Obesity has been show to shorten your life! New study shows similar effect as smoking on longevity
Obesity causes kidney disease, liver disease and several types of cancer, but the most common way it kills is by causing stroke and, most importantly, heart disease. Obesity causes heart disease by elevating blood pressure, by interfering with blood cholesterol levels, and by bringing on diabetes.
BMI is a calculation that expresses a relationship between height and weight. People are considered underweight if their BMI is less than 18.5, normal weight when the BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, overweight when BMI is between 25 and 29.9, and obese when BMI is 30 or more, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
People who are moderately obese with a BMI (body mass index) in the 30 to 35 range reduced their life span by two and four years. For those who are severely obese with BMIs between 40 and 45, their life span was reduced by eight to 10 years. That's very similar to the effects of smoking.
Of course, I would think that this a is a no-brainer! The fatter you are, the more likely you will die from chronic disease. This is common sense, but for all those peolpe in complete denial in the drive through at McDonalds, here is your wake up call!
Complete article is a must read!
Encourage your friends and family to start exercising and decrease their BMI! Add a few years to their life!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
State-of-the-Art Treatments For Foot Pain
Let me start with the fact that foot pain is NEVER normal. If your feet or ankles hurt, there is usually a reason. Some common reasons may include poor shoes, infections, injuries or strained or torn tendons or ligaments. Understanding and fixing the cause of the pain, or making adjustments to alleviate the pain over time is often possible. What I want to discuss is a new treatment that allows correction of pain that is not alleviated through standard treatments.
Topaz Radiocoblation/Microdebridement treatment is a minimally invasive surgical procedure utilized to treat chronic foot pain from tendon or ligament abnormalities. For years, chronic pain to tendons or ligaments that didn't resolve with conservative treatments including rest, stretching, bracing, oral or topical medicine or injections often lead to aggressive surgical procedures with long periods of recovery.
Topaz Radiocoblation now provides a minimally invasive procedure that won't compromise the mechanical structures of the foot caused by traditional surgical techniques. Recovery is also quick and easy without the need for splints, casts, walking boots or physical therapy. In fact, a patient will usually return to shoes within 4-5 days, often with significant improvement of pain.
Topaz Radiocoblation is performed either through small incisions or through small "pin holes" (percutaneous) and often allows rapid return to regular shoegear and activities. This procedure utilizes a small wand that produces radiofrequency waves within the tendon or ligament to stimulate new blood vessel formation (neoangiogenesis), migration of growth factors, decreased inflammation, decreased pain and ligamentous or tendinous repair. This procedure is commonly performed on plantar fasciitis, peroneal tendonitis or Achilles tendonitis, and has been shown to be 80-90% effective at resolving pain from these entities.
The effectiveness of this procedure can also be improved through the addition of platelet-rich plasma injected locally. During the procedure, a small amount of blood can be drawn from the patient and concentrated to allow a large combination of proteins, growth factors, platelets and healing cells to be directly injected in treated tendons or ligaments to further speed the recovery process.
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP has been utilized for years to treat wounds and stimulate healing in areas that were previously difficult to heal. By adding this treatment to the already effective Topaz procedure, the probability of healing increases to 90% or above.
Theses results were not possible with previous treatment modalities.Although these treatments are state-of-the-art when it comes to foot pain treatment, they have been used for years by orthopedic surgeons in treating tendons elsewhere. They likewise found good success with these treatments.
So remember, your pain is not normal. You don't have to continue to suffer with foot pain, even when previous conservative treatments have failed. You now have a new technique to alleviate your pain and return you more quickly back to regular activities. You deserve to walk without pain. You deserve the opportunity to continue to enjoy life.
Topaz Radiocoblation/Microdebridement treatment is a minimally invasive surgical procedure utilized to treat chronic foot pain from tendon or ligament abnormalities. For years, chronic pain to tendons or ligaments that didn't resolve with conservative treatments including rest, stretching, bracing, oral or topical medicine or injections often lead to aggressive surgical procedures with long periods of recovery.
