Each human foot is made up of 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles or tendons, and 26 bones or one-quarter of the 206 bones in the human body. Which is often why, when you don’t take care of your feet, other problems aren’t far behind.
- Feet first: Medical conditions including arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders often show symptoms first in your feet so if something’s not feeling quite right in your feet, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor.
- Butt out: Smoking is the most common cause of peripheral vascular disease which affects the feet and legs and can lead to walking pain ulceration, infection and even amputation. That’s a good enough reason as any to stop smoking.
- Heel not healing? If you’re feeling a sharp pain in the bottom of your feet, it could be plantar fasciitis, inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. Your podiatrist may suggest you change your footwear or do some stretching.
- Bothersome bunions: Though high-heeled shoes can be an aggravating factor, they don’t actually cause bunions. These unattractive bumps next to the big toe are usually inherited. Unfortunately the only way to correct bunions is with surgery.
- Cold feet, warm heart: Although that’s actually not true, if your feet are always cold, it could be a sign of hypothyroidism. A blood test and a prescription may be able to help.
- Fungal bungle: Athletes aren’t the only ones to get athlete’s foot. This fungal infection, which affects the toes, soles and side of the feet can be a nuisance. But it’s easy to clear up with over-the-counter medication, keeping your feet clean and dry, and wearing breathable footwear.
What are your foot problems and how do you care for them? Share your tips and experiences with the Shop Talk Blog community forum!
Did you know: Our feet are getting bigger
Feet spread to support extra weight, which explains why, since 1970s, to compensate for our increased obesity, the average foot has increased two sizes. (Source)
I have callouses on my feet and I exercise a lot how do I get rid of them?
All good information. Take away ( fyi) take care of your feet.
I learned an easy tip to help remove dry rough skin from feet: half a cup of white vinegar and half a cup of listerine (get the yellow so you don’t end up with green or blue feet!) in a gallon or warm water – soak for about 10 min, and it’s easier to rub off the dead skin. I’m told both the cinegar and listerine can also help some with athletes foot. I found this mix works best when it’s been a while since I’ve used it, but even week to week can help!
I have a problem with my toe nails. The nails are thick and one is growing like a hook, poly nose looking. Don’t know what to do. Is there any otc cream I can use?
Any ways of handling hammer toes that are not surgical?
Sometimes simple devices can help diminish hammertoes if they are not rigid. See a podiatrist to help determine.
There are “appliances” you can wear to help uncross or protect the toe that is protruding you may have to wear a wider shoe to accommodate this if used.
Too much information!
Water is the key with a balance of everything we do in life.
I hope i dont get bunions like my grandma did! She was in pain all the time and cried over it, so it must be pretty painful. Sorry grams that u had to go thru this~
Much of developing bunion deformities is genetic, unfortunately. Doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get them, but at some point get your feet checked to see if you might have a tendency.
I walk on the balls of my feet that has caused calluses on my toes and on the bottoms of my feet. It seems as though the more I smooth them out my feet becomes very tender and painful to walk. My toenails and feet gets that matter build-up within a week of having a pedicure and it is frustrating and expensive having to continuously keep them up.
You’re not getting anywhere with self-treatment. Find a podiatrist in your area to help you properly.
Uneven pressure on feet causes calluses, what nature didn’t give you orthotics for shoes will help balance the pressure and help alleviate calluses.
Thanks for this info. I learned much from it. I do have a question that I hope you can help me with. For the past year on & off, on both of my feet, I get pain in different spots on each foot. On my right foot, I get a pain on the top in the middle & on the left foot, I get pain over towards the outer part of the foot, which is in the front more of the pinky toe & the 1 in front of it. Could it be from my sneakers, which R new? My feet at the heels seem to turn towards the left . Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Lee
My feet are always bad. Thick, hard cracked heels, thick cuticle and nails. I try to relieve them sometimes. It takes allot of work. We actually purchased a Dremmel to sand down my feet and get areas around my nails and stuff. It took me 3 days and they looked nice… mostly. I didn’t do it for 2 weeks and they look almost just as bad. It will be a long process, regular pedicures don’t do anything… ped egg and amope don’t really help. So I will habe tip so this every week. I should habe started doing this years ago. I am on my feet all the time – nurse. So is gonna be nice when they are normal.
As a nurse you should know that you shouldn’t be torturing yourself; find a podiatrist who should be able to help you.
