July 10, 2023
Not all foot conditions are associated with pain. Sometimes, the concern stems from the opposite - a lack of feeling. Partially losing sensation or experiencing a tingling feeling in your toes is common. What's occurring is numbness in your toes.
Numbness in the toes can be caused by various factors, ranging from temporary issues to more serious underlying conditions. Here are some common causes, prevention tips, and guidelines for seeking medical attention.
Causes of numbness in toes
Several foot and toe conditions may cause numbness in your toes. The condition may be acute or chronic, depending on the onset and severity of pain.
Peripheral neuropathy
Diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or nerve compression often cause damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves (nerves outside of the brain). When the peripheral nervous system doesn't work as intended, you can experience numbness in your hands, feet, and toes. The main symptoms include a burning or sharp sensation or a gradual onset of numbness or prickling. You may also experience pain in random non-painful scenarios, like using a blanket, putting on socks, or standing up.
Nerve compression
Nerve compressions in the foot, like tarsal tunnel syndrome or Morton's neuroma, can cause numbness in the toes.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tarsal tunnel is compressed. Imagine squeezing a casing of wires: The more pressure against the case, the more stress is put onto the fillings inside. In this case, those would be the nerves, arteries, and tendons inside. Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is caused by posterior tibial nerve compression as it travels through the tarsal tunnel.
Meanwhile, Morton's neuroma is a nerve compression that targets the area at the base of the toes. The most common site is at the ball of the foot between the third and fourth toes. As this nerve is thicker than its surroundings, it's at a greater risk of being blocked, which can cause numbness in the toes. You may feel a numbing sensation or like you have a pebble in your shoe.
Poor circulation
You may experience numbness in your toes due to reduced foot blood flow. For instance, peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when blood vessels narrow or are blocked, generally by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries.
Raynaud's
Those who have Raynaud's may experience numbness in their toes, especially in cold temperatures or times of stress. In Raynaud's disease, blood-supplying arteries narrow, which reduces blood flow to the area. The most common visible symptom of Raynaud's is your skin turning pale or blueish.
Frostbite
Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing the skin and underlying tissues. Your skin becomes cold and red, then numb, followed by hardening and paleness. Depending on the severity, you may experience frostnip (the early onset of frostbite, or superficial) or deep frostbite, which involves more severe stages of nerve damage.
Herniated disc
A herniated disk is a nerve impingement in the lower back. When the nerve is pinched, it can radiate numbness down the leg and into the toes. Disk herniation is often the result of ageing and wear and tear over time.
Injury or trauma
Acute injuries, like foot or toe injuries, can cause nerve damage and numbness. Acute injuries may include broken bones, sprains, or fractures.
Prevention for numbness in toes
Preventing numbness in your toes involves a holistic approach to healthy habits, investing in your feet, and practicing good posture. Here's what we recommend for preventing numbness in your toes:
Adopt a healthy lifestyle: Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and managing conditions like diabetes can help prevent peripheral neuropathy and circulation problems.
Supportive shoes: Invest in high-quality footwear made for your foot and its use. Wear specific shoes for the activity if you're playing sports, or work shoes, depending on your profession. Shoes should provide adequate arch support, protection, as well as cushioning.
Avoid prolonged pressure on your legs and feet: Avoid sitting or standing in the same position for excessive periods, as it can lead to nerve compression and reduced blood flow.
Practice good posture: Proper posture and ergonomics can help prevent nerve compression in the lower back. Consider investing in a standing desk or a good chair or revamping your at-home office if you need to improve your posture.
When to see a specialist for numbness in toes
Proactively seeing a doctor when you experience numbness in your toes is recommended. It's challenging to replicate getting a proper diagnosis, determining the cause, and building a treatment plan at home like you would with a doctor or foot specialist.
However, not all conditions or pain require seeing a specialist. So, how do you know when to see a doctor or foot specialist? Below are a few scenarios for numbness in the toes in which we recommend booking an appointment:
Chronic or persistent numbness: If numbness in the toes persists for an extended period, despite self-care measures, you should seek medical attention.
Progressive symptoms: If the numbness worsens over time or spreads to other areas, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional.
Pain or difficulty walking: If numbness is accompanied by severe pain or difficulty walking, there may be a more serious underlying condition requiring evaluation by a specialist.
Traumatic injury: If numbness follows a foot or toe injury, seeking medical attention to rule out nerve damage or fractures is advisable.