Topaz Radiocoblation now provides a minimally invasive procedure that won't compromise the mechanical structures of the foot caused by traditional surgical techniques. Recovery is also quick and easy without the need for splints, casts, walking boots or physical therapy. In fact, a patient will usually return to shoes within 4-5 days, often with significant improvement of pain.
Topaz Radiocoblation is performed either through small incisions or through small "pin holes" (percutaneous) and often allows rapid return to regular shoegear and activities. This procedure utilizes a small wand that produces radiofrequency waves within the tendon or ligament to stimulate new blood vessel formation (neoangiogenesis), migration of growth factors, decreased inflammation, decreased pain and ligamentous or tendinous repair. This procedure is commonly performed on plantar fasciitis, peroneal tendonitis or Achilles tendonitis, and has been shown to be 80-90% effective at resolving pain from these entities.
The effectiveness of this procedure can also be improved through the addition of platelet-rich plasma injected locally. During the procedure, a small amount of blood can be drawn from the patient and concentrated to allow a large combination of proteins, growth factors, platelets and healing cells to be directly injected in treated tendons or ligaments to further speed the recovery process.
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP has been utilized for years to treat wounds and stimulate healing in areas that were previously difficult to heal. By adding this treatment to the already effective Topaz procedure, the probability of healing increases to 90% or above.
Theses results were not possible with previous treatment modalities.Although these treatments are state-of-the-art when it comes to foot pain treatment, they have been used for years by orthopedic surgeons in treating tendons elsewhere. They likewise found good success with these treatments.
So remember, your pain is not normal. You don't have to continue to suffer with foot pain, even when previous conservative treatments have failed. You now have a new technique to alleviate your pain and return you more quickly back to regular activities. You deserve to walk without pain. You deserve the opportunity to continue to enjoy life.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
How Long till I Heal Doc?
This is the age old question isn’t it? “Doc, so how long will it take for this thing to heal?”
Where to begin on this seemingly so easy a question? There are sooooo many factors to take into consideration. This explains why you will hear doctors say “on average…” or “typically…”. We know from experience, and what we’ve read in the mountains of medical literature, when things are suppose to heal. This is the easy part. Here is a very short list of when certain body parts heal:
Bone: 6-8 weeks
Tendons: 3-4 weeks
Ligaments: 3-4 weeks
Stitches: top of foot or leg: 2 weeks, bottom of the foot: 3 weeks
Simple huh! Now for the fun part; we add the human factor to the equation and suddenly, all this simplicity flies out the window! What most patients don’t understand is why they may not fall into these criteria! There is a LAUNDRY list of the reasons why things don’t heal when they should and the number ONE reason things don’t heal when they should is that many patients (yes, I could be talking to you!) say they are listening but they are not doing what they are told to do to get them better! They cheat! Not a lot (though there is that distinguished class of patients who do!), but just a little bit! Yes, that little bit over the weeks it could take sets you back even more weeks! I have heard every excuse in the book as to why people couldn’t follow through with what I asked from them and believe me sometimes there is good reason. But all too often the reason is not all that worthy. A sampling of my favorites so far: “I walked around school in a regular shoe because the boot is ugly, but I was really good at wearing it around the house!” or “I know you told me not to, but I walked on it because I just wanted to see if it was getting better and now it hurts worse!”
Let’s keep it real. There is no guarantee that anything will heal at all much less in the intended time frame. But by not following instructions, you are just plain sabotaging your healing. We are a very small part of the healing equation. YOU MUST DO YOUR PART! Regardless of the reasons why you think you can’t, if you don’t, it will take you longer to get back to doing what you want to do in the first place! Do your part and at least give your body the chance it needs to work the miracle of healing. It really is trying and us “Docs” are really trying too!
