When Should You Visit a Podiatrist – 8 Signs of Foot Problems

It is a common tendency to ignore common foot problems like a slight pain or swelling in your ankles that may get well with a little rest. Instead of seeing a podiatrist, you may prefer applying a few home remedies in the affected area like hot and cold compression, ice packs, taking anti-inflammatory pills, a little massage or just changing your footwear.   www.MyBadFeet.com

Its true that often such domestic cures work wonders…but there could be times when the problem keeps recurring and refuses to go away despite all your efforts. Do not be a grudge! Take the stubbornness of your foot problem as an obvious hint that its high time to give podiatric appointment serious thought.

When do you need a podiatrist –

Here are some of the most sensitive cases of foot problems that require immediate expert care:

01. When one foot appears flatter than the other: If you notice that the arch of one of your feet is flatter than the other, something must be wrong about it. Often a ruptured tendon can render the flatter foot dysfunctional and even painful. If you leave the problem unattended, you run the risk of being afflicted with arthritis in the joints since damaged tendons can throw bones into misalignment.

02. When one foot undergoes pain and inflammation:  Swelling in foot is called edema. As opposed to lymphedema (pain and swelling in both feet), when edema occurs in one of your feet, it can mean trouble. You might be suffering from tendonitis, tendon rupture, broken bone or a foot infection. It is best to consult your podiatrist immediately to start the necessary treatment. 

03. When a wound or sore refuses to be healed: Normally, any cut or bruise should heal with little time. But a deep or open sore can turn out into a dangerous problem especially if you are a diabetic. Hence, its better to visit a podiatrist immediately after the wound occurs. Expert medical attention can reduce the chances of  bone infection called Osteomyelitis (very dangerous).

04. When activity or movement worsens pre-existing pain: Sometimes, you might be complaining of a lasting foot pain that aggravates with activity. This might be a sign it may be a stress fracture.  A stress fracture requires immediate podiatric treatment to prevent it from shattering into a much bigger problem. 

05. When severe pain lasts through a day: If you are suffering an excruciating pain in your foot that you can’t relieve yourself, call your podiatrist immediately. The causes for such pain could be anything from deep vein thrombosis, compartment syndrome, trauma or an infection. If you have just undergone a foot surgery, the problem could be from tight dressings. Therefore, its better to stop speculating and let your doctor take a look.   www.mybadfeet.com   
    
06. When your feet pain at raised leg positions: Some foot pains are typical to elevated foot posture as you stretch your legs while lying on bed. This could be because of an undetected peripheral artery disease that restricts blood flow to the feet. Under this serious condition, you might require the attention of a podiatrist as well as a vascular surgeon.

07. When there are discoloration and color variations between your feet: If you find a noticeable anomaly in the skin color of your two feet, this could signify various problems. If your foot appears bluish or purplish, it might be a vein problem. Redness could be a sign for gout or infection while paleness could mean inadequate blood circulation. Whichever color, visit a podiatrist right away.

08. When you experience numbness, tingling or burning sensation in feet: These are all potent signs of neuropathy that reduces sensation in your feet (diabetics). Under this condition, you are more prone to unnoticed foot ulcers. You should be very particular about regular foot check-ups if you have diabetes.



www.MyBadFeet.com       DR MAASI J. SMITH / mybadfeet staff

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Fashionistas turn to Botox injections to protect feet from ultra-high heels... as the first 8inch stilettos are launched




By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:22 PM on 19th October 2008


 
Victoria Beckham is famous for them, Gweneth Paltrow has a penchant for them and the Sex and the City girls are never seen without a pair.

Sales of vertiginous shoes are soaring but the craze comes at the painful price of sore and aching feet.
But now it seems fashionistas are being given a reprieve in the rise of a new 'foot filler' injection which can keep them in their towering shoes for longer.

The procedure which is popular in the US is uses Botox jabs to plump up the ball of the foot.