Associated symptoms: If numbness is accompanied by symptoms elsewhere or the symptoms begin to differ, for instance, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, or other neurological symptoms, it should be evaluated promptly.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should first visit your family doctor. Your family doctor can order the testing required to properly diagnose (or rule out) potential causes of your toe numbness.
April 3, 2023
Are your feet giving you a hard time? Foot pain can have many causes, including injury, overuse, medical conditions, and poor footwear. The underlying cause will dictate how to treat your foot pain, which can include anything from supportive footwear, to stretching exercises, to rest, to medication.
In this article, we'll go through six common causes of foot pain and how to treat them:
Plantar Fasciitis
Achilles Tendonitis
Bunions
Ingrown Toenails
Osteoarthritis
Plantar fasciitis
Causes
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia (the band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes) becomes inflamed. It is caused by inadequate arch support or overexerting the plantar fascia. For instance, poorly constructed shoes, obesity and pregnancy, high-impact activity, and long periods of standing (like if you have a standing desk or work in a standing-first occupation) cause strain on the plantar fascia.
Treatment
Plantar fasciitis treatment involves rest and recovery, which should be the first course of action. Then physical therapy, like massaging your arch and stretching and strengthening exercises, are effective. Additional treatment methods include shockwave therapy, taping, wearing a splint or boot cast, and custom orthotics designed to provide additional arch support.
Read more: See our complete guide on plantar fasciitis.
Achilles tendonitis
Causes
Achilles tendonitis is an injury to the Achilles tendon, the part of the leg that connects the calf to the heel bone. It is usually caused by overuse. Overworking the Achilles heel is done through various avenues. The most common causes include overexercising, weight gain, joint disorders like rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, bursitis, a sudden fall or past trauma, and biomechanical abnormalities.
Treatment
Within 72 hours of injury, the first form of treatment you should pursue is rest and recovery. Good R&R prevents aggravation and stops the condition from worsening at its most vulnerable. Once you remove the cause, effective treatment methods include shockwave therapy, strengthening and stretching exercises (see our how-to), custom orthotics, and anti-inflammatories.
Read more: See our complete guide on Achilles tendonitis.
Bunions
Causes
Bunions are a type of joint deformity where the base of the big toe shifts outwards. There is a combination of factors that can either cause, directly or indirectly, bunions. Genetics (namely foot shape or joint-related), tight footwear or high heels, flat arches, and activities that stress the toe base (like running or ballet) can lead to bunions.
Treatment
Treatment options include footwear modification, anti-inflammatories, bunion splints, bunion aligners, taping, shoe stretching, orthotics, shockwave therapy, and surgery. Note that bunions are progressive, meaning non-invasive treatment focuses on preservation rather than reversing damage already done. Surgery is an option if you'd like to remove the bunion.
Read more: See our complete guide on bunions.
Ingrown toenails
Causes
Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of the toenail grow into the skin, causing pain and swelling. Ingrown toenails can be caused by:
Cutting the nail too short or too far down along the edges
Poorly fitted shoes.
Injury to the nail bed.
A genetic disposition to ingrown toenails.
Treatment
In some cases, you can treat ingrown toenails at home; otherwise a foot specialist can treat the condition. To treat your ingrown toenail at home, soak your foot daily in warm water with Epson salts, massage the skin at the edges of the nail, wear shoes with a wide toe box, and let the toenail grow out. When it does, cut the nail straight across. Never try to cut out your own ingrown toenail as this can lead to infection.
If the toenail doesn't improve within 3–5 days, it's time to call the foot specialist. A foot specialist can safely treat ingrown toenails at any stage. In-office ingrown toenail treatment includes antibiotics, softening the skin around the nail, removing or cutting open the area to drain pus, Onyfix nail correction system, partial or complete nail avulsion, phenol, or surgery.
Read more: See our complete guide on ingrown toenails.
Osteoarthritis
Causes
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by wear-and-tear of the cartilage between the joints. Getting old is the most common cause of osteoarthritis. Our joints get more mileage as we age and eventually wear down. Low bone density (for instance, in post-menopausal women) can also lead to osteoporosis, contributing to osteoarthritis (it would be like having defective brake pads). Additionally, unhealed trauma or injury, weakened deconditioned muscles, sudden weight gain, and biomechanical abnormalities like hammer toes or bunions can all lead to osteoarthritis.
Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis focuses on management, as it's a progressive condition. Physiotherapy, stretching, and light exercise to strengthen the muscles in the lower body is vital for managing osteoarthritis symptoms and preventing the condition from worsening. This can be done in conjunction with proper footwear and medication like anti-inflammatories. Custom orthotics can also help by effectively rebalance the weight distribution across your feet while adding support.
Read more: See our complete guide on osteoarthritis.
March 2, 2023
Many different foot issues fall under the "foot injuries" umbrella.
From sprains and broken bones that leave you bedridden to overuse injuries that make your days more painful, it would take a full day to discuss every foot injury in detail!
That's why we're aiming to give this article a positive spin by switching the focus to treatment and how a chiropodist can help you. But first, it's important to discern between the two types of injuries and how the type you have will determine your approach to treatment.
Today's blog will discuss the following:
What are some common foot injuries?
Examples of overuse injuries
Examples of acute injuries
How do chiropodists treat and prevent foot injuries?
What Are Some Common Foot Injuries?
When discussing foot injury treatment, it's important to distinguish the cause of the injury and whether or not sudden, acute pain is present.
Some injuries cause everyday pain flair-ups that can be a real nuisance but aren't enough to make you feel like you must go to the hospital. These are "overuse" injuries because they stem from straining your muscles and joints and withstanding repetitive, mild trauma.
These injuries arise when we exert intense physical activity too quickly without proper stretching, exercising and footwear. However, you don't have to be an athlete to succumb to an overuse injury; you can also develop one due to wearing ill-fitting, unsupportive shoes while working on your feet all day.
On the other hand, some injuries are sudden and result from a fall or misstep. They can also result from the blunt impact of an object falling on your foot. These are often more debilitating in the days that follow the injury.
Examples of Overuse / "Everyday" Foot Injuries
Achilles Tendonitis: Occurs due to Achilles tendon inflammation (connects your heel and calf along the back of the foot).
Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia). Often caused by overuse, poor footwear choices and repeated walking on hard surfaces.
Morton's Neuroma: Results from the irritation and thickening of the tissues surrounding the nerves that lead to your toes. Patients notice pain in the ball of the foot.
Shin splints: Pain along the shin bone caused by overworking muscles, tendons and bone tissues, commonly found in athletes and dancers.
Heel spurs: A calcium deposit that causes a bony protrusion underneath the heel bone. They may be painless or cause sporadic heel pain.
Capsulitis (big toe or second toe): Joint inflammation in the area where the toe's base meets the foot's ball.
Stress Fractures: Tiny cracks in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot due to overuse and playing sports with excessive jumping and running.
Examples of Sudden (Acute) Foot Injuries
Ankle sprains
Broken bones in the foot due to blunt force trauma
Bruises(contusions)
Puncture wounds
Ruptured tendons
How Do Chiropodists Treat and Prevent Foot Injuries?
Overuse / Everyday Injuries Treatment and Prevention
Chiropodists are known for successfully treating and preventing overuse injuries. They pride themselves on giving patients the tools to manage pain and improve their quality of life. Some of the most effective services include:
Custom orthotic fittings
Recommending exercises and stretches
Shockwave therapy
Footwear modification guidance
Periodic foot assessments
Custom Orthotic Fittings
These inserts fit into virtually all of your footwear, help stabilize your feet and ankles, and take the stress off the weight-bearing areas of the feet. They are one of the most multi-purposeful medical devices for foot injury recovery and can aid almost every foot condition. The goal is to use your foot as the blueprint to create the perfect pair of orthotics that keep your foot in the ideal position for healing and pain management.
Recommending Exercises and Stretches for Target Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments and Joints
Feet First Clinic's Pinterest Board has several options for stretches that help with plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, ankle strengthening, and much more. These routines are also tools you can use to strengthen your foot, protecting you from a future overuse or sudden injury. These stretches and exercises also fit nicely into your foot care regimen!
Shockwave Therapy
This modern and non-invasive therapy treats soft tissue injuries like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, Morton's neuroma and muscle strain. After thorough preparation, a chiropodist uses an applicator to deliver energy pulses to the affected areas. It is a quick, pain-free treatment lasting only 5-20 minutes.
Footwear Modification Guidance
Chiropodists have a keen sense of what shoes to recommend depending on individual needs. A shoe fitting at a foot clinic keeps you from developing an overuse injury and can help in the rehabilitation phase of a more severe injury.