Where to begin on this seemingly so easy a question? There are sooooo many factors to take into consideration. This explains why you will hear doctors say “on average…” or “typically…”. We know from experience, and what we’ve read in the mountains of medical literature, when things are suppose to heal. This is the easy part. Here is a very short list of when certain body parts heal:
Bone: 6-8 weeks
Tendons: 3-4 weeks
Ligaments: 3-4 weeks
Stitches: top of foot or leg: 2 weeks, bottom of the foot: 3 weeks
Simple huh! Now for the fun part; we add the human factor to the equation and suddenly, all this simplicity flies out the window! What most patients don’t understand is why they may not fall into these criteria! There is a LAUNDRY list of the reasons why things don’t heal when they should and the number ONE reason things don’t heal when they should is that many patients (yes, I could be talking to you!) say they are listening but they are not doing what they are told to do to get them better! They cheat! Not a lot (though there is that distinguished class of patients who do!), but just a little bit! Yes, that little bit over the weeks it could take sets you back even more weeks! I have heard every excuse in the book as to why people couldn’t follow through with what I asked from them and believe me sometimes there is good reason. But all too often the reason is not all that worthy. A sampling of my favorites so far: “I walked around school in a regular shoe because the boot is ugly, but I was really good at wearing it around the house!” or “I know you told me not to, but I walked on it because I just wanted to see if it was getting better and now it hurts worse!”
Let’s keep it real. There is no guarantee that anything will heal at all much less in the intended time frame. But by not following instructions, you are just plain sabotaging your healing. We are a very small part of the healing equation. YOU MUST DO YOUR PART! Regardless of the reasons why you think you can’t, if you don’t, it will take you longer to get back to doing what you want to do in the first place! Do your part and at least give your body the chance it needs to work the miracle of healing. It really is trying and us “Docs” are really trying too!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Got Toenail Fungus? Laser Can Help!
My nails are thick, yellow and seem to have something growing underneath them. I’m not a dirty person, how did this happen?
Toe nail fungus strikes across class, ethnic, age and hygiene lines. In fact, one study showed that almost 50% of people over the age of 40 have experienced some type of toenail fungus. Fungal infections are incredibly common, but are more prevalent in athletes (due to toenail trauma) and the infirmed (due to a decreased immune response).
The typical athlete’s foot fungus, called a dermatophyte, is the same fungus that infects your toenails. Fungus loves a moist, dark environment like in your shoes, between your toes. The affected toenails can have a whitish superficial infection or a yellow to brown discoloration under the toenails that seems to destroy the nail as it grows. Long standing fungal toenail look like thick, brownish-yellow mountains growing on the end of your toes. The thickness makes them painful and susceptible to a secondary bacterial infection (paronychia). This infection can be quite dangerous and has been linked to gangrene in diabetics.
How is toenail fungus diagnosed? Diagnosis of onychomycosis can only be made by a toenail biopsy. Your podiatrist can take a small piece of the leading nail and send it for a special stain that shows the fungus. A PAS stain is usually faster and more accurate than a fungal culture, because often the fungus does not grow in the laboratory. Do not assume you have onychomycosis. Psoriasis and other skin disorders as well as chronic trauma can look like fungus. Also, a melanoma under the nails can mimic fungus, but can be deadly if there is a delay in diagnosis. If you suspect you have toenail fungus, don’t delay, see your podiatrist today!
How can I prevent toenail fungus?
1. If you get regular pedicures, bring your own instruments or go to a spa that sterilizes their instruments in an autoclave (like our spa, Health Steps).
2. Clean your toenail clippers with alcohol before you use them if you do your own toenails and make sure to replace Emory boards and orange sticks regularly.
3. We also recommend you regularly clean your shoes with either antibacterial spray like Lysol or even better an antibacterial with an antifungal like Mycomist at least once a month and dry them with a hairdryer.
4. Changing socks regularly (even a few times a day if you have sweaty feet) and keeping your feet clean and dry is also helpful.
5. Keep your athletic shoes dry and also change them regularly. If you exercise regularly, buy your athletic shoes a half size larger than your street shoes so you won’t bash your toenails as your feet swell with exercise.
How is toenail fungus treated? There is a lot of misinformation out there about toenail fungus. I have never told my patients to use white iodine, Vic’s Vaporub or organic cornmeal soaks on their toes. There is no evidence that it works.
