| Bone Spurs |
 A bone spur is a bony growth formed on a normal bone. Most people think of something sharp when they think of spur but actually a bone spur is smooth. A spur can cause wear and tear or pain when it presses or rubs on other bones or soft tissues such as ligaments or tendons. Common areas for spurs on the foot are the toes and heel. A spur is formed by the body trying to repair itself when rubbing, pressure or stress is experienced. Most commonly these occur as part of the aging process. As we age the tissue called cartilage that covers the ends of the bones within joints breaks down and wears away. Over time this leads to swelling and in some cases bone spurs. Bone spurs can also form in the feet in response to tight ligaments. Activities such as dancing and running as well as pressure from being overweight can put additional stress on your feet. A heel spur can form on the bottom of the foot as the ligament becomes stressed or tight, and it can pull on the heel causing the ligament to become inflamed. As the bone tries to heal a bone spur can form. Many people have bone spurs without even knowing it, because most cause no symptoms. However, bone spurs in the foot can also cause calluses when tissue builds up to provide added padding over the bone spur. An X-ray can be taken to evaluate whether a spur is causing the issue or not. Bone spurs don't always need to be treated unless they are causing pain, discomfort or damaging other tissues. Treatment can be directed at the cause, symptoms or the spurs themselves.
Treatment at the cause of bone spurs include:
Treatment directed at the symptoms include:
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| Ingrown Toenails |
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Toenails need as much attention as the rest of the foot. One of the most common problems associated with the toenail is an ingrown toenail. Normally, the toenails grow over the skin, but an ingrown toenail grows into the skin instead of on top of it.
There are a variety of reasons one can end up with an ingrown toenail. One of them is the way toenails are cut. Most people are unaware of how to cut a toenail properly. Toenails should be cut straight across without rounding the edges. Also, don't cut toenails too short. If shoes are too tight, they can cause pressure on the nail, which then drives into the skin and causes it to start to turn into an ingrown toenail. Repeated activity such as kicking a football or soccer ball can also lead to the potential of acquiring an ingrown toenail.
The symptoms of an ingrown toenail are apparent. One experiences pain from the nail growing into the skin. If it becomes infected, it might be swollen, red, and it might drain pus.
Diagnosis is just as easy. I do a physical exam to diagnose an ingrown toenail. Depending upon my diagnosis, antibiotics may be required if the toenail is infected. Surgery is also a possibility.
Treatment can be done at home to relieve the pain caused by the ingrown toenail and will help the nail grow out naturally.
- Soak the toe in warm water for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times each day.
- To help lift the nail off of the skin, wedge a small piece of cotton under the corner of your ingrown toenail.
- Do not use a sharp object such as manicure scissors, to dig under your nail. This can lead to an infection.
- Do not use a needle to drain the pus from the toe. This can make the infection worse.
- Wear comfortable shoes that don't press on the ingrown toenail.
If surgery is needed, the toe is numbed and the edge of the ingrown toenail is cut to pull out the piece of nail. In some cases, to prevent the nail from growing into the skin again, the nail root may need to be destroyed. This is called ablation.
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