If the shoe fits: Victoria Beckham and Gywneth Paltrow are known for their love of ultra-high heels
Doctors are using the procedure to cure a condition known as 'stilettotarsal' - caused by years of wearing high heels.

The injury causes pain in the soft tissue on the ball of the foot, or metatarsal region, forcing the sufferer to wear flat footwear.

Medics at the Birkdale Clinic in Crosby, Merseyside, have seen a 20per cent increase in the number of women in their 40s asking for the £295 jab.

And it seems the procedure has come just in the nick of time with the high street planning to launch the first pair of eight inch heels next year.

Marie Jenkins, patient coordinator at the clinic, said with heels getting higher the procedure could become as common as breast enlargements or facelifts in years to come.
'More and more women are coming into the clinic to ask for foot fillers because their feet are starting to hurt,' she said.
'This isn't the type of pain induced by a pair of new shoes but pain after years of teetering on high heels. The balls of the feet take a lot of pounding in high heels but some women refuse to give up them up.
'They are an integral part of a woman's outfit and so women put up with the pain. But now they see they can do something about it by opting to have the extra padding.
'The procedure won't make their feet look any better but it will certainly protect the nerves and the soft tissue and make walking in their heels much easier. For many women this procedure is a godsend.'
And the operation may be set to become even more popular with Christian Louboutin preparing to launch the first pair of eight inch heels.

The shoes which are expected to go on sale next year will be nearly a full inch higher than the sky-high designs currently gracing the feet of celebrities.

'There's no doubt heels have never been as high as they are now,' Louboutin told the Sunday Times.
'You can find 20cm (7.9in) heels in the fetish trade but this will be the first time they make fashion mainstream.'
He continued: 'No one's forced to but these shoes or to wear them. We all have different pain thresholds - for some it's 3cm [1.2in] heels.
'Often the threshold of pain becomes a threshold of pleasure.'

 By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:22 PM on 19th October 2008

                                   Things You Should Know About Toenail Diseases

Toenails mark the beauty of your feet. A healthy foot is evaluated by the growth of healthy clear toenails.

Understanding the growth of toenails .            

The toenails grow from the matrix, which lies hidden beneath the cuticle. The matrix is a growth of specialized cells. As the new cells grow in it, the old cells are pushed out morphing into hardened and visible part of the toenail, known as the nail plate. The nails are mainly composed of keratin, which is a kind of hardened protein found also in skin and hair. To be more elaborative, a toenail consists of many parts like the nail bed, the cuticle, the nail folds, the lunula and the matrix.

The growth rate of toenail is measured by 0.1 mm with every day count. Compared to the fingernails, the toenails tend to grow more sluggishly. Men typically have faster toenail growth than women.

             

Medical problems associated with toenails.

Sometimes, you feel defeated when you find weird problems with your toenails, despite your sincere efforts to keep them healthy. But remember that taking good care of your toenails is not always enough. Some of the toenail disorders are noticeable, while the others are obscure and painful in the long run. Most of the disorders are associated with a systemic diseases that you may have.

Brittle toenails are commonly observed in iron deficiencies, thyroid problems, circulation problems, impaired kidney function and biotin deficiency are some of the factors responsible for fragile nails. If you are suffering from frayed or split toenails, then the problem can be linked to a deficiency in protein, folic acid, vitamin C and most prominently psoriasis (psoriatic nails).

Many often complain about their nails getting thinner. Lichen Planus is a common skin disease that causes itching problems surrounding the toenail area and causes the nails to become thinner. Some hate their curved nails, which have a tendency to bulge downwards (ingrowing toenails). This is can be caused by lung, liver, heart disease or oxygen deprivation. On the other hand, there are certain kinds of nails that grow upwards and the reason can be a B12 or iron deficiency.



www.MyBadFeet.com

Some nails have white lines running across them, this can sometimes indicate liver disease or heart disease or even high fever. Yellow toenails often plague many beautiful toes this may indicate lymphatic problems, liver disorders, chronic bronchitis and diabetes.

