Unhappy Feet

No, this is not a parody of the popular cartoon children's movie with the tap dancing penguins. It actually has more to do with the fact that fall sports are kicking off - literally, and as a former soccer player myself, we don't always listen to what are feet are telling us.

“Athletes will play through a level of pain in their feet that, if they felt it in their knees or their shoulders, they’d be hammering at a surgeon’s door,” says Glenn Pfeffer, the director of the Foot and Ankle Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Aching feet are the “forgotten stepchild” of sports injuries, he adds.

He's absolutely right! When I read that, it took me way back to high school. I remember first hand how much I paid for ignoring my own foot pain.

I played an entire game in high school with an aching pain in my right foot, but I didn't even let it phase me. I was completely focused on the win. This was one of the biggest games of our season against our rival team. All I could think about as we were getting ready to take the field was my dad's favorite "motivational" (I use that description loosely) saying. "Walk if off girl, walk it off. Be a champion." So that's just what I did. Only instead of walking, I was running, pivoting, kicking, and juggling all at full speed, for about 2 hours. Probably not the best choice I had ever made, then again I was a teenager.

By the end of the game, my adrenaline was through the roof because we had one by one goal when we were not the favored team. I couldn't even feel the pain anymore. It was the best feeling in the world...until I took off my cleats and socks. My foot was swollen to twice it's normal size and there was extensive noticeable bruising. Oops!

To make a long story short, I had just played that game with a navicular fracture. A bone in the middle of my foot was broken and I had no idea. Apparently, it was due to forcing too much stress on my foot without enough recovery time. I was also told that it appeared that the fracture was severely worsened by playing in that game. Had I been responsible and listened to what my body was trying to tell me and sat that game out, I may have gotten to finish out the season only missing a few games for recovery. Since I played, I was forced to sit on the bench the rest of the season and I missed indoor tryouts for the winter season.

We really don't think too much about what are bodies are trying to tell us. Especially our feet since most of the time we attribute our discomfort to walking too much, wearing the wrong shoes, or just being plain old tired. Of course, sometimes those things are true, but if you truly enjoy being active or playing sports, do you really want to be taking that risk?

I came across an article today from the NY Times that might be of some use. It explains just how serious this lack of "listening" to our feet really is. They use Kobe Bryant as a prime example. In 2004, he had a serious struggle with plantar fasciitis, which is an extremely painful heel condition. Can you imagine being a basketball player, worth millions, and having to play the game of your career with crippling pain in your feet? I sure can't (partly because I'm a terrible basketball player and no ever paid me to play soccer - but that's beside the point.)

If you're an athlete, a parent or friend of an athlete, or even a person that just likes to got out and start pick up games I strongly encourage you to check out this article from the NY Times. And next time your feet are trying to tell you something from way down there...LISTEN UP!

Let's Talk About Bunions!

Dr. Kate Steklachich provides information about the embarrassing, yet common problem, of bunions.

Why Do My Feet Smell?

Dr. Jennifer Feeny of Shenandoah Podiatry, discusses the embarrassing, but surprisingly common, problem of foot odor. Watch to learn an odd but effective solution! For more foot and ankle topics, check out our blog at sShenandoahPodiatry.com/blog

Fact or Fiction: There Is Nothing You Can Do For a Broken Toe?

Your alarm clock, conveniently located on the other side of your room, starts buzzing bright and early. No need to turn on the light…you know the way, BAM! You walk, barefoot, right into the dresser! Just like a cartoon character, you see stars. As your day continues, you can’t get past the throbbing pain. You know you have broken your toe.

Throughout the day your toe begins to bruise and swell. Wearing a shoe, or even walking, is excruciating, maybe even impossible. You know you need to call a doctor, but what did your mom always tell you? “There’s nothing you can do for a broken toe.” Will it be a waste of everyone’s time if you make an appointment with your podiatrist? Should you simply deal with the pain? But the pain is so bad…was your mom really right? Is the rumor true? When people tell you nothing can be done for a broken toe they normally mean that a cast is not applied. A cast, made of plaster or fiberglass, is the most recognizable treatment for a broken bone. Does that mean if you don’t cast it, you’re not treating the broken bone? No!

Image via Wikipedia

The great toe has two bones in it, with all others having three. Although small, they are classified as long bones, just like an arm or leg. When any bone, especially a long bone, breaks, it is very important to make sure that it is not displaced; otherwise it will not heal properly. During your appointment with us, we will take an X-ray and then be able to advise treatment. If the bone is not displaced, treatment can be as simple as applying a “buddy splint.” This is a splint that simply attaches the broken bone to an adjacent digit. This provides compression and stability.

If you have displaced the bone, most of the time we can realign the bone right here in the office. It involves numbing the toe and using traction to get the toe in a good position. In most severe cases, surgery may be necessary. I know you may find it hard to believe but sometimes broken toes can become a medical emergency! Anyone who has poor circulation, such as a person with diabetes or peripheral artery disease, can end up with a spasm of the small arteries caused by the trauma, which can shut down the blood supply to the toes.

If immediate care is sought, this can be reversed. If left untreated for even one day, however, amputation may be required. So next time someone tries to argue that there is nothing you can do for a broken toe, let them know that the doctors at Shenandoah Podiatry informed you otherwise. The sooner you receive care, the quicker the pain and swelling will be reduced. Don’t be fooled by the popular rumor, call us right away!

Heel Pain from...Stilettos?

While us commoners might not have heel pain from Mr. Choo, Vuitton or Blahnik, we still wear our beloved 4-inch stilettos (maybe their Steve Maddens or Sam Edelmans…) When our heels, however, constrict our foot, we are bound to have increased foot pain ranging from hammertoes or “simply” bunions, corns or calluses. That’s not going to keep us from wearing those shoes on our weekend nights or working girl days, so what precautions can we take to prevent that want of taking them off 15 minutes after we put them on?

• Make sure the shoe fits- yes, you might encounter a deal that’s too good to pass up at T.J. Maxx but if you only wind up wearing them for half the night because they’re too tight, they will only take up valuable closet space!
• Where does it hurt? – If your entire foot endures pain, get a shoe length cushion insole, or if its just the balls of your feet, purchase silicone metatarsal pads
• Thicker heels- we’re in luck ladies, the thick heel is on it’s way back! This helps relieve some pressure from the foot rather than the pin needle heels
• Gradual slope- do most of your heels look like you’re going to fall face-forward when you stand in them? Try looking for cute heels that have a gradual slope instead to alleviate some pressure on the ball of the foot
• Open-toe heels- this style might not always be possible, but again panty hose with open toe heels is back (dark tights + dark heels). Open-toe heels help reduce corns and calluses which should be removed by a podiatrist