Posts for tag: Conway
Excessive sweating from the soles of the feet, known as palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, can affect both children and adults. This condition occurs when the eccrine (sweat) glands of the soles secrete inappropriately large amounts of sweat. It typically occurs due to unknown reasons, begins in childhood, and commonly runs in families.
Eccrine glands are found on almost all parts of the body but are most dense in the palms and soles. The glands have developed and work normal in patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, they just work more than needed. These glands produce sweat in response to emotion and stress. This is the reason people do not notice sweaty feet as they sleep.
Diagnosis is obvious because the sweating is easily noticed. Various treatment options are available but each has limitations. Creams and sprays are a great way to limit the severity of sweat but do not cure the condition. These are time-consuming therapies because the cream must be applied nightly. Iontophoresis is the passage of an electrical current onto to the skin, and has long been used to treat hyperhidrosis. Iontophoresis consists of 30 min sessions for ten consecutive days followed by one or two maintenance sessions per week. Oral pills will achieve desired results but must be taken for long periods of time and have numerous side effects. Surgical treatment is an option to treat hyperhidrosis. Sympathectomy involves the surgical destruction of nerves in the soles. Although the procedure is effective, it is permanent and should be considered only after all other therapeutic options have been explored. It is important to visit a podiatrist for treatment of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, as there are many treatment methods. Coastal Podiatry Associates can help determine which treatment method is best to restore normal function of the sweat glands.
Foot ulcers are the most common reason people with diabetes are hospitalized. Foot ulcers are sores on feet that involve just the skin’s surface or they can develop into more serious wounds, which may lead to bone infections. Leg and foot ulcers are especially a problem for people with nerve damage, with vascular concerns, atherosclerosis, and sickle cell anemia. However, diabetes is the most common cause of ulcers.
Those with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing an ulcer for two main reasons. The first is peripheral neuropathy. This common complication of diabetes is a general loss of feeling. The nerves lose their ability to detect pain, heat, and cold. If the foot is injured, nerve damage may prevent from noticing the damage. Poor circulation is the other main reason diabetics develop ulcers. Blood increases in thickness, slowing its flow, therefore, causing poor circulation.
A foot ulcer appears like a red sore, most commonly found on the ball of the foot or under the big toe. If the wound is infected, pus and a bad odor typically occur. It is important to see a podiatrist as soon as an ulcer is noticed. Untreated foot ulcers can progress into gangrene and may lead to amputation. Treatment for foot ulcers depend on the severity of the wound. It typically involves debridement, off-loading, and dressings. Debridement is the process of removing dead skin and tissue. Off-loading uses pads or special shoes to take pressure off the ulcer area. Proper dressing and bandages are important to protect the area and provide an optimal healing environment. Ulcers may take weeks or even several months to heal. This depends on the general health of the patient and the severity of the wound.
To have your feet evaluated for foot ulcers or any other painful foot and ankle condition call 843-449-FOOT.
Being trapped in a tiny airplane seat in an enclosed area without much room to move can lead to swollen feet. The same can be said for long car rides. The easiest way to prevent swollen feet during travel, is to move around to get your blood flowing. When you’re sitting, the muscles that help pump fluid out of your legs are not active. This can lead to blood pooling in your feet and uncomfortable swelling. The low cabin pressure, combined with dry air circulating in a plane, can also slow blood circulation. This is because when you are dehydrated, your blood gets a bit thicker and circulation is slowed. Poor circulation can allow dangerous blood clots to form in the legs, which can travel to the lungs or brain, causing very serious health complications.
When traveling, it is important to keep normal blood flow. Below is a list of some tips to promote blood circulation to your feet during holiday travel.
Watch your diet. Taking precautions to avoid salt the day of and before travel will help maintain normal fluid levels. Salt can cause you to retain fluid, which can make your feet swell even more.
Drink water. Drink plenty of water the day before and day of your trip. Drinking water will help you prevent dehydration and encourage you to walk to the bathroom.