The market is infested with many products like nail polish and nail polish removers, which can cause damage to your nails. So be careful and check the label for harmful ingredients (acetone for example can over dry your cuticles) .

But at the end of it all, you could just have toe nail fungus (onychomycosis). A dermatophyte infects the nail and grows in the moisture rich environment (shoes).  This can lead to a thickening of the toenail as well a color changes.  Treated orally, Lamisil, Sporanox Pulse Pack, topically with Penlac, keralac nail gel or Naturally .

 remember you can always ASK DR. SMITH

 "Foot Care From The Doctor Who Cares."

Dr. Maasi J Smith / MyBadFeet Staff

                                                   Common Foot Problems with Seniors Part II

                                                        Feet problems and remedies for active seniors

Fitness-freaks try to keep themselves fit even at an older age. They get involved in different activities such as jogging, playing tennis, walking and other activities to stay healthy and active. These activities are possible only with healthy and pain-free feet. However with aging, the foot loses its mobility leading to foot problems that restricts the activities seniors usually perform.

The foot has a complicated structure with 33 joints, 26 bones and more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. With age, the feet increase in size and start flattening. The fat pads on the bottom of the feet get degraded, causing the feet to lose their mobility in the process. Being overweight will add to the problems, affecting the ligaments, muscles and general structure.  This leads the way to those scary foot issues, Bunions, Hammertoes, Corns, are among a few.    www.MyBadFeet.com

Foot problems in people are mainly due to poor fitting shoes, and genetics.  In addition to structural conditions, there are more than 300-foot diseases. The most viable way to avoid majority of foot problems is by wearing comfortably fitting, clean shoes and socks.

Arthritis is a very common foot problem found among older individuals.  Multiple joints can be affected simply due to the years of wear and tear. Those suffering from arthritis often have sore and swollen feet. Such people should wear especially designed shoes with high and wide space at toes and rocker soles reducing pain and stress at the ball of the foot.

How to buy the right shoes and avoid foot problems

Here are some tips that will help you find the right shoe:

• The size of your feet can change as you become older. Have you measured your feet before buying shoes? Best time is to measure your feet would be at the end of the day when your feet have expanded.

• Usually in most cases, one foot is larger than the other foot. Select the shoe that fits your larger foot comfortably.                                                                              www.MyBadFeet.com

• Choose the shoe that has a shape similar to your foot.

• The ball of the foot must fit into the widest part of the shoe.

• Avoid those shoes that seem tight or are required to be stretched while wearing.  www.MyBadFeet.com

• While fitting the shoe, check whether it has a gap of at least 3/8 inches to ½ inches for your longest toe at the end of each shoe.
 
• Have a walk wearing the shoes to ensure that the heel fits well and has minimal slipping. The shoe must not move up and down when you are walking.

• Spend some time wearing the shoe and walk on different surfaces to make sure that it fits you well.
 
• Most importantly, the upper part of the foot should have a flexible, soft material shaped like your feet. Try to get shoes made of real leather as they will cause less skin irritation.

• Soles of the shoe must be solid and not slippery. Choose thick soles, as they will cushion your feet when moving over harder turfs.

• It is always better to avoid wearing high-heeled shoes for long periods of time, 8 or more hours. Lower-heeled shoes are safer to wear and less damaging to the feet.

Dr. Maasi J. Smith & Staff Writers
www.MyBadFeet.com
"Foot Care From The Dr. Who Cares"                              

                                                MyBadFeet.com Now More Visitor-Friendly With Blogs
                                                      Help Spread The Word

MyBadFeet.com continues to grow and evolve with the addition of its new foot health blog (blog.mybadfeet.info) that offers a forum for discussion on topics suggested by readers. Providing an excellent opportunity for interaction with the readers.   The blogs on Dr. Maasi J. Smith’s MyBadFeet.com discusses latest information related to ankle, foot, general health and surgical concerns. This comes as a part of an effort to find the answers that will help our website site-visitors.  

http://blog.mybadfeet.info/  use this link to view blogs with videos.  The Videos will not show up in your email version. 