Topical therapy should have some penetration of the nail plate like Formula 3 (my favorite), organic tetre oil, Nailstat or prescription (now generic Penlac) ciclopirox nail lacquer. This should be coupled with a nail treatment plan from your podiatrist.
If this doesn’t work after several months, oral medication, like terbinafine (generic Lamisil) or itraconazole (generic Sporonox) may be needed, but these have serious side effects.
There is now a new option for treatment that includes a painless laser procedure to kill the fungus in the toenail with usually one treatment! Think about it, one 30 minute treatment by a painless laser and 6 to 9 months later, the toenails have grown out normal! Too bad we can’t figure out how to make them grow faster! The new PinPointe FootLaser has given us a much better treatment option for eradicating toenail fungus. Unfortunately most insurance companies deem it cosmetic so they don’t cover it, but if you think about all the hassles, copays and the risk of side effects; the toenail laser looks like the best option for most patients.
Remember, no matter how you treat fungal toenails, it takes at least 6 to 12 months for the toenails to grow out completely. Relapse is also common, so it’s important to play offense (treat the fungus) and defense (try to prevent the fungus) at the same time.
Toe nail fungus strikes across class, ethnic, age and hygiene lines. In fact, one study showed that almost 50% of people over the age of 40 have experienced some type of toenail fungus. Fungal infections are incredibly common, but are more prevalent in athletes (due to toenail trauma) and the infirmed (due to a decreased immune response).
The typical athlete’s foot fungus, called a dermatophyte, is the same fungus that infects your toenails. Fungus loves a moist, dark environment like in your shoes, between your toes. The affected toenails can have a whitish superficial infection or a yellow to brown discoloration under the toenails that seems to destroy the nail as it grows. Long standing fungal toenail look like thick, brownish-yellow mountains growing on the end of your toes. The thickness makes them painful and susceptible to a secondary bacterial infection (paronychia). This infection can be quite dangerous and has been linked to gangrene in diabetics.
How is toenail fungus diagnosed? Diagnosis of onychomycosis can only be made by a toenail biopsy. Your podiatrist can take a small piece of the leading nail and send it for a special stain that shows the fungus. A PAS stain is usually faster and more accurate than a fungal culture, because often the fungus does not grow in the laboratory. Do not assume you have onychomycosis. Psoriasis and other skin disorders as well as chronic trauma can look like fungus. Also, a melanoma under the nails can mimic fungus, but can be deadly if there is a delay in diagnosis. If you suspect you have toenail fungus, don’t delay, see your podiatrist today!
How can I prevent toenail fungus?
1. If you get regular pedicures, bring your own instruments or go to a spa that sterilizes their instruments in an autoclave (like our spa, Health Steps).
2. Clean your toenail clippers with alcohol before you use them if you do your own toenails and make sure to replace Emory boards and orange sticks regularly.
3. We also recommend you regularly clean your shoes with either antibacterial spray like Lysol or even better an antibacterial with an antifungal like Mycomist at least once a month and dry them with a hairdryer.
4. Changing socks regularly (even a few times a day if you have sweaty feet) and keeping your feet clean and dry is also helpful.
5. Keep your athletic shoes dry and also change them regularly. If you exercise regularly, buy your athletic shoes a half size larger than your street shoes so you won’t bash your toenails as your feet swell with exercise.
How is toenail fungus treated? There is a lot of misinformation out there about toenail fungus. I have never told my patients to use white iodine, Vic’s Vaporub or organic cornmeal soaks on their toes. There is no evidence that it works.
Topical therapy should have some penetration of the nail plate like Formula 3 (my favorite), organic tetre oil, Nailstat or prescription (now generic Penlac) ciclopirox nail lacquer. This should be coupled with a nail treatment plan from your podiatrist.
If this doesn’t work after several months, oral medication, like terbinafine (generic Lamisil) or itraconazole (generic Sporonox) may be needed, but these have serious side effects.
