Disorders-Conditions

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one the most common causes of foot pain. It can strike at any age and can often linger for quite some time. There are a few key signs and symptoms found in someone suffering from this condition. Plantar fasciitis is most painful in the morning upon first arising out of bed, or after periods of rest. The pain tends to dissipate once the foot is “warmed up” or “loosened up” after a few minutes of walking. In chronic cases, the pain may last throughout the day as a dull ache, however the most intense pain will remain following rest.

Achilles Tendinitis

Pain as a result of Achilles tendonitis is found in the back of the leg/ankle along the tendon that joins the calf muscle (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus). This tendon provides the power necessary to propel the foot forward into the next step. This is usually an over-use issue (ie. “too much too soon”) Most commonly the site of the pain is in the mid-point of the tendon (approximately 4cm above the heel), however it can affect the area where the tendon attaches onto the heel bone. In these cases, the condition is sometimes referred to as Achilles Enthesitis. This can become a lingering issue due to the fact that there is very little blood supply to the back of the heel and therefore injuries to this area can take a long time to heal.

Bunions

Bunions or “Hallux Abducto-Valgus” are most often characterized by a large “bump” on the side of the joint at the base of the big toe. It is caused by a bone or tissue enlargement at the big toe joint that can cause the big toe to turn in towards the 2nd toe. The joint and surrounding tissues may be tender and swollen. Bunions can be caused by a number of different factors (or combinations of factors) including : a family history, complicating biomechanical factors (eg. Overpronation), ill-fitting footwear

Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia literally means forefoot (metatarsal) pain (algia). This broad term encompasses a number of conditions that affect the front of the foot. The most common use of this term is used to describe pain under the “ball of the foot” at the base of the toes. Depending on the underlying cause, a patient may feel either more or less pain when wearing footwear. For example, someone with a “pinched” or thickened nerve (Morton’s Neuroma) will often feel better when they take their shoes off. This is because the nerve is no longer being “squeezed” when inside the shoe. Conversely, someone with pain directly under the “knuckle” (metatarsal head) at the base of the toe will feel better when wearing shoes (particularly on hard floors). This is because the shoe provides a layer of cushioning between the knuckle head and the floor.

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is an thickening of the nerve that runs between the toes (the “interdigital nerve”)which may be the result of chronic impingement (“pinching”) of the nerve. The most common site for a neuroma to develop tends to be between the 3rd and 4th toes. Often one of the easier ways to determine if pain in the front of the foot is as a result of a Morton’s neuroma is to ask whether the pain is better or worse when wearing footwear. Often, in cases of Morton’s neuroma, the affected person feels much better when footwear (typically tight fitting) is removed. In these cases, the compression of the nerve caused by squeezing the foot into a tight shoe makes the pain much worse. This is a text block. Click the edit button to change this text.

Ankle Sprains

This is one of the most common orthopaedic injuries. It is a common sports injury, but it can happen to anyone, at any time during everyday activities. An ankle sprain is actually an injury to one or more of the “ligaments” that hold the bones of the ankle together. These ligaments have the ability to stretch slightly, however when a more severe force is put upon them from a twist, bend or turn, they are pushed beyond their normal limits and are injured. A sprain can vary greatly in its severity, anywhere from a mild “pull” to a complete rupture of the ligament off the bone. Inversion sprains (“rolling your ankle”) are far more common than eversion sprains (when your ankle rolls in and your foot twists out). Typical treatment includes: RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation), over-the-counter or doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and ankle supports. You should see a doctor if the pain is severe and you are not able to walk more than a few steps and/or the pain is not subsiding after one week.

Osgoode-Schlatter’s Condition

Not to worry…..it’s not actually a disease, but rather a type of “growing pain” knee injury This is probably the most frequent cause of knee pain in children. It occurs most commonly in active children between the ages of 9 and 16 years, and often during a “growth spurt”. Both boys and girls are equally affected. It is often found to be activity related pain found a few inches below the knee cap. It causes swelling in the area and tenderness to the touch. Sports requiring a lot of running, jumping, squatting or kneeling are often associated with this condition.

