Our feet work hard every day as we walk, run, dance, jump and tap our toes. It’s no wonder there are a long list of common foot problems that bring people into The Foot Pod. Some result from injury or incorrect shoes. Others turn up as time – and aging – do their work on the body.

Topping the list of common complaints are corns on feet, Morton’s neuroma and tailor’s bunions. Let’s look closer at the causes, symptoms and treatments for the most prolific podiatry problems.

Corns on feet: Causes, symptoms and treatments

A corn (clavus or heloma) is a thickened, hardened layer of inflamed skin normally round in shape. Hard corns are common on the toes or sole of the foot, whereas soft corns (heloma molle) occur in the soft tissue between toes. Although they are a sign the body is protecting itself, corns can be very painful.

What causes corns on feet?

• Pressure or friction
• Ill-fitting shoes
• Enlarged joints pressing on shoes
• A crooked toe moving under the adjacent toe

Common symptoms

• Pain when walking
• Hard, round bumps on the foot
• Painful when pressed

Calluses and corns look similar, but a callus will not be painful to touch. If you develop calluses, rest up and pay The Foot Pod a visit to prevent corns.

Treatment options

• Debridement (removal of damaged tissue) by a podiatrist
• Custom toe separators
• Wearing correct fitting shoes

Be careful using over-the-counter corn pads. Most contain salicylic acid which, improperly applied, can cause chemical burns and ulceration to the skin.

When conservative treatments fail to alleviate painful corns on feet, your podiatrist may recommend a surgical solution. Surgery to remove corns is quick and simple, usually taking 30 minutes or less to remove the offending corn and address any underlying issues such as a bursa or protruding bone.

Morton’s Neuroma: What is it and how do you treat it?

Morton’s neuroma is a thickening in the tissue around a nerve leading to your toe. It most commonly shows up in the nerve between the second and third toes and, besides being painful to walk on, can feel like you have a rock in your shoe.

What causes Morton’s neuroma?

• High heeled shoes
• Tight shoes
• Pressure on the ball of the foot

Common symptoms

• Feeling like you have a pebble in your shoe, or a fold in your sock
• Burning pain radiating out from the ball of your foot to your toes
• Numbness and tingling after pain

Treatment options

• Correct fitting, flatter shoes
• Padding to support the metatarsal arch
• Icing to reduce swelling
• Custom orthotic devices to relieve pressure on the nerve
• Reduced activity
• Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatories

Similar to corns, there are surgical options available for chronic or stubborn neuromas. Your podiatrist may inject small amounts of cortisone with local anaesthetic or sclerosing agent. Alternatively a short surgery can be performed to remove the neuroma via an incision on the top of the foot, over the neuroma.

Tailor’s Bunion: More common than you think

Tailor’s bunions, also called bunionettes, are hard bony bumps that develop on the toe joint causing the toe to turn inward. Tailor’s bunions occur on the 5^th metatarsophalangeal joint, better known as the pinky toe (regular bunions occur on the big toe).

What causes Tailor’s bunions?

• Tight footwear
• Genetic predisposition
• Misalignment of the foot
• Arthritis

Common symptoms

• Redness and swelling
• Localised pain
• Increased swelling and pain over time

Treatment options

• Wear correct fitting shoes
• Padding over the bunionette
• Orthotic devices
• Icing the area
• Orthoses to correct the biomechanics
• Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen

Once again, a short surgery can alleviate the pain of tailor’s bunions. Ostectomy surgery removes the painful bump, and osteotomy realigns the metatarsal bone to correct biomechanics.

Solving Foot Problems with The Foot Pod

Corns on feet, Morton’s neuroma, and Tailor’s bunions are among the prevalent problems affecting Australian adults. If you are experiencing any signs of these common foot problems, even if they are not yet painful, make an appointment with The Foot Pod to get the help you need. Our friendly team will have you dancing out of the clinic in no time!

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What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis (plantar heel pain) is an inflammation of plantar fascia which is a ligament connecting the heel to the toes. The plantar fascia plays an important role in supporting the medial longitudinal arch of our feet. Repetitive stress and overload on the plantar fascia may reduce its capacity, causing it to be easily irritated and inflamed.

The above image shows an inflamed (red) plantar fascia.

Clinical presentation

Typical symptoms of plantar fasciitis include heel pain radiating to the toes, severe pain and stiffness for the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning or after a long period of rest and weight bearing activities.

Other possible causes of heel pain

• Tarsal tunnel syndrome. This is a neurologic condition in which the posterior tibial nerve is compressed as it travels through the tarsal tunnel.
• Baxter’s nerve entrapment. This is a compression of the medial calcaneal nerve which causes pain at the plantar and posterior regions.
• Heal spur syndrome (Huglund’s deformity). This is a tiny bone formation which will irritate and weaken the muscles and ligaments.
• Calcaneal stress fracture is a fracture at the calcaneus due to repetitive stress and overload.
• Posterior tibial tendonitis which is an inflammation condition occurring in the posterior tibial tendon.
• Achilles tendonitis – degenerative Achilles tendon which usually presents with pain at the posterior heel.

As there are many other possible causes for heel pain, it is important to see your podiatrist for a thorough examination. to identify the underlying cause for your heel pain. Your podiatrist will assess the best treatment options for you once the exact cause has been identified.

Treatment strategies for plantar fasciitis

• RICE (Rest, ice, compression and elevation) – Reducing activity level and applying ice pack on the affected heel for 15-20 minutes helps reduce inflammation and subsequent pain.
• Stretching exercises – Stretching and strengthening exercises such as calf muscle stretches and plantar fascia stretches will increase the capacity. of the muscles and ligament.
• Electrical therapy – Such as ultrasound and shockwave therapy. Ultrasound therapy exerts waves which can penetrate through deeper tissues to stimulate an increase in oxygenated blood flow in the area. Compared to ultrasound, shockwave therapy is more aggressive and effective treatment for recalcitrant soft tissues pathologies, including chronic plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinosis. Recent research showed that it has a high success rate of 82%.
• Orthotics  – Custom made orthotics alleviate the effects of faculty foot biomechanics and reduce the biomechanical stress acting on the plantar fascia.
• Footwear modifications – Wearing supportive shoes with good arch support reduces stress on the plantar fascia.
• NSAIDs – Such Ibuprofen and Naproxen may be recommended to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Strapping – It helps to support the foot and reduce tension on the fascia.