It is an endeavor to support the patients, providing valuable information  by the doctors at MyBadFeetcom. The suggestions made by the readers of MyBadFeet are researched then related information is blogged on to the website asap. Physicians also get to learn about the concerns of the patient through the suggestions made by them. The team of MyBadFeet address the foot concerns of everyone.  MyBadFeet establishes an exceptional interface for the readers via blogs. 
    
The recent entries on the blog pages highlight details and descriptions of  foot ailments and other related information, Diabetes, Bunions, Hammertoes, Orthotics etc.. The monthly archives on the blog page incorporate a wealth of information and links. Further, the topics on the archives have been categorized into segments such as the diabetes, sports foot health, pediatric foot health, foot care products etc. 

Readers are free to add comments at any time. 

Through the blog pages, MyBadFeet.com assures its visitors a forum for their foot suggestions and foot ideas. 

Remember to goto www.MyBadFeet.com click on the Blog link to see the full version of the blog that may include videos not seen in the email.  Or http://blog.mybadfeet.info/

Dr. Maasi J. Smith   ....Ask Dr. Smith a question, click here

Help Spread the Word!!

We look forward to your comments and suggestions for future Blogs.
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      Renal Failure And Diabetes Cause Heightened Risks of Foot Amputation

Renal failure and Diabetes bring challenges to the lower limbs possibly triggering lower extremity amputation. Researches show that the prime cause of foot problems in many cases is linked directly to diabetes. It is a kind of slow poisoning disease that brings disastrous effects to various parts of the body, unless you make a sincere effort to keep the problems of diabetes at bay.  Another concern are the foot problems that are directly caused by diabetes and indirectly caused by renal failure, which works as the prime lower extremity assassin.

Understanding the cause of lower limb problems.                        www.MyBadFeet.com

If you have diabetes then you are at heightened risk for complicated foot problems. However, the combination of diabetes and renal failure makes a person more susceptible to intense foot damage and even to amputation.  Age is also a factor and  is hostile to healthy feet.   Age alone usually causes anatomical variations that can make an individual more susceptible to foot issues.  

What is Ischemia and how it causes foot damage? 

Studies show that renal failure catapults other problems like ischemia, which is explained as the eventual breakdown of healthy tissue.  Simply put, ischemia is when tissue is no longer receiving the proper amounts of oxygen.  This can lead to tissue death, gangrene, ulcers, etc..  Limb ischemia is also linked to peripheral arterial disease (PVD) that enhances the risk of amputation. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) find ischemia as the main route to lower limb problems, which is fatal at times. The patients without ESRD problem are less susceptible to limb problems than those with ESRD.

Diabetes (Educational Video) is hostile to a healthy foot.    

(Diabetic amputations are increasing in incidence, click here)    

                   

Trying to comprehend the diabetic foot risk factor, is  to classify individuals into five main categories: high risk, normal risk, ulcerated, most critical stage and infected. Of all, ulceration is considered the main concern for the degeneration of a healthy foot. Studies support that many amputations of patient limbs with diabetes were typically caused by ulceration. Therefore a patient falling prey to diabetes, should take care that he/she does not reach the ulceration stage.  Take care of your feet with daily check-ups (use a mirror to look at the bottoms) and consistent podiatric physician and regular physician visits.

Graphic Content, but very important to view!

To make the case more complicated, if your diabetes problem leads to renal failure the possibility of foot problems are amplified.  To sum it up all, patients with conjoined problems of diabetes and renal failure are at acute risk of amputations.  Also having a heightened possibility of ulceration and extensive arterial disease. 

The crucial ingredients to combating the problem include the right knowledge about footwear, control of blood glucose and blood pressure. You must seek routine care and learn principles that help you maintain healthy feet.      www.MyBadFeet.com

Though the matter may seem very complicated, there are points that demand some serious attention.

