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Get advice for taking care of your feet during the winter.

Winter weather in the Midwest can be cold and damp, so it’s important to take certain precautions to ensure that your feet stay warm and dry. Proper foot care in the winter is especially critical for people with diabetes and circulation problems, like Raynaud’s syndrome. Below are 5 tips that will keep your feet looking and feeling healthy this winter.

1.Keep your feet clean and dry

Wearing boots and thick socks may keep your feet warm and toasty in the winter, but it can also cause them to sweat a lot. Damp feet get cold more easily and are prone to bacterial infections. Keep your feet clean and dry by putting foot powder in your socks, treating yourself to footbaths throughout the winter, and drying your feet thoroughly after each footbath.

2.Use cotton and wool socks

When choosing socks for the wintertime, go with natural fabrics like cotton and wool instead of synthetic blends. Wool wicks moisture away from the skin and keeps your feet dry. On the other hand, socks made of synthetic materials can cause your feet to get sweaty and smelly. Excess moisture can also cause the skin to cool down more quickly and potentially lead to frostbite.

3.Wear comfortable boots

Wear boots that fit comfortably and that aren’t too tight. Tight footwear can decrease blood flow, making it harder to keep your feet warm and increasing the risk of frostbite. You should be able to wiggle your toes, but your heel, instep, and the ball of your foot should be immobilized. Your boots should have a solid base, supportive heel, and laces or straps to ensure that you’re able to remain stable on wet and slippery surfaces.

If you’re buying winter footwear for your children, such as winter boots, skates, or ski boots, avoid the temptation to buy a larger size in order to get two seasons of wear out of the shoes. It is crucial for footwear to fit properly right away in order to prevent chafing, blisters, and foot injuries.

4.Dry your boots and shoes out

Prior to going back outside in your boots or shoes again, be sure to dry them out thoroughly. This will help prevent your feet from getting cold quickly as well as prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria.

5.Wash your feet every day

Wash your feet thoroughly every day with soap and water. Keeping your feet clean can prevent toenail fungus and other unpleasant problems. Make sure that your feet are completely dry before you put socks and shoes on again. Change your socks daily. It’s also a good idea to soak your feet in Epsom salt and warm water every once in a while to relieve discomfort and prevent infections.

Currently, 25.8 million people/8.3% of our US population has diabetes.  Diabetics can be particularly prone to foot problems, including infection, wounds/sores, and neuropathy/nerve damage.  For those with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends that “your health care provider should perform a complete foot exam at least annually—more often if you have foot problems.”  Having trained at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation where we had a busy clinic for those with diabetes, helping to prevent some of the foot problems that occur with diabetes is a particular interest and passion of mine.  You may schedule an appointment with me at 586-298-1585.  For more information about how diabetes can affect the feet, you may visit https://tenderfootandanklecare.com/diabetic-foot-care/

Orthotics are devices that are placed inside your shoes, in order to help realign your foot and allow it to function in the most optimal way possible. They are used to treat many painful foot conditions. Orthotics help to redistribute the pressure that is placed on the bottom of your foot, and help to improve the faulty foot mechanics that can lead to things like arthritis and bunion and hammertoe deformities. Think of orthotics as doing for your feet
what your eyeglasses do for your eyes–allow them to function in the best possible manner. You can view the video on our “flat feet” page to learn more about orthotics.

Your child could be wearing shoes that are too small. This happens quite often because children and teenagers can experience rapid growth and rarely measure the size of their feet. For some children (and adults as well), there is extra flesh on the side of the nail, and/or they have a nail that is growing in a horseshoe shape, and it is therefore prone to developing an infection.

Heel Pain Caused by Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It is a condition that results from excessive stress or strain on the plantar fascia, which is a structure that runs across the bottom of your foot. Plantar fasciitis causes heel and/or arch pain that most commonly occurs when walking after periods of inactivity, when getting out of bed in the morning, and when you are on your feet for an extended time.

Learn more here….plantar-fasciitis

Foot pain is extremely common, and it is NOT normal. A variety of conditions can result in foot pain:

Arthritis can occur in your feet just as it can occur in other areas of your body, and it can be painful. Patients can develop stiffness and/or pain in the big toe joint, which is termed hallux limitus or hallux rigidus depending on the severity.

Bone spurs commonly occur in the front of the feet (often near the big toe joint), and the middle of the feet, and these can be painful.

