Diabetes afflicts about 16 million Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. Individuals with diabetes are prone to complications. One of the foremost complications is nervous system damage or neuropathy which causes the lose of feeling in the feet. As a result, a diabetic person might not feel cuts, scratches, blisters and breaks in the skin. These wounds can lead to unnoticed infection and if left untreated, they can lead to serious consequences, including amputation. If you have diabetes, you may not notice rough seams in socks and shoes or a pressure/friction from ill fitting shoes. This combined with poor circulation can put a diabetic patient at risk for infection.
Those who shop for shoes at department stores and regular shoe stores do not understand how frustrating shoe shopping is for those with medical issues. If you suffer from foot pain, body imbalance or other health problems that affect your feet, you may dread shoe shopping. Luckily, there are a number of options for shoes for people with medical problems. Bunions, or abnormal boney protrusions at the base of the big toe, are often uncomfortable. For some, bunions are painful and inhibit the individual’s ability to wear certain types of footwear, Mayoclinic.com explains. Although severe bunions may require corrective surgery, less obtrusive bunions can be treated with chiropractic care.
Shop late in the day. Due to gravity, your feet naturally get larger as the day progresses. That’s why a pair of shoes can feel just right in the morning, but be painfully tight later on. Doctors recommend buying shoes in the afternoon, when your feet are at their maximum size. This way, you won’t buy shoes that are too small, which would make your feet susceptible to rubbing. Keep feet clean and dry in summer heat. Each foot has thousands of sweat glands and hot weather makes perspiring feet fertile ground for bacteria.
Swelling and pain in the area of the bump can also occur. These are signs of bursitis , which is an inflamed pocket of fluid. A bunion sufferer will also notice that their foot appears to have gotten wider. This widening occurs because of a gradual separation of the fifth metatarsal bone from the fourth metatarsal bone that lies next to it. This separation of the metatarsal bones is a root cause of the bunion, and is a consequence of abnormal foot function. What Causes a Tailor’s Bunion? Please consult with your treating doctor or therapist to determine if the DonJoy Arch Rival is the orthotic device for your condition.
A bunion typically does not form because of bad or tight shoes, although they can contribute to them. The potential for developing a bunion is hereditary. If a parent or grandparent has a bunion, it puts you at greater risk for developing one yourself. This is because you inherit the mechanics that causes a bunion to form. So when you notice a bump on the side of your foot beginning to form, see a big callus on the side of your great toe, or start seeing your great toe drifting towards your second toe, that is the time to take action.
The connecting tissue in your foot can become inflamed and cause a stabbing pain in the heel. This is called Plantar fascitis. Try stretching the soles of your feet, cutting back on running, using heel pads and an anti-inflammatory. At night try using splints to keep your foot flexed while you sleep. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is described as the compression of a nerve that causes pain or numbness from the heel and radiates to the toes. Try resting, icing and an anti-inflammatory. But the truth is, tarsal tunnel syndrome can cause damage to the nerve, so don’t hesitate too long about seeing a doctor if the pain doesn’t subside.
The best way to alleviate bunion pain is to wear shoes that fit properly. Soaking feet in warm water can temporarily relieve pain associated with bunions. Orthotics can provide extra support and protection and help place the foot in the correct position within the shoe. Your podiatrist can also recommend exercises to maintain join mobility and prevent stiffness. Repeated pressure and friction against a bony prominence over long periods of time cause a callus. Calluses usually develop under the ball of the foot, which typically carries the majority of the body weight. Calluses can be treated with over-the-counter callus removers, or can be trimmed by a podiatrist.
I did not use these pads continuously. I would wear the pad for 48 hours, take a bath, use a pumice stone, slather my feet with lotion, apply Corona Salve to calluses and put on cotton socks to help the treatment soak in. I reapplied the pads in the morning. The callus has reduced in size, so I just use the pads without the salicylic acid now. I don’t much care low big a woman’s feet are – in fact, long feet and toes are pretty sexy, but small delicate feet are great too!