Big Toe = Bigger Function!!

The big toe of the human foot has responsibilities greater than what one can just naturally assume. To start things off, if a person’s big toe has any kind of trauma or injury and cannot be used properly, it is safe to say that the person will not be walking normally till the big toe problem is resolved. Referred to as the hallux when anatomically speaking, one of its main functions is to make sure the foot can carry out the walking process effortlessly and the whole body can advance forward as a natural consequence.

What happens when let’s say someone fractures their big toe (hallux)? Well for starters you will definitely see them limping around. Let’s think about this for a second… why can the person just not avoid using the big toe when walking or why can’t the FOUR OTHER TOES take over and have the person walk normally….? Well unfortunately for us, the human foot is not designed in such a way. In normal walking, from when your heel touches the ground to when your toes lift from ground before your foot is air borne, the last piece before the foot is air borne is the big toe managing to keep everything in balance and coordinating many internal muscles and tendons. If the big toe is not working properly so to say, then the entire transition of when the foot hits the ground to when it is lifted off the ground is thrown off and people can feel the effects of this get only progressively worse if left unattended. Pain can start from improper foot positions over time and cause tendons and ligament issues in the foot to become loose and potentially tear to having pain carried up the leg with stiffer and tighter muscles in the back of the legs and thighs holding them back from walking normally and being agile.

An injury to the big toe should never be ignored. It is not the same as when one jams a finger and waits for the pain and swelling to go away and live with a slightly bent finger, which is ever so common amongst basketball players. Consequences of ignoring big toe (in either of the foot) issues can continue to make ones’ walking progressively more painful and will limit the range of motion of the big toe which will continue to add more bad side effects of ignoring an injury to the hallux. 

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PAIN ON THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET...?!!!!!!!!!

Are you a female who likes to wear to high heels or even more so have to wear heels on a daily basis for work? Couple that with, nights out with your significant other and or just plain girls nights out where dressing up and wearing high heels is part of having a fun night? But unfortunately, you find that as days keep going by, it is getting harder and harder to just ignore the pain and falling asleep at night is just as discomforting as waking up in the morning? You have tried some over the counter medicine such as Tylenol or Advil to help ease the pain or slight inflammation you are experiencing but that isn’t really helping..

Or how about gents who feel this stretching pain on the bottom of their feet which randomly comes and goes but always leaves you shocked by catching you off-guard with the timing of the pain? And after ignoring the pain for times, which guys in general are infamous for, it seems that the pain just doesn’t seem to go away and is slowly increasing  in intensity and this is concerning you because it is not only limiting your mobility but also keeping you from going about doing your daily life and is interfering with your hobbies and especially athletic activities? If any of this sounds even remotely similar or there is pain in the bottom of your feet that you have been ignoring because you think it will go away because it does momentarily, then a visit to a foot specialist is advised, where they will better assess your situation and increase the chances of preventing the progression of pain or controlling it if it is already there. Just remember, it is never normal to have pain anywhere in the body and just because it is temporary, does not give it any reason to be ignored. 

 Below is an example of a common type of foot pain, that occurs frequently. Enjoy the video and urge yourself to take precautions to prevent and maintain a pain free lifestyle. Your podiatric physician will be glad to help.

      
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtu20VuKGPw

A hole in the foot...!

Diabetics are prone to ulcerations (refer back to my previous blog on foot ulcer) and unfortunately still many do not take this fact seriously until it is too late. Monitoring for ulcerations should be conducted regularly by a podiatrist in order to not only prevent an ulcer formation but to also prevent an amputation. Poorly fitted shoes or something very subtle or unimportant such as a stocking seem can create a wound that may not be felt in those whose skin sensation to feel is diminished as a result of peripheral neuropathy. When this is left unattended, the ulcer forming can become infected very quickly and can lead to the spreading of the infection causing even more serious consequences.

Your podiatric physician is the go to person for prevention of such problems since they know how to prevent and if too late, to treat these wounds which is a very important factor in prolonging the life and use of your feet and keeping them healthy and strong. Podiatric physicians are equipped with cutting edge products for wound healing that feel and work just like the human skin and have taken the science of wound healing to another level. These living, skin-like products are applied to wounds which are properly cleaned by your podiatric physician. Clinical trials have shown impressive success rates.

I will leave with a quick video of a person with an ulcer on his toe. These types of wounds are very common amongst patients with uncontrolled diabetes so please take everything written in these blogs very seriously to prevent something like this happening to you…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9YO1zx2MzE

What to do if you already have Diabetes...?!!

Despite the stage and extent of your diabetes, listed in this blog are many important tips. These should be followed and maintained throughly to ensure utmost safety and to keep your condition from getting worse. If you have diabetes already, you should..

-          Wash your feet daily using a mild soap and warm water and dry carefully with a soft towel especially between toes.

-          Inspect feet and toes daily for cuts, bruises or changes in toenails such as coloring or thickening.

-          Lose weight which can decrease the chances of further complications by nearly half.

-          Wear thick, soft socks and try to avoid those with seems or any kinds which could potentially rub and cause blisters or skin problems.

-          Stop Smoking

-          Cut toenails straight across and if they are too hard to cut and or have grown too much into the corner. Asking your podiatrist for assistance is the safest bet.

-          EXERCISE to keep your weight down and improve the blood circulation in your body. No need to get fancy, even 20-30 minutes of walking is considered one of the best exercises for diabetic patients. Make sure to wear proper shoes by asking your podiatrist which kind is the best fit for your foot type.

-          Don’t go barefoot, not even in your own home! Always make sure to at least wear slippers.

-          Don’t wear high heels, sandals, and shoes with pointed toes as this can put a lot of pressure on certain parts of the foot causing great complications in the future.

-          Don’t drink alcohol in excess as alcohol can increase the rate of nerve damage, and can make minor cuts seem unimportant, both of which can lead to problems.

-          Don’t wear anything that is too tight around the legs like panty hose, thigh-highs, knee-highs, anything that can cut off circulation to the legs and feet. Men socks which have really tight elastic should also be avoided.

-          Never try to remove calluses, warts or corns by yourself or try to use over the counter preparations as they can burn the skin and can cause irreversible damage to the skin and feet. Do not try to cut, shave, trim the calluses because the risk of cutting yourself is too high and such wounds in diabetics can often lead to greater complications. Seeing our podiatric physician for these cases is a must.

Last but not least…SEE YOUR PODIATRIC PHYSICIAN. Regular checkups, annually at the very least, are the best and safest way to ensure that your feet remain healthy and to uncover any subtle changes that an untrained eye might not be able to discover.