To many, the feet are considered caretakers of our moods. When our feet feel good, we feel good. When they feel bad, we do, too. Feet are workhorse extensions of our legs and absorb significant stresses daily. Because of the relentless barrage of activities we put them through, they can fall victim to a variety of problems.
Bunions
A bunion is a calcified growth that occurs on the inner border of the large joint of the big toe. It is, in essence, a large bone spur and arises from persistent pressure applied by external forces, namely footwear. Bunions occur as a result of a condition known as metatarsus adductus, or splaying of the foot. Splaying is the term that describes the gradual widening of the foot in the area of the metatarsal heads. As this widening progresses, the metatarsal located at the base of the big toe--the first metatarsal--begins to splay or migrate in the opposite direction. This is called metatarsus primus varus. While this is going on, the big toe begins to angle toward the little toe side of the foot. This deformity is called hallux valgus. The resulting angle formed by the divergence of the big toe and the first metatarsal creates the local area for chronic pressure to be applied, creating the bunion.
Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Spurs
The conditions of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs seem to run together more often than not. Because they frequently occur in tandem, they make for chronic, very sore feet and heels. Plantar fasciitis is the term that describes a condition in which the large band of tissue that helps to make the arch of the foot and attaches to the underside of the heel bone becomes inflamed to the point of making it very difficult to walk. Frequently, at the site of attachment, a spur develops. This further adds to the discomfort of weight-bearing. This spur is called a heel spur.
Heel spurs with plantar fasciitis can make walking a nightmare. Treatments include straps, night braces, steroid injections and occasionally surgery to remove the spur and promote healing of the tissue band.
Morton's Neuroma
Morton's Neuroma is a condition in which the nerve that supplies sensation between two toes of the foot becomes aggravated and inflamed to the point where it forms a nodular mass at the bases of the toes. This enlarged tissue acts as a stone-effect when weight-bearing and can be quite painful. It can cause pain between the toes and along the balls of the foot.
Treatment can include steroid injections, the use of wide footwear and occasionally, surgical removal of the nerve mass.
Flat Feet
Flat feet, or pes cavus, are terms that describe fallen arches of the feet. This can occur for many reasons, including heredity, obesity and diabetes. When standing and placing weight on the feet, the normal space between the feet and the ground is absent. This is mainly due to stretching of important tendons and the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that helps to form the arch of the foot. Chronic stretching of the soft tissues often leads to tendinitis, callouses and occasional pressure ulcers.