Walk around. When flying, get up several times during the flight to get your blood flowing. This is especially important on flights over two hours. While walking around is not encouraged in a car, take an extra five minutes to walk around the gas station or rest stop.
Leave plenty of room for your feet. If your feet are fighting for space with bags, they will be more restricted and may be placed into positions that cut off the blood supply. Asking for an aisle seat on a plane, will make it easier for you to move around and give more room.
Exercise your legs. When you can’t get up and walk around, you can still use the muscles in your feet. Point your toes up and down and side to side to get your feet moving. Also, try spreading your toes or using them to pick an item off the ground.
Don’t cross your feet. Your circulation is already slow when you are sitting for hours; don’t make the mistake of cutting it off even more by crossing your legs.
Wear proper footwear. Compression socks or hose will help bring blood back to your heart. Slip-on shoes are great because they can be easily removed and allow you to massage or exercise your feet.
Bunions occur at the base of the big toe, when the boney bump forms on the inside of the foot. Bunions can cause intense foot pain and may require surgery. Fortunately, the majority of bunions can be managed without surgery. Non-surgical strategies can help slow the development of a bunion. These exercises are meant to help relieve the pain, not fix the actual bone deformity. With any medical condition, it is best to explore conservative therapy before jumping into surgery. These foot exercises can help keep the joint at the base of the big toe mobile, maintain flexibility, and strengthen muscles. They are a great starting point for treatment and should be conducted every day, ideally in the morning and at night. A podiatrist has undergone extensive training in the causes and treatments for bunions, and should be consulted if the deformity gets worse or continues to cause pain.
Toe Stretches. This stretch will help keep your toes limber and offset foot pain. To stretch, point your toes straight ahead for 5 seconds and then curl them under for 5 seconds. Repeat this stretch 10 times.
Toe Flexing and Contracting. This is conducted by pressing your toes against a hard surface (such as a wall) to flex and stretch them. It is important to flex your toes in the opposite direction too. Each stretch should be held for 10 seconds and be repeated three to four times.
Stretching the Big Toe. Using your fingers, gently pull your big toe into proper alignment. Hold this position for 10 sec and repeat three to four times.
Resistance Exercise. Wrap either a towel or belt around your big toe and use it to pull you big toe toward you while simultaneously pushing forward, against the towel with your big toe.
Towel Curls. Strengthen your toes by spreading out a small towel on the floor, curling your toes around it, and pulling it toward you. Repeat five times.
Picking up Marbles. Place 20 marbles on the floor in front of you and use your foot to pick the marbles up one by one and place them in a bowl. Gripping objects with your toes like this can help keep your foot flexible.
Walking along the Beach. Walking on the sand will give a gentle foot massage and help strengthen your toes.
There has been a recent surge in barefoot running. It is based on the idea that tribal people have been running barefoot for hundreds, if not thousands, of years and yet do not develop the foot problems that come into my office daily. Now, don't get me wrong, I am all for whatever motivates someone to run and exercise, however I think there has been some lack of common sense in this new trend. First, these primitive civilizations live the way they do out of necessity. They run only to hunt or escape. They are not out running 5ks or doing a fartlek on the weekends and after work. It is not a mile after mile exercise run. From a scientific point, these people have bone structures dissimilar to, and body frames that are smaller than the average Americans'. This means over time they have significantly less stresses placed on their joints and specifically, on their feet. Naturally, primitive people are not running on packed trails or pavement, that is a very important piece of information as surface type is often a key factor in the development of foot problems. Furthermore, it is an understatement to say that they do not suffer from foot problems. I spoke directly with a gentleman, who spent a significant amount of time in Africa with several tribesmen. He saw "the worst callus and fissuring...they would bleed...they would cut an old tire up to make shoes for themselves." This follows in line with the charitable contributions of shoes that come from Americans who donate their shoes in the hopes that they end up on a person in need. If barefoot running was great for feet, why would the demand for shoes be so great? Ultimately, the shoe was created out of necessity and is a valuable addition to the many other luxuries we enjoy in modern civilizations.