8 symptoms that indicate you need to see a podiatrist

With the summer holidays here in Adelaide, we’ve all come out of hibernation and heading outdoors for sunshine. If you’ve had any niggling problems with your feet, you might notice them now that you’re more active.

Any discomfort in your feet should never be ignored. You may need a little manual therapy or an assessment of your alignment and gait to sort out aches or pain. Pain can also be an indication of an underlying problem. The sooner you get your feet checked, the better the long-term health of your feet.

7 things your feet can tell you about your overall health and wellbeing

Here are eight symptoms that indicate you need to see a podiatrist

1. Constant heel pain

Heel pain in adults is often a result of inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes, which is called plantar fasciitis. In children, its often due to Severs disease which is a common problem in children between 7-14 years of age. Severs disease is not actually a disease, it’s a painful condition of the heels associated with growing pains.

Other reasons for heel pain are heel spurs, plantar heel bursitis, heel bruise, Achilles tendinitis, osteoarthritis, nerve impingement and referred pain.

2. Recurring ingrown toenails

Ingrown toenails can recur and mostly on the big toe. There are various reasons your toenail can continuously want to grow inwards including the way you cut your nails and ill-fitting shoes that aggravate the toenail.

3. Recurring tinea

Athlete’s Foot is caused by tinea, a fungus caught from direct contact with surfaces contaminated by the fungus. These include public showers, around swimming pools, in change rooms floors and anywhere else that provides a warm and moist environment for the fungus to grow. If you’re experiencing recurring fungal infections, there could be an underlying reason. Pop into the clinic and we’ll assess your feet to help you uncover the root cause.

4. Aching ankles, legs and hips

Aching feet, legs and hips can be an indication that your feet are misaligned, that your arches are flattening, or that you’re wearing incorrectly fitting footwear. If the feet are working harder to hold you upright, this adds strain to your ankles, legs and hips.

5. Calluses and corns

The feet are meant to walk in alignment with the rest of the body and support your weight evenly. However, if the foot is out of balance slightly, additional friction or pressure will cause corns and calluses. If the foot structure is out of alignment or there is a biomechanical problem, this could lead to longer term problems.

6. Bunions

Bunions https://sanderspodiatry.com.au/blog/2020/05/27/bunions-causes-symptoms-and-treatment/  are not uncommon and affect 23% of the population, which increases in people over 65 years. Depending on the formation and severity of the bunion, they can be quite painful, limit movement and discourage you from your normal activities such as walking and running.

7. Stiff big toe

If you’re feeling stiffness in your big toe, you may have Hallux Limitus or Hallux Rigidus. Hallux Limitus is stiffness in the big toe. As the condition progresses, bone spurs and arthritis can develop in the toe and cause it to become rigid and inflamed, with very limited movement. This condition is called Hallux Rigidus, or osteoarthritis of the big toe.

8. Diabetes symptoms

Common problems of diabetes are peripheral neuropathy which is essentially nerve damage, or peripheral vascular disease which is poor circulation.

Signs and symptoms of feet problems from diabetes include a tingling sensation in the feet (pins and needles), numbness in feet or toes, a burning sensation, sharp pains in your legs after walking, changes to feet colour such as redder skin, the feet feel cold and wounds are slow to heal.

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Pop into a Sanders Podiatry clinic for a foot check up

Your feet walk millions of steps throughout your lifetime. Keep them in healthy shape for the long term by getting some regular podiatry check-ups. If you have any pain or discomfort in your feet, it’s best not to ignore it as the feet are talking to you! Pop into the clinic and see one of our family friendly podiatrists who will help to diagnose the discomfort and get your back on your feet sooner than later. Make an appointment at one of our clinics below.

Sander Podiatry Adelaide – 08 8379 1456  (Greenhill Podiatry)

Sander Podiatry Stirling – 08 8339 3344

Sander Podiatry Mount Barker –  08 8370 1590