Tag Archives: foot pain

Take action against bunions on your feet, avoid future pain

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It happened to your mother and now it’s happening to you…bunions. A bunion is a condition that affects the bones and joints of the great toe. It appears as a bony prominence on the inside margin of your forefoot, which can get red, swollen and painful. It stands out in the painful grimace on your face by the end of the work day. Or it stands out in the way you alter your walking style to reduce the discomfort felt in your foot. It also stands out in how you avoid standing for too long, or avoid going to the mall, since there’s so much walking at the mall.

It’s a common problem; roughly thirty percent of the population suffers from bunions. Bunions arise due to abnormal foot function, leading to a gradual dislocation of the joint. They can also relate to heredity, different forms of arthritis, narrow-toed shoes and high heels and other foot-related problems. Bunions can also occur on the small toe side, commonly called bunionettes. Either way, they often worsen and may require surgery, unless you take action.

Simple ways to reduce the pain is by applying a cold pack to the area a few times a day, though many resort to pain medications. Choosing shoes with heels less than two inches high helps, as well as wider fitting shoes, though any shoe or slipper lacking proper support can aggravate bunions. The best course of action to resolve the problem that is causing the deformation is to visit your foot care specialist. A qualified chiropodist will assess your particular situation and make corrective suggestions. Some common suggestions from a chiropodist include proper fitting footwear to alleviate pressure, bunion shield pads, or prescription orthotics, which stabilizes the foot and minimizes stresses on the affected joints.

To arrange an assessment, contact Ontario Foot and Orthotics at 905-878-6479 in Milton. Visit us online at www.ontariofoot.ca.

Understanding and dealing with a hammertoe on your foot

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A hammertoe is a foot condition affecting the second, third, or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, causing it to resemble a hammer. The toe buckles due to abnormal contraction, from a partial or complete dislocation of one of the joints of the toe.

It is common that people who suffer from a hammertoe also develop painful corns on the top of the affected toe, where it rubs against the inside of the shoe. This pain may be resolved by adding extra cushioning, regularly trimming down the corn, or by choosing roomier shoes.

A hammertoe is caused by foot imbalances and heredity factors. Certainly wearing high heels aggravates the hammertoe since heels accentuate the contracted position of the hammertoe. Tight-fitting stockings can also aggravate the condition.

Your chiropodist will assess your feet and determine the cause of the hammertoe and make useful suggestions. Some suggestions may include making silicone toe pads which can reduce pressure, or using a custom orthotic to better support your foot, which will also slow down the buckling process in a hammertoe. If the hammertoe is caught early enough, the above conservative chiropody care is sufficient. However, if it is allowed to progress, then there will be more pain, calluses, inflammation, possibly infection and alteration of the bone structure. In these cases, surgery may be required.

For more information, or to arrange an assessment, contact Ontario Foot and Orthotics at 519-623-3000 in Cambridge or 905-878-6479 in Milton. Visit us online at www.ontariofoot.ca.

Chiropodists provide solutions for your foot pain.

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Have your feet ever ached? Of course, it’s the most common complaint Chiropodists hear in the office, when people come for a professional foot check-up. Tired feet and mild aches are quite common by the end of a long day at work, or after long shopping excursions, or after a good long walk. However, what if your foot aches and pains are regular, or even daily, or quite intense? That’s when it’s time to visit a professional for a full foot assessment.

If you experience pain while walking on hardwood or ceramic floors you may want to visit a Chiropodist. They treat patients with all types of foot problems, which cause a range of pains in the feet. There are many different solutions that they will recommend, based on the foot assessments they perform.

In some cases, the solution may involve using a different type of shoe. Perhaps the answer may be using orthotics – a custom insert to suit your foot structure and function. The foot pain may be due to an in-grown toe nail, an infection, chronic ankle sprains, or inflamed tissues. Whatever the cause, Ontario Foot and Orthotics will do their job to properly assess, treat, manage and resolve the source of your foot pain.

For more information, or to book an assessment, contact Ontario Foot and Orthotics at one of our two locations: 519-623-3000 (Cambridge), 905-878-6479 (Milton). Or visit us online at www.ontariofoot.ca.