Periodic Foot Assessments
A foot assessment is like a full body physical that focuses solely on your feet. Likewise, you will need updates on how your overuse or acute injury is recovering and if your progress is continuing along nicely. For those without glaring foot issues, a foot assessment is recommended once per year. If you have a healing injury, you should see your chiropodist for an assessment every six months or less, depending on your situation.
Sudden Foot Injuries Treatment and Prevention
Now let's get into the more debilitating foot injuries.
First and foremost, you shouldn't immediately see your chiropodist after experiencing a blunt form trauma injury, sudden ankle sprain or any other type of acutely painful accident. On the day you sustain such an injury (and the immediate days that follow), you may have to get MRIs or X-ray images in addition to crutches or a physical exam from a physician. You should then practice the R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method from home while you take it easy and avoid walking.
However, chiropodists can help immensely with injury recovery after the acute pain phase passes. Chiropody treatment for ankle injuries like sprains or broken bones in the foot typically occurs during rehabilitation or when the patient has begun healing and needs to regain control of their motion via therapeutic intervention.
To learn what treatment methods are available, you can simply revert to our list for overuse injuries. You can also use the preventative measures we've already mentioned, but we have a few additional tips worth noting:
Reduce your chances of ankle sprains by focusing on stretches that improve ankle flexibility and strength.
Watch your step when walking and playing sports to avoid breaking a bone or sustaining a sprain.
Wear shoes that offer extra ankle support to avoid sprains.
To prevent accidents at home, wear shoes or orthopaedic slippers indoors and take your time walking while tired or impaired for any reason.
February 9, 2023
Toe pain can be mysterious. There are numerous causes, and sometimes you can live your life assuming you know why it's there, only to be completely wrong! Case in point: a lesser-known toe condition called capsulitis.
Capsulitis is an overuse injury that mainly targets the second toe and the surrounding area. Today we'll thoroughly dive into the topic by addressing the following:
What is capsulitis?
Symptoms of capsulitis
Causes of capsulitis
Treatment and prevention
Complications
What is Capsulitis?
Capsulitis, also known as frozen toe, hallux rigidus or turf toe, is a foot condition characterized by joint inflammation in the area where the base of the toe meets the ball of the foot. The specific area affected is called a "capsule" and is technically a dense ligament structure found at the base of the joint. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, capsulitis in the feet usually targets the second toe. However, it can sometimes affect the big toe and the third and fourth toes. Another technical term for capsulitis in the toe is metatarsophalangeal synovitis (MTP joint pain).
Healthline also notes that capsulitis is often confused with Morton's Neuroma since pain radiates toward the ball of the foot in both conditions. However, Morton's Neuroma results from compressed nerves and capsulitis from inflammation. A chiropodist can help you tell the difference between the two conditions.
Symptoms of Capsulitis
Capsulitis often worsens as time progresses. This means that symptoms can vary depending on the stages of development. It's important to be in tune with your foot health and seek help if you notice the following:
Pain in the ball of the foot.
A persistent feeling that something is "bunched up" in your shoe or the feeling that you're walking on a pebble or marble.
Swelling in the base of the affected toe.
Discomfort while wearing shoes.
Pain that worsens when you're barefoot.
Crossover toe: as degradation of the ligament progresses, the joint in the second toe can fail to stabilize (stay in the right position). This can cause your second toe to move towards the big toe and lay on top of it.
What are Some Causes of Capsulitis?
Capsulitis is technically an overuse injury that targets the ball of the foot. And as with many foot conditions, one issue can often be a risk factor in developing another.
The following may lead to capsulitis development:
There is a connection between severe bunions and capsulitis. Other prominent foot deformities like hammertoes can also be a risk factor. Both conditions can lead to too much pressure on the ball of the foot and subsequent inflammation.
Abnormal foot mechanics can put you at risk. It's important to note that this is not the same as a severe foot deformity. It simply means any mild structural factors that lead to excessive weight-bearing pressure in the ball of the foot underneath the toe.
If your second toe is longer than your big toe, you may experience capsulitis.
An unstable foot arch, like high arches and flat feet, can contribute to capsulitis.
Excessive bending of the toes. This can happen if you wear poorly designed shoes or high heels.