There is now a new option for treatment that includes a painless laser procedure to kill the fungus in the toenail with usually one treatment! Think about it, one 30 minute treatment by a painless laser and 6 to 9 months later, the toenails have grown out normal! Too bad we can’t figure out how to make them grow faster! The new PinPointe FootLaser has given us a much better treatment option for eradicating toenail fungus. Unfortunately most insurance companies deem it cosmetic so they don’t cover it, but if you think about all the hassles, copays and the risk of side effects; the toenail laser looks like the best option for most patients.
Remember, no matter how you treat fungal toenails, it takes at least 6 to 12 months for the toenails to grow out completely. Relapse is also common, so it’s important to play offense (treat the fungus) and defense (try to prevent the fungus) at the same time.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Casting a Severe Ankle Sprain Yields Better Results!
Alert the Media! A below knee cast was seen to provide better and faster results than a removable walking cast or ace bandage in severe ankle sprains! Duh! You can't take off a cast and it forces you to be compliant. Most of our patients want to be compliant but life gets in the way. Ten days in a cast rapidly improves short term outcomes......what will they report next? That physical therapy imporves long-term outcomes? Who funds these studies? Can I get some of their money to prove common sense? Just kidding......
For complete article: click here
Primary source: The LancetSource reference:Lamb SE, et al "Mechanical supports for acute, severe ankle sprain: A pragmatic, multicentre, randomized controlled trial" Lancet 2009; 373: 575-581. Additional source: The LancetSource reference:Hertel J "Immobilization for acute severe ankle sprain" Lancet 2009; 373: 524-526.
Short version:
Severe ankle sprains healed significantly more quickly with a below-knee cast or air-cell brace compared with a Bledsoe boot or a tubular compression bandage, investigators here reported.
The 10-day below-knee cast and the Aircast resulted in 8% to 9% improvement in the quality of 90-day recovery compared with a tubular compression bandage, Sarah Lamb, D.Phil., of the University of Warwick, and colleagues reported in the Feb. 14 issue of The Lancet.
The degree of improvement with the Bledsoe boot did not differ significantly from that of the tubular compression bandage, which was the least effective device.
The quality of recovery at nine months did not differ among the four devices.
"Contrary to popular clinical opinion, a period of immobilization was the most effective strategy for promoting rapid recovery," the authors said. "This was achieved best by the application of a below-knee cast. The Aircast brace was a suitable alternative to below-knee casts."
"Results for the Bledsoe boot were disappointing, especially in view of the substantial additional cost of this device," they added. "Tubular compression bandage, which is currently the most commonly used of all the supports investigated, was, consistently, the worst treatment."
Severe ankle injuries (grade II-III) can cause significant incapacitation and require three to nine months for recovery in most affected individuals, the authors noted. Systematic reviews have revealed lack of high-quality evidence to aid clinical decision-making related to management of severe ankle injuries.
For more information on the treatment of ankle sprains, click here
For complete article: click here
Primary source: The LancetSource reference:Lamb SE, et al "Mechanical supports for acute, severe ankle sprain: A pragmatic, multicentre, randomized controlled trial" Lancet 2009; 373: 575-581. Additional source: The LancetSource reference:Hertel J "Immobilization for acute severe ankle sprain" Lancet 2009; 373: 524-526.
Short version:
Severe ankle sprains healed significantly more quickly with a below-knee cast or air-cell brace compared with a Bledsoe boot or a tubular compression bandage, investigators here reported.
The 10-day below-knee cast and the Aircast resulted in 8% to 9% improvement in the quality of 90-day recovery compared with a tubular compression bandage, Sarah Lamb, D.Phil., of the University of Warwick, and colleagues reported in the Feb. 14 issue of The Lancet.
The degree of improvement with the Bledsoe boot did not differ significantly from that of the tubular compression bandage, which was the least effective device.
The quality of recovery at nine months did not differ among the four devices.