-Follow your physicians advice to the letter
-Stop being hard-headed, patients are known to follow home remedies rather than a physicians advice.
-Find a good podiatrist and maintain a continuous check-up schedule
-Check your feet daily with a mirror

Maasi J. Smith DPM
"Foot Care From The Dr. Who Cares."

 Ask Dr. Smith (click here)

Please subscribe to our blog and forward to all who will benefit.

4. Incidence of amputations due to diabetes and or peripheral vascular disease
http://www.naturalnews.com/007206.html
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6076
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_vascular_disease
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/peripheral_vascular_disease/page2_em.htm
http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/reprint/63/9/1493.pdf

                                                  The Untold Secrets of Foot Fetishes

If you feel an uncanny sexual attraction towards others’ feet, may be, you are suffering from podophilia. This is the scientific terminology for what is more commonly known as foot worship, foot fetishism or foot partialism. This forms a part of the sexual preference people often feel towards non-sexual body-parts. What is a favorite fetish for you can be disgusting for others - it all depends on the subjective viewpoint.

Facts about foot fetishes 

To have a profound sexual interest towards the feet or footwear is called foot fetish. Much earlier, Freud had regarded foot binding as a type of podophilia. You can always tell a foot fetishist if you find him/her staring towards other’s feet. That person takes interest in a variety of foot features like the shape and size of the feet such as high arches, slim soles etc. These people pay special attention to the toes shape, length, thickness etc.

The feet presentation also matters like well-kept, pedicured clean feet, whether it is covered with stockings, nylon garments or kept bare. The other thing is any type of sensory interaction the feet might emit like odor, skin texture, complexion etc.

Findings about foot fetishes

The University of Bologna had conducted a survey on 5000 people of 381 Internet discussion groups to find out about the average frequency of various fetishes. The prevalence of different fetishes was determined based on certain points:

• The number of discussion groups ascribed to each fetish
• The number of persons taking part in each group
• The number of messages that were exchanged during the survey

This study revealed that 33% of common fetishes were directed towards specific limbs while 30% were for articles related with that limb. Among those individuals who had shown an interest for body parts, 47% were self-confessedly drawn towards feet and toes. Footwear like boots and shoes were preferred by about 64% of the people who had shown an interest for objects relating to the limbs.                                  www.MyBadFeet.com

Another sample test was carried out by AOL which when released its database of search terms in August 2008; found that the word “fetish” was used mostly for searches related to feet. This was an interesting find and it told loads about tendencies of foot fetish.

Reasons behind foot fetishism 

From such studies and other researches conducted from time to time, the researchers have gathered that foot fetishism heightens as an instinctive response to epidemics caused by sexually transmitted diseases. For example, during the wide spread gonorrhea of 12th century Europe, sexual attractions towards feet had become a noted feature. The same became true about the syphilis epidemics prevalent between the 16th and 19th centuries in Europe.

This interesting finding is attributed to Dr. A James Giannini of Ohio State University. A similar research on foot fetishism was conducted many centuries ago by Bertold of Regensburg in 1220. He was the first to note symptoms of podophilia. What is further interesting is that Dr. A James Giannini made a detailed analysis of depictions of foot fetishes in pornographic literature over a gap of 30 years.

www.MyBadFeet.com
Staff writers
 

                                        “My Bad Feet” Is Now On Air

Dr. Maasi J. Smith, podiatrist, goes live on WMCN local TV network with his show “My Bad Feet” broadcasting to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware .  His show features common foot concerns, new products and surgeries as well as other issues related to foot care. Dr. Smith also discusses ways of attaining comfort and the best treatment programs. Essentially the show educates individuals on ways to deal with common and uncommon foot issues. The “My Bad Feet” show also invites guests with different expertise who will also address various foot related issues.

