Swelling may also be a reaction to a medication or a sign of congestive heart failure, Dr. If you experience excessive swelling in the feet with no history of injury, your podiatrist can check your circulation by feeling your pulses, and doing tests to rule out thyroid problems or other issues. It’s also possible that “something is wrong with the veins or arteries, and they’re not working well enough to control swelling,” he says. While swollen feet can commonly occur after standing for long periods of time, they’re also “indicative of some injuries like stress fractures and tendon tears,” Dr. Although unknown why severe alcoholism over time can numb arms and legs, it’s possible that poisoning of the nerves and poor nutrition associated with heavy alcohol use are to blame, according to MedlinePlus, the web site of the U.S. Numbness can also be related to neurological problems, arthritis, or long-standing alcoholism, says Dr. For many undiagnosed diabetics, neuropathy is often the first sign that they have diabetes, Dr.
#Crack open a cold one meaning skin
Loss of sensation might mean the person can’t feel their skin breaking down, which can cause ulcerations, infections, and sometimes severe infections that require amputations, Dr. Neuropathy, a complication of nerves most often caused by diabetes, damages the skin and causes diabetics to lose sensation in their feet. “Diabetes is a big thing we worry about,” Dr. PAD is also usually accompanied by leg pain and cold lower legs.ĭiabetes affects circulation and blood supply, and numbness is a complication of the disease. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a narrowing of the arteries that reduces blood flow, can result in numbness. Numb feet can indicate a host of serious health problems, from poor circulation to alcoholism. If you’re not sure whether dark spots are serious or something benign, like dried blood from an injury under your toenail, see your doctor-and know that blood under the nail will grow out, while skin cancer will not, Dr. Melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, can occur as dark spots underneath the nails. “If you notice anything - a lump or bump - you should see a podiatrist.” Don’t forget to check your toenails, too. If you see “an unusual mole on the top or bottom of your foot or between toes, it should be checked out,” she says. However, skin cancer is the most common cancer seen in the foot, says Dr. You know to check your body and face for skin cancer, but you probably overlook your feet. Healing fractures requires immobilizing the foot with a boot, and possibly even surgery.
Osteoporosis or other conditions that weaken bones can up the risk of a fracture. Fractures, or small cracks in the bone, can be caused by overactivity or changes in activity, like trying a new exercise, according to the AAOS. Pain caused by a fracture will recede when resting and worsen when bearing weight. Pain that gets worse throughout the day may indicate a fracture, Dr. If you can estimate the mileage you put on shoes, then a good rule of thumb is replacing shoes every 350-500 miles, or anything over a year old, she says. “Athletic shoes don’t last very long,” she says. Andersen often sees people in her practice whose plantar fasciitis is caused by exercising in worn out shoes. Wearing high heels, or shoes that don’t have enough arch support also raises the risk. A common cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis often affects runners, and people who are overweight. With both conditions, pain will recede as the foot loosens up throughout the day. Pain in the morning, when you first get up, can point to arthritis or plantar fasciitis. Noting the time of day when the pain occurs can give you a hint as to the cause. Pain in the feet can signal a host of conditions, from fractures to plantar fasciitis (inflammation in the tissue that connects your heel bone to toes), to arthritis.
Any type of pain-new or prolonged-warrants a visit to your primary care doctor or podiatrist. “There’s no pain that should be ignored,” says Jane Andersen, D.P.M., a podiatrist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
0 kommentar(er)
