10 Common Foot Problems and How to Manage Them

The feet are an adaptable human body part composed of bones, joints, muscles, and delicate tissues that let us move, stand and perform various exercises like walking, running, dancing, climbing, swimming, and hopping.

The human foot consists of 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of them are articulated), and more than hundreds of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues that hold every one of the parts together and allow us to use them to carry our weight and be in motion to travel from one place to another effectively. Yet, the pressure of moving you around puts your feet at risk of strain and injury, higher than some other body part.

Many foot issues can simply arise from wearing a poorly fitting shoe, diabetes, and not taking care of it. Pain in your feet gives you an indication of a problem that can lead to further several foot-related issues.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete's foot (Tinea pedisis) is generally caused due to strolling or walking in warm and damp contaminated places by exposing yourself to numerous fungal infections. It can be infectious or contagious. It is a parasitic disease of the skin, typically tracked down between the toes. Moreover, the disease can spread and cause critical distress, itching, burning, stinging, blisters, flaking of the skin, and even severe pain in that area.

Treatment − Keep your feet clean, dry, and open, and if wearing socks change them from time to time. Avoid walking barefoot to contaminated washrooms and places. There are a lot of over-the-counter antifungal sprays, powders, or lotions accessible at your nearby pharmacy that can help you to manage the symptoms of the disease.

Blisters

Blisters are experienced by many people, and you can have them sooner or later in life. They frequently show up after walking or running for a period of time if your feet have become sweaty or due to wearing shoes that don't fit you. Blisters are raised liquid-filled pockets caused by friction of your feet and are not a serious concern.

Treatment − It is best not to burst the blisters, cover them with a bandage, and allow them to naturally heal on their own. If somehow it gets bursts, it's best to use an ointment prescribed by the doctor and use a bandage to prevent it from getting infected.

Corns and Calluses

Corns are yellow and are patches of thick dead skin formed on the bottoms of the feet or toes. Corns can be formed on the tops and sides of your toes as well as in between your toes, while calluses are bigger and generally formed under the heel of your foot. These structures are formed to safeguard our skin and prevent the body from creating blisters.

Corns can occur due to incorrectly fitting shoes. If not treated, they can cause pain and become hard to deal with. You can remove the thick skin formed on the specific area by yourself.

Treatment − Corns can be treated with padding and treat calluses by putting your feet in warm water and then removing them by hand but gently as rubbing them off can cause bleeding.

Plantar Fasciitis

The condition happens when the ligament and plantar fascia on the lower part of the foot becomes inflamed or can be torn. Plantar fasciitis is caused due to inflammation that typically doesn't have a reasonable reason. They are mostly seen in runners and joggers.

Treatment − They can be treated by applying ice, as it reduces inflammation. Moreover, by stretching and reducing the stiffness in the medial band of the foot, i.e., Plantar fascia.

Gout

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that affect your joints the first part which gets infected is the big toe as it's one of the coolest parts and due to this accumulation and crystallization of uric acid takes place.

Treatment − Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, diet, and weight can lower its risk and can be treated by inflammatory drugs.

Bunion

A bump on your front toe is a bunion. This condition, where your toe twists inward, can make it hard to walk. Bunions might be the aftereffect of tight or sick fitting shoes.

Treatment − Using a bunion pad and ice on that area can reduce the inflammation.

Hammertoes

It is also known as a mallet. If all of your toes except the toe thumb point in different directions, then that's known as hammertoes.

Treatment − It can be treated by using foot pads and wearing comfortable foot wears.

Ingrown Toenail

Nails that develop into the skin around the toe if not cut properly are known as ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails can cause uneasiness and delicate skin around the nail. They can occur due to cutting the nails too short, or can also be caused due to running.

Treatment − These cases can be treated at home by soaking in warm water, painkillers, and effective drugs.

Stone Bruise

It is also known as metatarsalgia. This condition affects the ball of your foot and is caused by ill fitted shoes.

Treatment − This can be treated by applying ice and taking medications that help in lowering the pain.

Diabetic Neuropathy

People who have diabetes have fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can damage the nerves of the feet. It is a group of conditions that cause severe problems like pain and numbness in the feet due to diabetes.

Treatment − It can't be reversed but can be maintained by good health, diet, and hygiene.

Conclusion

Treatment and prevention of foot problems help in the long run. The pain that accompanies certain problems can be very difficult to deal with. Many foot problems require a doctor’s advice for a better cure. Be mindful of any issue related to the foot that you think has been bothering you for quite some time.