My Bad Feet Show on youtube !!
                                                      Bunions And Hammer Toes

Founder and director of Rittenhouse Foot and Ankle Associates, Dr. Maasi J. Smith has been practicing podiatric medicine for the past seven years. He is better known for his unique and innovative natural foot care line - Dr. Smith's Foot Care (click here).  The products are completely natural – aloe, soy, vitamin E , citrus, almond oil, tea tree oil and many other quality ingredients. Products include a deodorizing foot wash, foot soak, foot cream as well as a nail and skin fungus treatment. His products have been highly praised (testimonials).  www.MyBadFeet.com

 

 
According to Dr. Smith, all of his products are aimed at promoting healthy feet. He is not in favor of using harmful chemical-based products, as they don't always help. “My Bad Feet” show also discusses surgical treatment of many foot ailments as Dr. Smith shares his private practice experiences.

Through his program, “My Bad Feet”, Dr. Smith provides ideas and suggestions for improving foot health. 

-Staff, Dr. Smith's Foot Care Inc.

Dr. Maasi J. Smith / www.MyBadFeet.com
"Foot Care From The Dr. Who Cares" 
Any Questions?? Ask Dr. Smith (click here)     


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                      Common Foot Problems with Seniors Part I

Senior citizens are prone to develop physical problems at the age of senility and fragility. Foot problems are more common than other problems in terms of frequency. A study on human anatomy at ripe age shows that 87% of older people suffer from many foot problems. Here is a look at different common foot problems for seniors so that they can learn what to do when they develop these foot problems.

A Look at Different Foot Problems

Foot problems for the seniors include arthritis, imbalance disorders, muscle weakness, calluses, corns, bony prominences, vascular-related disorders, diabetic ulcers, nail problems, poor circulation, loss of sensation, skin rashes, skeletal deformities and weight bearing imbalance.

The feet are open to bacterial and fungal conditions due to warm humid conditions within shoes. These conditions surface with symptoms like redness, dry skin, blisters, peeling and itching. Keeping the area between the toes dry and clean, changing socks and shoes often and using foot powder are several modes to prevent fungal infections.

Pressure and friction cause corns and calluses due to rubbing of bony parts of the feet against the shoes. Wearing shoes with special pads that suitably fit the feet can sometimes help.

The joints in the big toe when they become tender and swollen give rise to bunions. Bunions grow intolerable when they become severely painful. Wearing loose fitting shoes, using pads and taping the feet that cushion the bunions can remove the pain. Other treatments for bunions include shoe inserts or orthotic devices and physical therapy. Cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed for pain. The joint can be also relieved through surgery.

Ingrown toenails take place when a nail piece breaks the skin due to improper cutting of nails. Occurrence of ingrown toenails is common to the large toes. Straight cut of the toenail at the level with the tip of the toe can keep ingrown toenails away.

Hammertoe commonly occurs when the tendons that control movement of the toes are shortened. The toe joint enlarges as well as stiffens due to rubbing against shoes. Wearing stockings and shoes with plenty of space for toes is good for hammertoes.

Bones of the feet develop spurs due to pressure and arthritis. Spurs are also caused by strain of the feet muscles. Being overweight, wearing tight-fitting shoes and standing for a long time worsen spurs. Spurs are at times painless and sometimes painful. Heel spurs are the most common, can be treated by using heel pads, heel cups and foot supports.

Warts are a viral foot condition. Warts are at times painful and spread further if left untreated. Prescription drugs hardly cure warts. In office therapy is often a recommendation to treat warts.  They can resemble callouses but often have tiny "pin point" areas of bleeding within the tissue.

Degeneration of the foot joints gradually speeds up with age and activity. Some such aging phenomenons are circulatory impairment, tearing of cartilage, muscle strain, stress fractures and tearing of soft other tissues leave elders exposed to various foot problems.

Alert your physician if you suspect any of these conditions.

Dr. Maasi J.Smith / www.MyBadFeet.com, 
 "Foot Care From The Dr. Who Cares"