Chondromalacia Patella

This refers to an irritation and ultimate damage behind the knee cap (patella). This is a common cause of knee cap pain and is often called “runner’s knee”. Normally the knee cap glides smoothly on the knee joint when the knee is bended. However in some individuals, the knee cap can rub on one side of the joint and the smooth cartilage surface on the back of the bone becomes irritated. This misalignment or abnormal tracking of the knee cap may be caused by a muscular imbalance involving the muscles around the knee and/or due to alignment issues of the foot. Women tend to be more often affected than men possibly due to anatomical differences between the two sexes.

Patello-Femoral Syndrome

The syndrome refers to pain around and behind the knee cap. It is linked to, but differs from Chrondromalacia Patella in that the latter refers to actual fraying and damage to the underlying patellar cartilage. Patello-femoral syndrome typically occurs with activity and often worsens when going down stairs, step or hills. It can also occur when sitting for a long period of time. Like Chondromalacia Patella, repetitive contact of the back of the knee cap with the upper leg bone (femur) and/or maltracking of the patella is the likely cause. There are a number of potential factors involved in this condition. These include: “flat feet”/overpronation, “high arched feet”/oversupination, and muscular causes. Often exercises and physical therapy is prescribed and footwear and orthotics are closely analyzed to ensure proper foot/leg alignment.

Illiotibial Band Syndrome

This is one of the leading causes of knee pain on the outside of the knee in runners. The ITB is a band of tissue that runs from the pelvis to below the knee along the outside of the thigh. It may initially feel like a mild “stinging” sensation just about the knee joint, but can become very painful with swelling or thickening of the band as it rubs over the outside of the knee joint. It often affects athletes, but it also commonly occurs during pregnancy and often affects the elderly. The common causes of this condition include: high or low arches, supination (outwards rolling of the foot and ankle), uneven leg length, bowed legs and weak musculature.

Sever’s Disease

Children’s heel bone actually grows faster than the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in their legs during a rapid growth spurt. Interestingly the heel is no only one of the strongest bones in the body but is also one of your child’s first body parts to reach full adult size. When the muscles and tendons can’t grow fast enough to keep up, they get overstretched and overworked, leading to a flare up.

The condition frequently affects very active children, especially if she plays a sport that involves a lot of running and jumping on hard surfaces (such as soccer, basketball, or gymnastics). The active places extra strain on her already overstretched tendons due to the growth spurt. This leads to swelling and pain at the point where the tendons attach to the growing part of her heel.

Sever’s disease is more common in boys. They tend to have later growth spurts and typically get the condition between the ages of 10 and 15. In girls, it usually happens between 8 and 13.

Symptoms can include: •

• Pain, swelling, or redness in one or both
• Tenderness and tightness in the back of the heel that feels worse when the area is squeezed
• Heel pain that gets worse after running or jumping, and feels better after rest. The pain may be especially bad at the beginning of a sports season or when wearing hard, stiff shoes like soccer cleats.
• Difficultly walking
• Walking or running with a limp or on tip toes

It is vitally important that people diagnosed with Diabetes take special care of their feet so as to avoid problems down the road. If you have any corns (thick or hard skin on toes), calluses (thick skin on bottom of feet), in-grown toenails, warts or slivers, have them treated by your doctor or a foot care specialist (such as a podiatrist, chiropodist or experienced foot care nurse). Do not try to treat them yourself. If you have any swelling, warmth, redness or pain in your legs or feet, see your doctor or foot specialist right away. Have your bare feet checked at least once a year. In addition, ask your doctor to screen you for neuropathy and loss of circulation at least once a year.

Charcot Foot

A potentially serious complication of Diabetes Now considered an inflammatory syndrome, the diabetic Charcot foot is characterized by varying degrees of bone and joint damage and deformity secondary to underlying neuropathy, trauma, and changes of bone metabolism. It can create a « Rocker Bottom Foot » due to the damage to the bones of the foot, whereby the middle aspect of the foot (arch) collapses creating a rocking chair-like deformity.

– See more at: https://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/foot-care/signs-of-foot-problems#sthash.FpNNJMHl.dpuf