"Contrary to popular clinical opinion, a period of immobilization was the most effective strategy for promoting rapid recovery," the authors said. "This was achieved best by the application of a below-knee cast. The Aircast brace was a suitable alternative to below-knee casts."
"Results for the Bledsoe boot were disappointing, especially in view of the substantial additional cost of this device," they added. "Tubular compression bandage, which is currently the most commonly used of all the supports investigated, was, consistently, the worst treatment."
Severe ankle injuries (grade II-III) can cause significant incapacitation and require three to nine months for recovery in most affected individuals, the authors noted. Systematic reviews have revealed lack of high-quality evidence to aid clinical decision-making related to management of severe ankle injuries.
For more information on the treatment of ankle sprains, click here
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Are Crocs Good For Your Feet?
Are Crocs Good For Your Feet?
What's with these Crocs? If you are a shoe watcher like me, you may have noticed an interesting new trend. Crocs! They are a very interesting shoe that comes in almost every color and size. Everyone from toddlers to grandparents is cruising around in this flashy, foamy, footwear. You can even buy decorations for your crocs if getting them in hot pink is not enough. Though these appear very comfy, how do they rate for your feet?
There is actually a special line of Crocs for the medical profession, Crocs Rx. These are made with better material and have more support than the average Croc. They were especially designed for people with common foot ailments. They have a wide toe and firm support! These shoes are a great substitute for your slippers, garden shoes, or even your everyday shoes. They are made with deeper insole that allows for a comfortable fit with your orthotics. Crocs Rx are especially useful for diabetics because they have a wide toe and some have built-in antimicrobial properties. Crocs Rx can actually provide better support than some of your high end athletic shoes. Before you go out and buy your new pair of Crocs, make sure you are buying the Rx line. Crocs are only available through the medical community. You may find them at some pharmacies, and podiatric medical offices.
Always check with your podiatric physician to find out if this footwear is appropriate for your foot type. Like any shoe, it is not good to wear the same shoe every day. A major benefit of these shoes is its ability to fit comfortably with an orthotic insert. This is important because many people have these custom inserts but can not put them in any shoe besides their sneakers. You should be very selective with type of inserts you are putting into your shoes because no foot is created equal.
Your podiatric physician can also assist you in finding the correct orthotic device and can also make you a custom orthotic. These custom inserts are different than the over-the-counter ones. Custom inserts control the way you walk, thus aligning all the joints in the foot as well as the lower extremity. Over-the-counter inserts are just cushions and do not control your feet while you are walking. If all you need is a cushion, then the inserts found in stores might just be good enough for you.
So if you are looking for shoe that is convenient and fun, but do not want to sacrifice comfort, Crocs Rx may the new shoe for you! It's trendy and podiatrist approved!
What's with these Crocs? If you are a shoe watcher like me, you may have noticed an interesting new trend. Crocs! They are a very interesting shoe that comes in almost every color and size. Everyone from toddlers to grandparents is cruising around in this flashy, foamy, footwear. You can even buy decorations for your crocs if getting them in hot pink is not enough. Though these appear very comfy, how do they rate for your feet?
There is actually a special line of Crocs for the medical profession, Crocs Rx. These are made with better material and have more support than the average Croc. They were especially designed for people with common foot ailments. They have a wide toe and firm support! These shoes are a great substitute for your slippers, garden shoes, or even your everyday shoes. They are made with deeper insole that allows for a comfortable fit with your orthotics. Crocs Rx are especially useful for diabetics because they have a wide toe and some have built-in antimicrobial properties. Crocs Rx can actually provide better support than some of your high end athletic shoes. Before you go out and buy your new pair of Crocs, make sure you are buying the Rx line. Crocs are only available through the medical community. You may find them at some pharmacies, and podiatric medical offices.
Always check with your podiatric physician to find out if this footwear is appropriate for your foot type. Like any shoe, it is not good to wear the same shoe every day. A major benefit of these shoes is its ability to fit comfortably with an orthotic insert. This is important because many people have these custom inserts but can not put them in any shoe besides their sneakers. You should be very selective with type of inserts you are putting into your shoes because no foot is created equal.
