5 Most Common Foot Problems

5 Most Common Foot Problems

Feet are complex. They have 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. That’s a lot of things where problems can pop up. Feet can have circulation problems, infections (from bacteria, viruses, or fungi), muscle problems, nerve problems, skin issues, and cancer. Feet are also one of the most injured parts of the body.

It’s no wonder feet need their own medical specialty. With the multitude of problems that can occur in your feet, we thought you’d be interested in what the 5 Most Common Foot Problems might be.

1. Plantar Fasciitis

Symptoms:

• Sharp, stabbing pain in the heel
• Pain with your first steps out of bed in the morning
• Pain after sitting or standing for a long period of time
• Pain improves after a few steps, but slowly worsens throughout the day

Plantar fasciitis is frequently misdiagnosed, instead of:

• Bursitis in the heel
• Stress fracture of the heel bone
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome

2. Morton’s Neuroma

Symptoms:

• Sharp, shooting, and/or burning pain in the ball of the foot that can extend to the toes
• Numbness or tingling in your toes
• Tingling between the 2^nd and 3^rd OR 3^rd and 4^th toes
• Pain increases when wearing shoes that press against the area

Morton’s neuroma is frequently misdiagnosed, instead of:

• Stress fracture of metatarsal
• Subluxed (misaligned) or dislocated joint
• Inflammation of the joint capsule 

3. Athlete’s Foot

Symptoms:

• Red, itchy skin that is most bothersome right after you take off your shoes and socks
• Blisters that ooze and get crusty
• Dryness and scaling on the bottom and sides of your feet
• Burning and/or stinging pain at the affected area

These symptoms can be easily confused with other skin conditions like eczema or even just dry skin.  To avoid a serious infection it is important to correctly diagnose this common problem in the feet.

4. Arthritis

• Deep and achy or sharp and stabbing pain in one or more toes
• Stiffness in the toe(s) that can eventually lead to pain with every step
• Swelling, clicking, and popping at the toe(s)
• Change in appearance of toe(s)

Arthritis is frequently misdiagnosed, instead of:

• Stress fracture of metatarsal
• Subluxed (misaligned) or dislocated joint
• Gout
• Lyme disease 

5. Plantar Warts

• Pain or tenderness in a particular area while walking or standing
• Fleshy, rough, grainy growth on the bottom of your foot
• Thickened skin over a particular well defined spot
• Black or reddish pinpoint marks within the area of pain

Plantar warts is frequently misdiagnosed, instead of:

• Skin cancer
• Porokeratosis (skin cyst)
• Eccrine poroma (clogged sweat gland) 

What should you do if you have any of these symptoms?

Dr. David Schlam at Hollowbrook Foot Specialists is a podiatrist in Wappingers Falls. Dr. Schlam diagnoses and treats these 5 Most Common Foot Problems. He sees these problems everyday and will be able to treat you for these or any foot or ankle problem.  Click here to schedule your appointment or call (845) 298 – 9074 today.

By: David Schlam