Capsulitis Treatment and Prevention
It's relatively easy to tackle early-stage toe capsulitis. You can purchase many items from a pharmacy, general store or foot clinic that can relieve the pain. A chiropodist can also use their unique expertise to ensure the condition improves.
Here are some effective treatment methods:
Ice or heat packs. Compression can help reduce swelling, and applying heat or ice (while resting with your foot elevated) can help with pain management.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.
Supportive footwear with proper arch support and strong soles. Rocker bottom-sole shoes can be especially helpful as they offset pressure away from the ball of your foot.
Custom orthotics can lessen excessive pressure on the weight-bearing foot areas.
Toe taping can align the second toe and prevent crossover toe.
Complications
Unfortunately, if crossover toe is present, it usually means that the second toe will never revert to its natural position without intervention. If this is the case, you may need surgery from a foot and ankle surgeon.
February 6, 2023
Age is just a number, but age starts to catch up with us at a certain point. As much as we want aging to slow, getting older comes with its fair share of aches and pains.
Few people age the same; it is a complex process. Environment, genetics, exercise, and many other factors mould who we become as we enter our elderly years. This also applies our feet. As we age, our feet become more susceptible to various conditions such as arthritis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, foot injuries and chronic pain.
Our latest blog is all about common foot conditions in the elderly and how to treat them.
What happens to our feet as we age?
Did you know that when you turn 70, you'll be 25,550 days old? That helps put the body's remarkable ability to withstand constant wear and tear into perspective.
Beyond just a number, there are also physiological changes that occur as we age. Your feet may get bigger. Your feet may widen. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments also wear down, putting you at greater risk of certain foot conditions.
You may notice you experience foot pain and other problems more often. Any number of the following may happen:
Weakness
Frailty
Exhaustion
Gait alteration
Balance difficulties
Increased swaying while walking
Decreased walking
Walking speed
As we age, it's essential to check how you feel regularly. A bonus would be to have your feet checked regularly. Our team of expert foot specialists can help you manage acute and chronic conditions that affect the toes, feet, and ankles.
Most common foot conditions in the elderly
Foot conditions amongst the elderly may include bone injuries, toenail damage, foot deformities, and muscle and tendon damage. It's important to note that most of these conditions are not specific to the elderly, but age contributes to increased risk.
Below we break down the following common foot conditions in the elderly and how to treat them:
Bunions
Osteoarthritis
Fat Pad Atrophy
Thickened or Discoloured Toenails
Gout
Plantar Fasciitis
Stress Fractures
1. Bunions
What are bunions?
A bunion is a deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint ("MTP" joint for short). The first MTP is the joint of the big toe. (Essentially, the big toe's "knuckle.) Damage to this joint can cause bone misalignment over time. Eventually, the bone shifts and protrudes at the base of the big toe. Bunions affect approximately one quarter to one third of adults, and women experience the foot condition more often than men.
As we age, bunions worsen. Although there is no "cure" for a progressive foot deformity, you can lessen the effects and pain associated with bunions through several habitual changes.
How can I treat bunions?
You can choose either invasive treatment or non-invasive bunion treatment. In most cases, you can manage bunions with non-invasive treatments, though surgery is the only way to remove the bump altogether.
Footwear modification: Avoid tight shoes that squeeze the toes and ditch your high heels. You may also find that orthopedic shoes that stretch or come in wide widths effectively accommodate your bunion in your footwear. Shoe stretching is also an effective method for changing the structure of your current footwear.
Anti-inflammatories: Specific medication like NSAIDs or ibuprofen reduces joint inflammation and relieves pain.
Splints/aligners: Medical-grade bunion splints and bunion aligners help stabilize the joint. You can choose from medical-grade plastics or a toe sleeve based on your preferred rigidity.
Taping: A specialist tapes the joint to keep the big toe in place, prevent further misalignment, and manage pain and inflammation.
Supportive insoles or custom orthotics: Supporting your arches and correcting poor biomechanics can reduce pressure and strain on the first MTP joint.
Bunion exercises: Basic exercises to strengthen foot muscles can better support and stabilize the joint, thus decreasing pain over time.
The treatments you see above are all available at Feet First Clinic.
2. Osteoarthritis
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is not only the most common variant of arthritis; it is also one of the most common foot conditions in the elderly. Osteoarthritis is the "wear-and-tear" arthritis that causes degeneration of the cartilage in our joints. Reduced cartilage in our joints causes pain and can lead to other foot conditions like bone spurs. Your toes are most susceptible to osteoarthritis.
