Podiatry at Hills Osteopaths

Shoes that are too tight or have high heels, among other things, can compress the nerves between your toes. Morton's neuroma is a condition that most commonly occurs between your third and fourth toes. Padding, icing, orthotics, and wearing shoes with a wide toe box and low heels can often relieve neuroma pain, tingling, and numbness.

When the joint connecting your big toe to your foot shifts out of place, a bump of bone and tissue forms at the base of your big toe. The majority of cases are caused by narrow-toed and high-heeled shoes, though heredity plays a minor role. Bunions, if left untreated, can cause severe pain that limits your ability to walk. Treatments such as ice, foot pads, and wearing shoes with wider toe boxes can often provide relief.

Stress fractures are among the more serious sports injuries that occur when you overdo a high-impact activity such as running, dancing, or playing basketball. Muscle fatigue causes stress to be transferred to the bone. A small, hairline crack forms, potentially causing severe pain. Stress fractures can occur in any part of your foot, but they most commonly occur in the second and third metatarsals or long toe bones. Rest allows your bones to heal, which typically takes 6 to 8 weeks.

The sesamoids, which are two pea-shaped bones lodged in the tendon beneath the ball of your foot, assist the big toe in moving normally. Running and golf, for example, can injure the bones, tendons, and surrounding tissue by putting strain on the ball of the foot. Padding, strapping, or taping the foot can relieve pressure on the sesamoids, and anti-inflammatory medications can alleviate foot pain and swelling.

Is your first step out of bed in the morning excruciatingly painful? You most likely have plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the fascia, which connects your toes to your heel on the bottom of your foot. High-impact sports, excess weight, and jobs that require you to walk or stand on hard surfaces all increase your risk. Stretch your foot and calf frequently, and think about sleeping with a night splint that lengthens your plantar fascia.

When asked to do too much, too soon, the long Achilles tendon can become thick, inflamed, swollen, or painful (for example, after beginning an ambitious exercise program). Calf muscle tension may also play a role. Changing from a high-impact exercise to a cross-training program, such as biking, elliptical, or swimming, combined with moves to stretch and strengthen the calves, often reduces pain.

Calcium deposits on the bottom of your heel bone cause heel spur. They don't always cause pain, but they can irritate the plantar fascia, causing pain along the arch and heel. Calf and foot stretches are effective in relieving it; surgery to remove the spur is rarely required.

Every day, approximately 25,000 people fall, step, or twist their way into an ankle sprain. This common injury happens when the ligaments on the outside of your ankle stretch or tear, resulting in pain, swelling, and, in some cases, inability to bear weight. If this is the case, or if you have severe swelling or deformity, consult a doctor. The RICE protocol - Rest, ice, compression, and elevation usually work for mild sprains.