Foot Pain Part 9
Charcot Foot, Poor Circulation, and Fungus

Whenever you read an article that discusses our feet to any extent, you’re sure to read a line or two that emphasizes how our two feet are the most overused parts of our body.

What most articles fail to emphasize is the vulnerability of our feet.

When we become sick or infected, our feet are one of the first parts of our body that become affected as well.

Charcot foot, poor circulation, and fungus or athlete’s foot are just a few of such diseases.

Charcot Foot

Individuals who have been diagnosed with neuropathy are more likely to experience Charcot foot. With this disorder, the bones in our feet soften up and eventually lose form. If this disorder is not immediately treated, the feet can be deformed, become useless, or require amputation.

Symptoms - When one foot is warmer to the touch than the other, there’s visible redness or swelling, or you experience pain in your foot, those are already reliable indications that you do indeed have Charcot foot.

Treatment - When an X-ray check-up successfully determines confirms the presence of Charcot foot, your personal physician may afterwards suggest any of the following:

Immobilization – If the bones in your foot have completely softened, you might be required to refrain from placing any kind of weight on your foot for an indefinite period of time.

Orthotics – Your doctor may require you to use shoe inserts or braces to partially relieve pressure on your foot.

Change of Activity – It’s also possible that all you’ll have to do is to temporarily change certain daily activities in order to prevent recurrence and development of the disorder on the other foot.

Surgery – In worst cases, a surgery may be deemed necessary by your physician.

Poor Circulation

If you want the scientific name for it, it’s peripheral vascular disease. If you also want to know what causes poor circulation to feet and legs, it’s most probably arthrosclerosis or diabetes.

Symptoms:

When you exhaust yourself by walking too far and too long, your calves might start aching. Poor circulation may follow shortly. Numbness is another common symptom. Lastly, if you notice any changes in skin color or temperature, those are clear signs that you may soon be suffering from poor circulation.

Treatment:

Diabetic Advice – If poor circulation to your feet is a direct result of your diabetes, treating your primary illness will consequently make any secondary disease better as well. So, whatever your physician orders you to do regarding your diabetes, know that following it is the only way to improve circulation to your feet.

Increased Exercise – As mentioned earlier, walking for a certain period of time and a certain distance may lead to poor circulation. The deeper reason behind that however is lack of exercise. Thus, to prevent poor circulation, exercise regularly!

Manage Blood Pressure – People with high blood pressure are more liable to experience poor circulation so making a conscious effort to manage your BP will greatly help in reducing risks of poor circulation.

Medication – There are medicines that you can take which can prevent blood from clotting, a condition which contribute to poor circulation.

More Discussion on Fungus or Athlete’s Foot

Let us begin discussing this condition by dispensing with the rumor for the last time: no, it’s not true that only athletes have athlete’s foot. Also known as ringworm fungus and tinea pedis, athlete’s foot originates from fungus existing on floors and inside your socks and clothes. T

he good news about athlete’s foot is that the fungus requires a certain type of environment before it can get its claws to your feet. The bad news: 70% of the population will have athlete’s foot at one point or another.

Athlete’s foot can become a painful condition, so it’s important to treat it immediately.

Symptoms:

If your feet are feeling itchy, let that serve as your first warning that you’re on your way to having athlete’s foot. If your feet have a burning feeling as well, that’s the second sign. When the skin on your feet starts to peel and even bleed, it’s almost a sure sign of having athlete’s foot.

Treatment:

Lifestyle Changes – Before asking the doctor to smell – rather, look at – your feet, you can get rid of athlete’s foot by wearing open-toed shoes more often and powdering your feet to prevent it from sweating.

Medication – You can also try using antifungal creams or an antibiotic for worse cases.