails

You have a fungal infection and it is existing below the surface of the nail. This condition can persist without pain for years. By the time it's visibly unattractive; the infection is advanced and can spread to all toenails and even fingernails.

The nails may also smell bad and turn dark. People most vulnerable: those with diabetes, circulatory trouble or immune-deficiency disorders (like rheumatoid arthritis). If an older person has trouble walking, sometimes the problem can be traced to the simple fact that as infected nails grow thicker, they're harder to cut and simply go ignored to the point of pain.

See your foot doctor for care and treatment. In serious cases, over-the-counter antifungals are usually not as effective as a combination of topical and oral medications and the professional removal of diseased bits. Newer-generation oral antifungal medications tend to have fewer side effects than older ones. 

If you are experiencing foot and/or ankle problems contact us at

Madison Podiatry Associates here in Sterling Heights Michigan

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LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR FEET ARE "SAYING TO YOU"

Your feet can tell you some really important things about your health, if you look for the signs and heed the messages they are sending.  Over the next few blogs, Madison Podiatry Associates and Dr. Jacob will share these “foot messages” with you.

"You can detect everything from diabetes to nutritional deficiencies just by examining the feet," says Jane Andersen, DPM, president of the American Association of Women Podiatrists and a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Your feet contain about 25% of the body's bones, and each foot also has 33 joints; 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments; along with countless nerves and blood vessels that link pathways to the heart, spine and brain.

Foot problems may foretell unexpected consequences. Pain can cause a person to move less and gain weight, for example, or to shift balance in unnatural ways, increasing the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

If your feet are sending out some of these messages, it is important to listen.  Usually it means something important is going on.

1. Toenails with slightly sunken, spoon-shaped indentations

This may be an indication of anemia and can often show up as a concave or spoon like shape to the toes' nail beds. It's an indication of not having enough hemoglobin in the blood cells that transports oxygen to all areas of the body. Anemia could be caused by internal bleeding (such as an ulcer) or other similar condition.

The skin and nail beds on your fingers and toes appear pale and/or the nails are brittle, and your feet may feel cold. Fatigue is the biggest indicator and sign of anemia, along with shortness of breath, dizziness when standing, and headache.

In these cases a foot exam may be required and then complete blood count is often used diagnose anemia.

2. Hair loss on feet or toes

If you had hair on your feet and toes (and it has disappeared) poor circulation can be the cause. Poor circulation is usually caused by vascular disease.  When the heart loses the ability to pump enough blood to the extremities because of arteriosclerosis (commonly known as hardening of the arteries), the body has to prioritize its use. Hairy toes are one of the first areas to get affected.  Reduced blood supply also can make it difficult to feel a pulse in the feet and when the person stands up, the feet may be bright red or dusky; when elevated, they can lose all color and the skin can be shiny.

3. Foot cramping (commonly called charley horses) occurs frequently.

The sudden stab of a foot cramp which is strong contraction of a muscle can be triggered by fleeting circumstances such as exercise or dehydration. If these cramps happen frequently, you may lack sufficient calcium, potassium or magnesium in your diet.  Pregnant women in the third trimester are especially vulnerable thanks to increased blood volume and reduced circulation to the feet.

"Charley horses" can happen out of nowhere. They can be a single sharp muscle spasm or come in waves. Either way, soreness can linger for a longtime after the event.

When they happen, flex the foot and massage the painful area. You may also be able to relax the muscle by applying a cold pack or rubbing alcohol. To prevent cramps, stretch your feet before you go to bed.  Drinking a glass of warm milk or talking a calcium supplement could help.

Remember foot and ankle pain is not normal.  If you are experiencing pain please contact us:

Madison Podiatry Associates, P.C.,Stering Heights MI

(586)-997-5000

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Mardi Gras (known as Fat Tuesday) in New Orleans,  is a celebration that is known worldwide.

