Posts for tag: hammertoes
Corns and calluses are thick, hard sections of skin found on the foot. These conditions aren’t serious, but they can result in severe pain. Corns and calluses are really an area of increased thickness of the skin formed by too much pressure or friction. They generally form at bony prominences of the foot where friction is greatest. Usually poor fitting shoes cause these areas of friction, but they can also form because of how the foot moves during walking.
Calluses are typically found on the bottom of the foot. Corns are actually calluses that occur on the toes when hammertoes have formed. (Hammertoes are toes that are always bent, forming an upside down V when looked at from the side.) These thick layers of dead skin cells are generally white or yellow patches of thick, tough skin. They may also look flaky, or seem like dry skin. Corns are generally small and round, with a very sore spot in the middle and yellowish skin surrounding. Calluses are commonly larger and may have a peak in the middle.
Anyone can develop a callus or corn from poor fitting shoes or the way their foot moves during walking. The podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates can easily treat these painful areas. The fastest and easiest way to treat calluses and corns is to remove the areas of increased skin. Another method is to reduce the friction or irritation that caused the callus or corn. This can be accomplished by adding padding to the shoe to offload the pressure area or adding an orthotic. Orthotics are custom shoe inserts that help the foot move in its most natural path. Another important preventative step is to wear comfortable shoes to help protect the foot from corns and calluses.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that attacks multiple joints throughout the body with the first symptoms typically appearing in the toes and feet. These initial symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, sole, or ball of the foot. The joints may also feel warm and the pain may be so severe that a person’s walking pattern changes. The new demands placed on the foot can lead to corns, bunion, claw toes, or hammertoes. Since RA affects the entire body, people frequently have feelings of fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Women are affected three times more often than men are especially under 40 years of age.
The frequent appearance of symptoms to initiate in the foot may mean a podiatrist is the doctor diagnosing RA. To determine a patient has RA a podiatrist will ask about the patient’s medical history, occupation, recreational activities, and family history. Doctors commonly conduct x-ray studies to determine the amount of damage to the bones and joints. Blood tests are used to determine if the patient is anemic or has an antibody called rheumatoid factor. While antibodies are normally produced by and protect the body, in RA a few antibodies turn against the body by attacking the lining of joints. The attacks lead to joint inflammation causing pain and swelling. Eventually the lining in the joint breaks down and damage to the bones can occur. The damage may be so severe that joint deformities form.
Many people with RA can control the pain and disease with medication and exercise. Medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen are used to control the pain and there are many prescription drugs able to help slow the spread of the disease. There are also steroid injections available to relieve the joint swelling and inflammation. In addition to drugs, a podiatrist may prescribe special shoes to help the foot function properly. Unfortunately, RA is a progressive disease that currently lacks a cure. Through medication, exercises, and surgery the effects of RA can be reduced and its progress slowed.
By Dr. Joseph Menn of Coastal Podiatry Associates Myrtle Beach, SC