Age plays a significant role in developing osteoarthritis. Wear and tear of our joints accumulate over time. Also, post-menopausal women risk developing osteoarthritis through osteoporosis (low bone density).
How can I treat osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, meaning what's done cannot reverse. The cartilage in your joints doesn't re-grow, so treatment aims to slow the effects of osteoarthritis and reduce pain. Effective treatment includes a combination of the following:
Active rehabilitation: Physiotherapy, massage, and exercise all help reduce the effects of osteoarthritis by promoting solid muscles. Stronger and more balanced muscles and feet reduce the strain on affected areas where you may have osteoarthritis.
Medication: Anti-inflammatories can help control inflammation.
Proper footwear: Specialized shoes can accommodate deformities of osteoarthritis (like bunions or hallux rigidus). The right shoes or boots can support your feet, provide balance, and offer cushion.
Custom orthotics: Orthotics can be customized to add or reduce your reliance on certain parts of your feet. Controlling the impact on affected joints can help prevent further joint damage by distributing the impact and weight elsewhere.
Limit awkward movements: If you find your joints are sore after a particular activity, consider reducing, modifying, or stopping the activity. For instance, if lunges hurt your foot, consider finding a replacement exercise.
Surgery: If the joint is damaged extensively, a doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery and removing part of a bony outgrowth can be effective if the sheer volume of bone buildup is the culprit.
If you experience osteoarthritis and are looking for orthotics, a gait analysis, or proper footwear, visit Feet First Clinic for solutions.
3. Fat pad atrophy
What is fat pad atrophy?
The heel fat pad is a cushion to absorb shock and distribute plantar force on impact. As we age, the heel fat pad gets atrophies and gets thinner. This can put you at a greater risk of heel injuries and other foot conditions. The increased pressure on the heel can cause you to overcompensate with other parts of your body, and weight distribution becomes unevenly distributed.
How can I treat fat pad atrophy?
You should reduce the pressure on your heel if you suffer from fat pad atrophy. Custom orthotics are effective as the personalized insoles provide padding and support and help distribute weight across the complex network of foot muscles. Be sure to also wear shoes with lots of padding and cushioning, like the ASICS Gel-Nimbus.
4. Thickened or Discoloured Toenails
What are thick or discoloured toenails?
Thick toenails and discoloured toenails are a byproduct of aging and are one of the most common foot conditions in the elderly.
As we get older, toenail growth declines. As such, nail cells begin to accumulate at a faster rate than nail growth. The accumulation of onychocytes (nail cells) causes thickened toenails. Alternatively, reduced circulation or acute trauma can cause thickened toenails.
Discoloured toenails, on the other hand, indicate damage to the nail or nail bed. Acute trauma to the nail causes discolouration, but so does reduced circulation. At an older age, we're at a greater risk of diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. Both diabetes and peripheral vascular disease cause reduced circulation in our feet and discoloured toenails.
How can I treat thick or discoloured toenails?
Toenail treatment for thickening and discolouration varies. To properly diagnose your feet and nails, book an appointment with a specialist at Feet First Clinic. Our nail care services involve proper trimming and filing of the toenails, addressing any pain or discomfort, and educating patients on proper hygiene and care.
For more information, visit our nail care and treatment page.
5. Gout
What is gout?
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis targeting the foot's joints. You may experience intermittent bouts of severe pain, including inflammation and hypersensitivity. During these episodes, any kind of activity becomes challenging, leaving you less mobile.
The prevalence of gout increases in older people. Elderly people are susceptible to gout for a few reasons: Renal function declines with age, there can be dietary changes, you may experience sudden weight gain, and certain medications for age-related conditions have indirect side effects that may lead to gout (i.e.: water pills, blood pressure medication).
How can I treat gout?
Before any treatment, the first step is to see a family doctor and a rheumatologist. Once diagnosed, you may be prescribed the following treatments, all of which aim to prevent future attacks, reduce pain, and improve quality of life:
Change your diet: Ditch food containing excessive purines. Avoid foods like red meat, certain types of seafood like sardines and mussels, alcohol, high fructose beverages, and yeast. Diet also impacts your weight. Maintaining a healthy and consistent diet can help reduce sudden weight gain and keep inflammation at bay.
NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce joint inflammation. Alternatively, corticosteroids are an option if one doesn't react to NSAIDs.
Stay or become active: Light-strengthening exercises, relaxing physical activity, and physiotherapy can improve quality of life and mobility in people with gout. Keeping your muscles strong also makes them less susceptible to inflammation build-up, which can trigger gout attacks.
Supportive footwear: Proper footwear can help you deal with any pain associated with gout as it reduces the impact on the joints.
6. Plantar fasciitis
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition of the heel. The band of tissue on the underside of the foot gets inflamed and causes pain. Often, plantar fasciitis develops gradually over time. Changes in our body as we age can make this condition more common in the elderly.
How can I treat plantar fasciitis?
With proper care and treatment, most cases of plantar fasciitis heal with time. A foot specialist can guide you through the healing process and provide options for preventing it from recurring in the future.
There are several treatment methods available for plantar fasciitis.
Rest: Take a break, and let your heel recover by staying off your feet.
Supportive footwear: Wearing supportive footwear with strong arch support and a good heel counter is essential for managing and even preventing plantar fasciitis. Stability shoes are particularly helpful. Check out this article for our top recommended shoes for plantar fasciitis.
Rolling: Gently massage your heel using a tennis ball or frozen water bottle under the foot. Rolling helps massage and relieve the plantar fascia and encourages faster recovery.
Add stretching and strengthening exercises to your routine.
Shockwave therapy: Shockwave therapy delivers sound wave pulses to the injured fascia. This triggers your body's the healing process, making for a natural recovery. Shockwave therapy is extremely effective for cases of plantar fasciitis persisting more than 6 months.
Taping: Taping the heel engages other muscles and tendons of the foot, reducing the load on the plantar fascia.
Wear a splint: A splint helps keep your foot stable while you sleep.
Supportive Insoles or Custom Orthotics: A good supportive insole, like Superfeet Green, is tried, tested and true for helping with plantar fasciitis. If that doesn't work, or if there are biomechanical factors contributing to your plantar fasciitis, you can look into custom orthotics.
7. Stress fractures
What are stress fractures?
Stress fractures are micro-breaks of bones are another common foot condition in the elderly. When we age, bone growth slows, losing more bone than we generate. Our bone density also reduces. If your bone density drops too much, you develop osteoporosis. Weaker bones put the elderly at greater risk of stress fractures, whether acute, like when you fall or by too much repetition, like walking.
How can I treat a stress fracture?
The RICE method is critical to treating a stress fracture. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Untreated stress fractures can lead to bone shift, permanently altering the foot's biomechanics.
December 8, 2022
Have you ever felt a prickling, tingling, or pins and needles sensation in your feet? You may be experiencing numbness in your toes. At times, it may even feel like your foot has fallen asleep, which occurs after keeping your foot in the same position for an extended duration.
What's happening in your foot and toes when they go numb? The underlying sensation is likely a result of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a catch-all term for more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy. It refers to damage to the nervous system, which hinders the network of nerves that relays information to your brain.
There are various reasons why you experience numbness in your feet or your toes. Possible causes may include poor blood circulation or a byproduct of diabetes. The sensation may be numb; in other cases, you may not feel anything since your feet or toes lack feeling.
In this article, we outline five potential causes for why your feet or toes may go numb.
Frostbite/Frostnip
It's no secret that Canada experiences cold winters. Low temperatures and high humidity can make keeping your feet warm and dry difficult. That's why frostnip, and its successor, frostbite, are possible during Canada's winter months.
There are various degrees of skin and tissue damage due to cold. They are:
Frostnip is a mild cold exposure injury that doesn't cause permanent skin damage. A slight numbing sensation may occur during the frostnip stage and minor (but temporary) nerve damage. Frostnip should subside naturally by escaping the cold and returning to warmer temperatures.
Superficial frostbite is the second stage of cold damage to your toes. Your skin may feel warm, and you likely experience a more intense numbing or tingling sensation.
Deep frostbite is the third stage and most severe form of cold damage. You may experience total numbness and loss of sensation in your toes. The toe muscles and joints may no longer work, and you're at risk of permanently damaging the skin and nerves in your toes. Blisters form 24-48 hours after exposure. Afterwards, the area may turn black and harden as the tissue dies.