Celebrations last for about two weeks culminating on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). There is normally a major parade each day and some-days there are a number of large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi-Gras season.

To the natives of New Orleans, "Mardi Gras" specifically refers to the Tuesday before lent, the highlight of the season.

The celebration of Mardi Gras was brought to Louisiana by early French settlers around 1699 with the first record of the holiday being celebrated in Louisiana  at the mouth of the Mississippi River in what is now lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

Celebrations begin early on Mardi Gras Day, which can fall on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9 (depending on the date of Easter). Uptown, the Zulu parade is first, and is then followed by the Rex parade, ending on Canal Street. A number of smaller parading groups follow with their "truck floats”.

There are many smaller parades and walking clubs in the city during this time. The Jefferson City Buzzards, the Lyons Club, the Irish Channel Corner Club, Pete Fountain's Half Fast Walking Club, the KOE and some jazz bands. Others that parade during this time are: Society of Saint Anne, The Pair-O-Dice Tumblers and various groups of Mardi Gras Native Americans, divided into uptown and downtown tribes, parade in their finery.

With all that walking and standing for both the folks in the parades and the crowds watching there are bound to be a lot of “hurting feet”.

If you are going to go to Mardi Gras (or any celebration of this type) it is important to wear shoes that are appropriate for the amount of walking you will be doing.

You will need to estimate how far you will be walking total. If it is more than one hundred feet then you need to make sure you wear comfortable, supporting shoes. Mardi Gras parades will generally involve quite a bit of walking for the average person and the amount of walking around can fool you! Before you realize how long you have been out there, you could be hurting really bad!. You don’t want blisters keeping you from having a great time. 

Take care of your feet and they will take care of you!

If you are experiencing foot and ankle pain please remember this is not normal, please contact us at Madison Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Sterling Heights MI.

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                                                   How Can Diabetes Affect My Feet?

For those of us with diabetes, having too much glucose in their bloodstream for a long time can cause some pretty serious conditions complications, including foot problems.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your nerves. If you have damaged nerves in your legs and feet, you might not feel heat, cold, or pain. This lack of feeling is called "sensory diabetic neuropathy." If you do not feel a cut or sore on your foot because of neuropathy, the cut could get worse and become infected. The muscles of the foot may not function properly because the nerves that make the muscles work are damaged. This could cause the foot to not align properly and create too much pressure in one area of the foot. It is estimated that up to 10% of people with diabetes will develop foot ulcers.

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Diabetes also affects the flow of blood. Without good blood flow, it takes longer for a sore or cut to heal. Poor blood flow in the arms and legs is called "peripheral vascular disease." Peripheral vascular disease is a circulation disorder that affects blood vessels away from the heart. If you have an infection that will not heal because of poor blood flow, you are at risk for developing ulcers or gangrene (the death of tissue due to a lack of blood).

Other Common Foot Problems Complicated by Diabetes

Anyone can get the foot problems listed below. For people with diabetes, however, these common foot problems can possibly lead to infection and serious complications, such as possible amputation.

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot is a fungus that causes itching, redness, and cracking. Germs can enter through the cracks in your skin and cause an infection. Medicines that kill the fungus are used to treat athlete's foot. These medicines may be pills and/or creams applied directly to the problem area. Ask your doctor to recommend a medication for athlete's foot.

Fungal Infection of Nails

Nails that are infected with a fungus may become discolored (yellowish-brown or opaque), thick and brittle, and may separate from the rest of the nail. In some cases, the nail may crumble. The dark, moist, and warm environment of shoes can promote fungal growth. In addition, an injury to the nail can put you at risk for a fungal infection. Fungal nail infections are difficult to treat. Medications applied directly to the nail are available, but they only help a small number of fungal nail problems. Oral medications (pills) may need to be prescribed by your doctor. Treatment also may include periodic removal of the damaged nail tissue.

