Feet problems can mirror other health issues, but help is available
By Albert Bravo, M.D.
Feet can often match other health processes that are affecting the body. For instance, patients with diabetes frequently will have manifestations of the disease quite prominent in the feet, and in fact, many times a foot problem can help lead to the diagnosis of diabetes. Patients with diabetes often will experience a tingling, burning, numb sensations in both feet, which can progress to a complete lack of feeling in the feet. Also, the circulation in patients with diabetes frequently will be compromised, causing problems with coldness and discoloration in the feet, cramping in the legs that occurs with walking, and wounds or injuries to the feet that do not heal well. Any unusual symptoms in the feet should be reported the patient’s doctor since the problem can be effectively worked up and treated.
Arthritis is another health condition frequently affecting the feet. Each foot has 28 bones that undergo a tremendous amount of mechanical stress caused by walking activities whereas, by comparison, there are only four bones between the ankle and the hip. Arthritis can cause stiffness, swelling, and pain from walking. In its early stages, the pain will be prominent after periods of rest, such as when first getting up in the morning. Usually, a patient will notice some of the bone and joint structures of the feet swell as the arthritis process progresses. Though osteoarthritis, the normal “wear and tear” type of arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis seen in the foot, other types of arthritis are seen as well, including rheumatoid arthritis and gout, another joint disease is associated with other medical problems. Relief can be obtained in most cases with a combination of oral and/or topical medication, shoe insoles or modifications, and activity modification.
Structural deformities in the feet will become more pronounced with time. Problem such as bunions and hammertoes, while certainly not limited to an older population, tend to get progressively worse as one ages, and can cause significant discomfort. Shoes can become quite a problem and secondary problems such as painful lesions, skin irritation, and areas of inflammation can restrict a person’s ability to ambulate. This has the unwanted effect of reducing the person’s ability to participate in exercise activities or walking for recreation and enjoyment affecting an individual’s overall health.
Fortunately, people need not suffer since there are many treatments. These can range from: protective padding and splinting devices to help alleviate pressure on the bunions or hammertoes, shoe modifications that help provide more room for a deformed foot, and surgical correction of structural deformities. Straightforward treatments can often provide a tremendous amount of pain relief. If surgery is needed, it is almost always performed as an outpatient, and there tends to be minimal postoperative discomfort.
The results of carefully planned and executed surgery in these cases can be quite gratifying.
As the senior population grows, the importance of healthy feet takes on greater importance. Healthy feet allow a person to remain more active, and this in turn can increase a person’s daily exercise program further promoting a person’s overall health. An important thing to remember is that there is no need to suffer with painful feet, as the vast majority of foot problems can be successfully relief with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Albert Bravo is a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and of the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics practicing in Pittsfield and Great Barrington.