It's critical to recognize signs early. If you're outside for extended periods and feel your feet and toes are cold, it's time to head inside. Once you reach the numbing and tingling sensation, the damage begins to occur and will only worsen if not addressed. With minor forms of frostnip, the feeling will return to your feet and toes with no long-term effects. With frostbite, you risk permanent and irreversible damage.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a severe condition characterized by high blood sugar levels that can lead to blood flow and nerve issues. 3.4 million Canadians, or roughly 8.1% of the population, live with diabetes as of 2017–2018.
Regarding the foot, diabetes can complicate the nerves and blood vessels in two ways:
Diabetic neuropathy, a common long-term complication of Type-2 diabetes, causes nerve damage, leading to loss of sensation in the legs, feet and toes. A lack or loss of feeling in your feet and toes is dangerous as it can mask injuries, cuts, or other conditions.
In peripheral vascular disease, sugar accumulates in the bloodstream and can cause poor blood circulation. Blood vessels can narrow, block, and spasm due to PVD.
The best action for diabetes is to monitor your symptoms consistently. Further, a foot specialist can check for adequate circulation, signs of neuropathy, and risk for foot ulcers.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Both rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid vasculitis can cause numbing and tingling in your feet and toes. RA, an autoimmune disease where your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your body, can affect the nerves in your feet through inflammation and swelling.
Similarly, rheumatoid vasculitis targets the blood vessels in the feet, inhibiting their ability to transport blood. Reduced circulation can cause your feet and toes to be numb, creating a tingling sensation. Typically, one develops rheumatoid vasculitis after having RA for some time.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is an ankle nerve condition that has downstream effects on the feet and toes. Analogous to carpal tunnel syndrome in our hands, tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when a nerve becomes compressed—specifically, the posterior tibial nerve inside the ankle.
The tarsal tunnel itself is a narrow space next to the ankle bones. It's covered with thick ligaments and contains veins, arteries, tendons, and nerves (including the tibial nerve). When the tunnel becomes compressed, so does everything inside. Compression reduces blood circulation and puts pressure on the nerves that connect your feet and toes with the rest of your body.
The exact cause of tarsal tunnel syndrome can be tricky. In many cases, it's a variety of factors, including:
Flat feet
Bone spurs and cysts in the ankle
Varicose veins
Inflammation
Osteoarthritis
Tight shoes
Acute ankle injuries
Tarsal tunnel syndrome symptoms include sharp, shooting pain, pins and needles, or a burning sensation on the inside of your foot, close to where your foot meets your ankle. The numbness may radiate to the toes as well.
Morton's neuroma
You may suffer from Morton's neuroma if you've ever felt a sensation akin to having a pebble stuck in your shoe. This type of neuroma targets the base of the third and fourth toes. When the muscles and tendons become inflamed, the nerve becomes increasingly compressed, inhibiting its function.
You may develop Morton's neuroma with poor biomechanics - namely, overpronation (when your foot rolls too far inwards when walking or running). Biomechanical abnormalities unevenly distribute weight in your feet, adding too much (and too little stress) to certain parts of the foot. Over time, overpronation adds stress to the ball of the foot, causing it to thicken and become inflamed. As such, the foot's nerves can become compressed.
High heels (which promote poor biomechanics) are also a common contributing factor to Morton's neuroma.
The best course of action to treat Morton's neuroma is for a foot specialist to fit you with proper footwear or custom foot orthotics. Fixing your footwear and correcting your biomechanics will help distribute weight and stress in your feet more evenly.
Other causes of numb feet or toes
You may experience numb feet or toes for reasons other than those outlined above. For instance, your feet may fall asleep when you are asleep, and as a result, your feet may feel numb upon waking up. Being sedentary and keeping your feet and toes in the same position for extended periods may also create a numbing or tingling sensation.
Other, more uncommon causes may include:
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a group of conditions that can cause nerve damage. It's genetic, and the mutations in the genes affect the nerves in your feet and the protective coating of your nerves, which can inhibit signals between your feet and brain.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder where your immune system attacks your body's nerves. You may experience weakness, tingling, and numbness when it affects your feet.
Vasculitis describes inflammation of blood vessels. Most types of vasculitis are rare. Vasculitis can cause a numb sensation in the feet due to a thickening blood vessel wall. As such, the thickening of the vessels can restrict blood flow to the limbs.
When in doubt, if you ever feel numb or have a tingling sensation in your feet for abnormal or irregular reasons, contact a professional for a proper diagnosis.
