Podiatry Information

Did you know that in a lifetime the feet carry an average person 70,000 miles? That's 3 times the distance around the world!

Too often we mistreat our feet. It's not surprising that 4 out of 5 adults suffer from foot problems at one time or another. As the old saying goes, "When your feet hurt, you hurt all over." Fortunately, most foot problems can be prevented. Be good to your feet and they'll be good to you.

Dr. Lynn Heffelfinger can help you with your podiatric care. Call (815) 625-4790 or (815) 284-1600 to schedule an appointment with his office.

Read about common foot problems below.

Diabetes and Your Feet

People with diabetes - or poor circulation - must take extra precautions. An infection could cost them their feet! It is a fact that diabetics are more susceptible than nondiabetics to infection. A reason for this is that the white blood cells which fight infection do not perform effectively when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. Consequently, when bacteria and fungi invade tissues, the body's defenses may be unable to prevent the development of cellulitis (infection of the skin), abscesses (infection of soft tissue beneath the skin), or osteomyelitis (bone infection).

Additionally, nerve damage, particularly in the lower extremities, is a frequent complication of diabetes. When nerves in the foot are compromised, a decrease of sensation can result. This loss in sensation makes it difficult for the diabetic to distinguish between hot and cold, or to realize when the foot has been cut or bruised. Once the skin has been broken as the result of an injury, friction, or a burn, infection can set in. Foot infections in diabetics can progress into major problems if treatment is not sought promptly. Foot ulcers, gangrene, and even amputation occur in diabetics as complications of foot infections.

By following some simple recommendations on foot care, you can minimize the threat of infections. Read Do's and Don'ts for diabetics (pop-up)

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown nail is the result of a nail growing into the skin that surrounds it. This often occurs at either edge of the big toe. Ingrown nails may be caused by improper trimming, inherited nail deformities, injuries, fungal infections, or pressure. Ingrown nails may cause pain at the tip of the toe or all the way to the base of the toe. In ingrown nail may also lead to infection or inflammation.

Thickened Nails

Abnormally thick or crumbling nails may be caused by injuries, pressure from shoes, fungal infections, or conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, or vascular disease. Eventually, the nail may loosen and fall off. Along with thickening, the nail may appear ridged, brittle, or yellowish. The nail may also feel painful when pressure is put on it.

Black-and-Blue Nails

A black-and-blue nail is usually caused by sudden or repetitive injury to a toe. This might occur during sports that involve running or stopping quickly, such as tennis or basketball. The injury may also result from a heavy object falling on a toe. The big toe is most often affected. Bruised, broken blood vessels cause the black-and-blue colors under the nail.

Blisters

Blisters develop where footwear repeatedly rubs against the skin. To avoid them, apply a moleskin pad to protect vulnerable areas. Wash blisters daily, and don't pop them - you may cause infection. If a blister breaks on its own, cover it with a plastic bandage until it heals.

Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses are thickenings of skin where shoes repeatedly press or rub. Corns form on the toes, while calluses are found on the soles and elsewhere on the feet. Simply wearing shoes that fit may cause the calluses and corns to disappear but, if the corns and calluses are painful, see your doctor who can trim, protect, or treat them as necessary.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts may seem like painful calluses but really are a viral skin infection that occurs on the soles of the feet. If your "callus" is more circular than oval and has a crater in the center, it's probably a plantar wart. DIABETIC PATIENTS OR PATIENTS WITH POOR CIRCULATION SHOULD NOT USE OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS TO TRY AND DISSOLVE THE WART. If you're not sure whether you have a wart or callus, let your doctor decide.

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that usually starts in the warm, moist areas between the toes. It is often picked up in community locker rooms or shower, and can spread to the toenails and soles. Painful itching between toes, cracking and scaling of the skin, and thickening and layering of the nails are symptoms of athlete's foot. Doctor's care is needed if the infection persists. Antifungal medication usually eliminates the problem, but continued foot care is essential to prevent recurrence.

Metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot)

Metatarsalgia is caused by abnormal pressure, which creates pain in the ball of the foot. It can come from having a rigid, high-arched foot or from the spreading of the forefoot with age - both tend to run in families. Calluses usually form, too. Self-care includes wearing shoes with lower heels and a thicker, softer sole cushion.

Plantar Neuroma (pain in the ball of the foot plus numbness between two toes)

Plantar neuroma is a nerve growth that often accompanies metatarsalgia. It develops when the nerve between two metatarsal heads is pinched and bruised - usually brought on by shoes with pointed toes or be repeated jolts or blows to the foot. Besides pain in the ball of the foot, there is a numbness between the two toes. See your doctor if you have these symptoms.

Hammertoes

Hammertoes are produced by a muscle imbalance that cases the end joints of one or two (or more) smaller toes to bend down, while the closer joint bends up. The joints may stiffen permanently in this awkward position. Brought on by the spreading of the forefoot, hammertoes can be inherited or caused be a nerve abnormality. Where the hooked toes rub against shoes, painful corns and calluses, redness, and swelling often develop.

Bunion

A bunion is an unsightly bump at the base of the big toe, where the joint angles inward toward the other foot. Because bunions don't fit most shoes, the skin in the area can become irritated and swollen. Bunions, hammertoes, and metatarsalgia often appear together because they are all related to spreading of the forefoot. Although bunions tend to be hereditary, wearing shoes with too narrow a forefoot or too high a heel can bring bunions on years sooner. Sometimes bunions develop with arthritis.

Soft Corns

Soft corns look like open sores but are really soft calluses usually found between two smaller toes. Caused by pressure from a bony prominence on the next toe, they are often brought on by shoes that squeeze the toes together.

Heel Pain

Heel pain is a chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament-like structure that passes from the heel to the forefoot. The inflammation is caused by the fascia partially pulling away from the heel. A bony spur - which may or may not cause pain - can also develop here. It can occur for no apparent reason.

Orthoses - (orthotics) custom-made shoe inserts

Orthoses can help. (See examples) With years of medical training in foot care, your podiatrist is an expert in treating foot problems with orthoses. Just as contact lenses improve vision, orthoses improve foot movement. These custom-made shoe inserts may relieve your symptoms by controlling the way your feet move. Orthoses may also help compensate for a problem in your hip or knee that causes incorrect foot movement. Orthoses come in a variety of materials, ranging from rigid plastic to soft foam. All of these materials can be shaped to fit your individual foot. The rigid orthoses offer the most control of movement, while the softer ones provide better cushioning and protection.