Healthy feet, healthy life
Carla Christian
Are your dogs barkin’? It’s no wonder our feet have aches and pains. By age 50, most have walked enough miles to cross the earth a few times, says Dr. Hamid R. Arabshahi, podiatrist and owner operator of Advanced Foot Clinic in Salem.
Some foot complaints are especially common. Fungal toenails are easy to get and hard to remedy. After your feet spend years in dark, moist shoes (the preferred environment of fungus), it’s no surprise that it takes hold.
Whether you’re a veteran who served in wet trenches, a gym rat who uses communal showers, or you love a good pedicure (bring your own polish, says Dr. Arabshahi), you may have picked up a tenacious nail fungus.
Fungus eventually thickens the nails, causing pain, pressure, and even infection, Medicare may cover treatment, which is typically a podiatrist filing the nails using a medical-grade vacuum that collects the infected filings. Alternatively, laser treatment is safe and effective, and may eliminate nail fungus for good.
For anyone with diabetes, foot checkups are a must. Elevated blood sugar from diabetes damages sensory nerves in the feet, so small sores can quickly become serious wounds. This can lead to bone infection, gangrene, and — left untreated — amputation. Professional care includes thorough exams and proper nail trims. Dr. Arabshahi recommends wearing white socks if you’re diabetic, so you can see early signs of an ulcer.
Another common pain in the foot: ingrown toenails. This happens when a nail grows into adjacent tissue. It’s caused by cutting nails too short or with rounded corners, leaving them too long, or trauma from poorly fitting shoes. This isn’t a DIY fix, but a podiatrist can remove the ingrown portion of the nail in a simple office procedure.
Feet are a complex web of small bones and muscles, and foot pain can arise in myriad ways. Plantar fasciitis and tendinopathy occur when the soft tissues are strained or inflamed. These conditions can benefit from physical therapy, good arch support, and custom orthotics. Many people get relief with a few sessions of laser therapy.
If the bones of the toes become displaced, you may have a hammer toe or a bunion. The first line of treatment is shoes with a wide toe box and good arch support. If that doesn’t provide relief, corrective surgery is an option.
Nerve pain is another concern and can be caused by an inflamed nerve sheath (called a neuroma), neuropathy from diabetes, or a pinched nerve in the spine.
Dr. Arabshahi stresses that the feet reflect the health of your whole body. Atrophy, lost hair, or reduced blood flow all signal that there’s a problem somewhere else. The doctor says he can see signs of dehydration or even heart disease in the feet.
Your feet also impact your overall health. Foot problems can lead to pain in the knees, hips, or back, and limit or prohibit walking and exercise. They can keep you from being able to do your job, maintain a healthy weight, or even feel happy.
Keep your feet healthy
Prevention is key. Once you have chronic pain it’s much harder to heal, advises Dr. Arabshahi. Wear shoes with good fit and arch support. If you’re diabetic, always wear shoes or slippers, even in the house. Examine your shoes; if you find uneven wear, you know your biomechanics are off.
“It’s an amazing miracle that you see in the foot,” says Dr. Arabshahi. “Treasure your feet. That’s your vehicle to move for a lifetime.”