Calluses

A callus is a build-up of hard skin, usually on the underside of the foot. Calluses are caused by an uneven distribution of weight, generally on the bottom of the forefoot or heel. Calluses also can be caused by improperly fitting shoes or by a skin abnormality. Keep in mind that some degree of callus formation on the sole of the foot is normal. Proper care is necessary if you have a callus. After your bath or shower, use a pumice stone to gently remove the build-up of tissue. Use cushioned pads and insoles in your shoes. Medications also may be prescribed to soften calluses. DO NOT try to cut the callus or remove it with a sharp object.

Corns

A corn is a build-up of hard skin near a bony area of a toe or between toes. Corns may be the result of pressure from shoes that rub against the toes or cause friction between the toes. Proper care is necessary if you have a corn. After your bath or shower, use a pumice stone to gently remove the build-up of tissue. Do not use over-the-counter remedies to dissolve corns. DO NOT try to cut the corn or remove it with a sharp object.

Blisters

Blisters can form when your shoes rub the same spot on your foot. Wearing shoes that do not fit properly or wearing shoes without socks can cause blisters, which can become infected. When treating blisters, it's important not to "pop" them. The skin covering the blister helps protect it from infection. Use an antibacterial cream and clean, soft bandages to help protect the skin and prevent infection.

Bunions

A bunion forms when your big toe angles in toward the second toe. Often, the spot where your big toe joins the rest of the foot becomes red and callused. This area also may begin to stick out and become hard. Bunions can form on one or both feet. They may run in the family, but most often are caused by wearing high-heeled shoes with narrow toes. These shoes put pressure on the big toe, pushing it toward the second toe. The use of felt or foam padding on the foot may help protect the bunion from irritation. A device also may be used to separate the big and second toes. If the bunion causes severe pain and/or deformity, surgery to realign the toes may be necessary.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can crack, which can allow germs to enter. Use moisturizing soaps and lotions to help keep your skin moist and soft.

Foot Ulcers

A foot ulcer is a break in the skin or a deep sore, which can become infected. Foot ulcers can result from minor scrapes, cuts that heal slowly or from the rubbing of shoes that do not fit well. Early intervention is important in treatment. Ask your doctor for advice on how to best care for your wound.

Hammertoes

A hammertoe is a toe that is bent because of a weakened muscle. The weakened muscle makes the tendons (tissues that connect muscles to bone) shorter, causing the toes to curl under the feet. Hammertoes can run in families. They can also be cause by shoes that are too short. Hammertoes can cause problems with walking and can lead to other foot problems, such as blisters, calluses, and sores. Splinting and corrective footwear can help in treating them. In severe cases, surgery to straighten the toe may be necessary.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of the nail grow into the skin. They cause pressure and pain along the nail edges. The edge of the nail may cut into the skin, causing redness, swelling, pain, drainage, and infection. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is pressure from shoes. Other causes include improperly trimmed nails, crowding of the toes and repeated trauma to the feet from activities such as running, walking, or doing aerobics. Keeping your toenails properly trimmed is the best way to prevent ingrown toenails. If you have a persistent problem or if you have a nail infection, you may need a doctor's care. Severe problems with ingrown nails may be corrected with surgery to remove part of the toenail and growth plate.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts look like calluses on the ball of the foot or on the heel. They may appear to have small pinholes or tiny black spots in the center. The warts are usually painful and may develop singly or in clusters. Plantar warts are caused by a virus that infects the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. DO NOT use over-the-counter medications to dissolve the wart. If you are not sure if you have a plantar wart or a callus, let your doctor decide.

If you have diabetes, contact us if you experience any of the following problems:

Changes in skin color.

Changes in skin temperature.

Swelling in the foot or ankle.

Pain in the legs.

Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining.

Ingrown toenails or toenails infected with fungus.

Corns or calluses.

Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel.

Unusual and/or persistent foot odor. 

Remember foot/ankle pain is not normal!  Click below to contact us:

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Madison Podiatry Associates, P.C.