I have all kins of problems with my feet. I have had 22 surgeries on my legs because I was crushed between two cars when I was 35. They told me I’d never walk again. On my 16th surgery the dr hit a nerve in my right leg which caused me to have drop foot.It causes the toes to push down but not up so flexing my foot doesn’t happen on its own which creates cramps up and spasms so bad that the only reason I can get relief is to physically grab my big toe and pull up on it. That stops it temporarily but let me tell you restless legs are the worst especially when I sit for too look or lay down. I am walking though and thats a blessing but I have calluses on bottom of feet as well as the tips of my toes. Believe me my feet only get relief when they are massaged and soaked. I have read up on Reflexology and it is true you have to take carebof your feet or set yourself up for extra pain and problems later. Stretching and working out together with massage and soak are the best results and relief that helps. Take care of your feet and they’ll take care of you.
There are lightweight braces for foot drop that may enable you to walk more evenly and possibly diminish your calluses, among other things.
The only thing I think I can help you with is the cramps. If I’m on a trip and don’t drink enough water when I go to bed I get bad cramps on my feet and legs, what really helps before bed is drinking 1 or 2 tablespoons of pickle juice and it really works. My sister used to get awful cramps every night and a pharmacist told us about the pickle juice! Hope it helps you!
Quinine is good for leg cramps. You can find Tonic water at your local supermarket in the beverage aisle. That contains quinine. It has a nice flavor and is great especially in the summer to keep hydrated.
I also have very dry feet and I go into to the spa every other week and get the deluxe package on my feet/ I tip the girls the same amount as they charge because it takes them three times as long to knock down my calluses which have decided over the years to spread out and claim more territory. I get calluses that are VERY think and they really have to work on them to knock them down. In less than a week they have reclaimed my feet and hurt like crazy.
Forget about standing for more than a couple of minutes until I can get back in. Every, yes I MEAN every joint on my feet get calluses . They are so thick and uneven that I don’t have a solid footing and often feel like I will fall. Even the very tips of my toes and all around the super thick toenails. I had to get a pair of really sharp Snips with a wide mouth to use on my toes. Toe nail clippers can’t even get a chunk of the nail from the side if they have not been soaked for at least 20 minutes.
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The toenails build up so much white gunk behind them and they compact to a very hard check when the settle in. If you can loosen them up and use a lot of patience while holding the nail on place with one hand Try ever so carefully to trim the nail. It literally feels like the nails separate from the beds. If I am to be completely forthcoming I would have to admit I have had more than a few come off with very little contact if any.
I have started getting the bunions and they just compound the issue. I realize they are hereditary, My mother and her mother both suffered with them,
You are torturing yourself!! You should see a podiatrist and get your feet into better shape.
I have the SAME, EXACT issues with my feet !! I feel tad bit less “abnormal”, now that I know there’s another woman out there suffering with this aweful problem as I have been. Thank you for sharing !
I did not know thst smoking is s big cause of neuropathy. I guess I have to quit smoking.
Smoking can cause peripheral arterial (vascular) disease, which can damage circulation in small (or large) vessels in your feet, which can affect the nerves in your feet, ergo neuropathy
Great idea!!
Ive been having a sharp pain onmy heel its mostly when i first stand up after sitting for any amount of time. But i start walking and it seems to go away its so annoying i also resently found out i have diabetes 2
could be planta fascitis. get it checked out.
It most likely is plantar fasciitis. The technical term for what you’re experiencing is post static dyskinesia, which means pain on motion after rest. You should see a podiatrist, but even more so since you are diagnosed with diabetes.
Stretch ur Achilles’ tendon, or roll ur foot on a frozen water bottle.
Tips for your toes and whole feet provides good information.
It is good to have accurate information.
Interesting information!
I have had bunion surgery on both feet but still have issues buying comfortable shoes. I also have issues with dry skin on feet & extremely thick & ugly toenails
Wow I’d like to see that before and after bunion surgery ! My grandmother has one, if it were me I would be messing with it every day . Using various tools: a potato peeler would be a good start or an exacto knife. This stuff on the body fascinates me for some reason. I for awhile was a self mutilated only to escape my circumstances ongoing. :
Very interesting
Thank you so much for this information. I’m a security officer, and I stand and walk a lot. So this is very valuable information. I’m putting it too use now.
Thanks Again.
Dorothy Anne Duveilhomme
I didn’t no that thanks for information