Pain can also occur in the ball of the foot from a variety of causes such as metatarsalgia, neuromas, stress fractures, or length discrepancies of the bones in the front of the foot.

Hammertoes, or contracted toes, can cause foot pain for many people.

Bunion deformities near the big toe joint, and Tailor’s bunion deformities near the baby toe can also be painful for many people, and often cause difficulty wearing shoes. Many people with bunions or tailor’s bunions have pain with prolonged time on their feet as well.

Both flat feet (which is called pes planus) and high arched feet (which is called pes cavus) can result in foot pain.

Heel pain is extremely common, and can be caused by conditions such as plantar fasciitis/heel spur syndrome, a stress fracture, or Sever’s disease.

Ankle pain is also quite common, and has a variety of causes.

Gout can also cause severe pain in the foot, which some female patients describe as being “worse than childbirth.” Fortunately, we can decrease the pain from gout immediately with our treatment regimen for this condition, and patients with gout walk out of the office feeling much better.

Systemic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (or RA) can also result in foot deformity and foot pain.

Fortunately, there are many excellent treatment options available for your foot pain. Dr. Stephanie Carollo stresses to her patients that foot pain is NOT normal, and that pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. Call us for an appointment to evaluate your foot pain–OFTEN SAME DAY–as we do our best to accommodate new patients who wish to be seen right away. Let us help you get you back to living your pain-free, healthy, happy life!

Foot pain is extremely common, however, it is important to realize that foot and ankle pain are NOT NORMAL! As a podiatrist in Macomb MI and in Clinton Twp. MI, I see people in these cities and in the communities of Shelby Twp., Washington Twp., Macomb Twp., Sterling Heights and other surrounding towns who are experiencing pain from the common problems above, as well as from many other conditions that can impact their quality of life. They often relate frustration that their pain is preventing them from doing things that they enjoy. You don’t have to suffer with foot pain, or worry about one of these conditions impairing your lifestyle. Give us a call at 586-298-1585 so that we can help alleviate your pain or worry!

Most people suffer from some kind of foot disorder – from athlete’s foot or ingrown nails to bunions, hammertoes or corns. Tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes are often the culprit, but heredity, poor foot care, injuries, or medical conditions can also cause problems. Whatever the state of your feet, your podiatrist can treat your problem to restore your comfort and ease of movement.

Problems in your feet can lead to pain in your hips, knees and lower back. Take a moment to read this list of conditions or problems. If you find you might be suffering from one or more of these items, a visit to your podiatrist may be just the help your feet need.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

High blood sugar (diabetes)
Cold or hot feet (circulatory problems)
Joint pain and swelling (arthritis or gout)
Nail Problems
Painful ingrown nails
Thickened nails that are difficult to trim
A black-and-blue nail from an injury

BONE PROBLEMS

An unsightly bump (bunion) on the side of your foot by your big toe
Uncomfortably bent toes (hammertoes) that may rub on the tops of your shoes
A stiff joint in a toe
Pain in the bottom or back of your heel (possibly a heel spur)
A broken (fractured) bone in your foot

SKIN PROBLEMS

A wart on your foot
Thickened skin (callus or corn) between your toes or where your foot repeatedly rubs against your shoe
Discolored patches (fungal infection) on your foot or nail
Cracks, sores or ulcers on your foot

SOFT TISSUE PROBLEMS

Muscle pain or tendinitis
Pain on the bottom of your feet (plantar fasciitis)
A twisted or sprained ankle
Arch Problems
Painful, tired flatfeet
Painful high arches

NERVE CONDITIONS

Sharp pain in your toes (neuroma)
Sharp pain, numbness, or burning sensation in your toes when you’re at rest (neuropathy)

Bunion surgery is only to be considered if pain does not improve sufficiently with non-surgical or conservative care measures.

Please visit our page about Bunions at:

Bunions

Every day. People with diabetes are often at increased risk for developing foot problems, and this is certainly true if they have poor circulation, nerve damage or neuropathy, or conditions such as corns/calluses, bunions, hammertoes, and other foot deformities. We tell every patient with diabetes that he/she must carefully inspect his/her feet every single day. This includes the top and bottom of the feet, and the areas between the toes. It’s important to look for any open wounds or sores, cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, drainage, and warmth. If any of these occur, it’s important to call us right away (586-298-1585), as these could indicate that an infection or ulceration has developed. If not properly treated, foot/leg ulcers or infection could result in serious problems such as amputation, which can often be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment.