Foot Health

An ingrown toenail is a very painful problem, and if you're having redness and swelling, you should see a podiatrist.The treatment will almost always involve removing the offending nail border. It's a very simp... continue reading  about  I have an ingrown toenail that is causing pain and swelling. How should I treat this? Also, is there anything I can do to prevent the other toenails from doing the same thing?

Yes, women who wear high heels can develop a shortening of the Achilles tendon. The height of the heel and how long she has been wearing this type of shoe are contributing factors. As you note, many ladies who ... continue reading  about  Do women wearing high heels experience/suffer from shortened Achilles tendons? Does wearing flat heels cause pain for high heel wearers? Are there any therapeutic exercises or stretches that can help?

Our feet undergo changes throughout our lives. This is because the twenty six bones are supported and held together by a complex myriad of ligaments, tendons and muscles. As we age, and especially if we gain we... continue reading  about  I find as I have gotten older (mid 40's), my feet get sore easily and in my workout shoes, I now need extra support. Is this typical? Do feet age like the rest of us, and is there anything I can do to better support my feet?

Corns are areas of hard, thick skin and are caused by pressure. The pressure is usually from our shoes, but can also be caused by the toes pressing on each other. There is often an underlying prominence such as... continue reading  about  What causes corns on feet, and is surgery always required to remove them?

Pain on the ball of the foot has many possible causes. It's important to find the underlying cause. Is it a musculoskeletal problem (muscle, tendon, ligament, bone or local nerve entrapment)? Or is it a neurolo... continue reading  about  For the past five to six years, the balls of my feet hurt and burn all the time. I've tried inserts, Dansko shoes, foot soaks, as well as pain and nerve medications. Any suggestions?

Symptoms of athlete's foot can consist of itching of the foot and between the toes, and redness and peeling between the toes and/or around the foot in a mocassin distribution. Frequently people with athlete's f... continue reading  about  What are the symptoms of athlete's foot and what is the best way to get rid of it?

There are many causes of numb toes. There are treatments that can help once the correct diagnosis is made. Numbness is usually a symptom of an unhappy nerve. Some causes are reversible and some are not. There m... continue reading  about  What is the cause of numbness of toes and is there anything that will help this?

Assuming that your toenails have a fungal infection, you have several options:Topical treatmentOral medication treatmentLaser treatmentCombination of the above treatmentsEach has its pros and cons. Topical medi... continue reading  about  I have a yellow discoloration on most of my toenails. I've tried a few over-the-counter creams, but they did not work. Any suggestions? What is your opinion of laser treatments for this problem?

Here are my shoe buying tips:Have your feet measured while you're standing. As adults our bones don't grow longer, but as we mature our ligaments loosen and our feet splay, especially following pregnancy. So ou... continue reading  about  What tips should I follow when I'm shopping for shoes?