Your podiatric physician can also assist you in finding the correct orthotic device and can also make you a custom orthotic. These custom inserts are different than the over-the-counter ones. Custom inserts control the way you walk, thus aligning all the joints in the foot as well as the lower extremity. Over-the-counter inserts are just cushions and do not control your feet while you are walking. If all you need is a cushion, then the inserts found in stores might just be good enough for you.
So if you are looking for shoe that is convenient and fun, but do not want to sacrifice comfort, Crocs Rx may the new shoe for you! It's trendy and podiatrist approved!
Got The Ball of Foot Pain Blues?
I’ve got the ball of foot pain blues! I really do! I have had them for over a year now and it is time to come out and share with you all why things like this happen and what keeps me pain- free and happy!
Pain under the ball the foot is known as “Metatarsalgia” in the podiatry world. Where your pain is under the ball the foot makes a big difference on what your problem in particular could be. Mine happens to be underneath where my second toe, next to the big toe, attaches to the ball the foot. This seems to be a pretty common area. The reasons for things hurting in this area are either because you have toes that are bent (hammertoes) which put pressure under the ball the foot (not my problem); you have a lot of flexibility in the front part of the foot (the forefoot) which puts increased pressure under this area (not my problem); you have a bunion which makes your foot unstable, putting pressure under the ball the foot were the second toe attaches (not my problem); you have a whopper callus underneath the ball of the foot (not my problem); you have a fracture from some injury (not my problem) or you've done some pounding, hopping, or other “impact” type exercises for some time (BINGO for me!). But enough about why I got pain in this area and let's move on to why you could have pain in other areas under the ball the foot. Well, it just so happens that pain in any area under the ball of the foot can be caused by any of the above-mentioned reasons! And for the most part, every reason mentioned above, other than the direct impact or other injury, is because of the type of foot you were born with!
The good news is, you can go back to having a pain-free life like I have by seeing a podiatrist (how convenient for me)! My self-treatment was a concoction of a custom-made orthotic with padding in the right places, physical therapy and toning down the impact exercises for while. Oh, and no way on the high heels! Do not wait too long to have your foot checked out or the dreaded cortisone injection or, heaven forbid, surgery may be inevitable! I haven't had to go there in over a year now and I don't expect to anytime soon. In fact, now that I think about it, I haven't been singing the blues for while! Another reason why I love my profession!
Pain under the ball the foot is known as “Metatarsalgia” in the podiatry world. Where your pain is under the ball the foot makes a big difference on what your problem in particular could be. Mine happens to be underneath where my second toe, next to the big toe, attaches to the ball the foot. This seems to be a pretty common area. The reasons for things hurting in this area are either because you have toes that are bent (hammertoes) which put pressure under the ball the foot (not my problem); you have a lot of flexibility in the front part of the foot (the forefoot) which puts increased pressure under this area (not my problem); you have a bunion which makes your foot unstable, putting pressure under the ball the foot were the second toe attaches (not my problem); you have a whopper callus underneath the ball of the foot (not my problem); you have a fracture from some injury (not my problem) or you've done some pounding, hopping, or other “impact” type exercises for some time (BINGO for me!). But enough about why I got pain in this area and let's move on to why you could have pain in other areas under the ball the foot. Well, it just so happens that pain in any area under the ball of the foot can be caused by any of the above-mentioned reasons! And for the most part, every reason mentioned above, other than the direct impact or other injury, is because of the type of foot you were born with!
The good news is, you can go back to having a pain-free life like I have by seeing a podiatrist (how convenient for me)! My self-treatment was a concoction of a custom-made orthotic with padding in the right places, physical therapy and toning down the impact exercises for while. Oh, and no way on the high heels! Do not wait too long to have your foot checked out or the dreaded cortisone injection or, heaven forbid, surgery may be inevitable! I haven't had to go there in over a year now and I don't expect to anytime soon. In fact, now that I think about it, I haven't been singing the blues for while! Another reason why I love my profession!
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