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By Dr. Kuvent, October 27, 2009 11:05 pm

If you’ve ever walked barefoot across a gravel parking lot, you’re probably well-aware that human feet are very sensitive structures. That’s a good thing because it allows our feet to move and adjust to potentially damaging objects on the ground-such as a sharp stone or a piece of glass. Normally, we are able to avoid such objects with ease and protect ourselves from cuts, infections, and other risks. However, the greatest threat to our feet is more internal rather than external. It occurs when our nerves become damaged and that vital protective sensation in our feet is lost.

There are unfortunately MANY things which can lead to weakened or damaged nerves in our feet. One of the most common and well-known causes is diabetes. As individuals lose control of their blood sugars, the nerves particularly in the feet tend to become damaged and insensitive. Other metabolic issues such as B-vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, and various toxins such as heavy metals can also lead to this problem. It’s pretty interesting to consider how certain health issues like Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease can affect vitamin absorption to affect nerve function and indirectly the health of our feet!

Certain inherited and autoimmune disorders can also cause the feet to become insensitive. Things like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Lupus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, allergic conditions, and blood disorders can all have this effect. Mechanical issues like an entrapped nerve or a spinal root problem may also be causing the problem. On top of these and other causes, the medications you are taking can also alter the nerve function in your feet. Various seizure medications, immunosuppressive agents, oral contraceptives, and tuberculosis drugs can all have this side effect.

Perhaps one of the biggest problems with nerve dysfunction to affect our feet simply occurs as we age. Often times, visual changes in combination with insensitive feet make it extraordinarily difficult for individuals to monitor the ground as well as the health of their feet. Believe it or not, it’s not uncommon for some people to have needles and other sharp objects lodged in their feet without them even knowing it! Not only can the individual not feel the object, but they’re also not able to see what may be a large and potentially-infected wound. This can be a huge hazard for those who live alone or do not have their feet checked regularly, as the infection can spread quickly and cause major damage.

Podiatrists have lots of experience dealing with insensitive feet. They’re able not only to closely monitor the various components of nerve degeneration, but they’re also able to check for infections, care for wounds, and determine whether a foreign body is actually lodged within the foot. Sometimes various objects show up within the foot on an X-ray which is not otherwise very obvious. If you suspect you’re having such a problem, contact your podiatrist immediately.

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By Dr. Kuvent, September 22, 2009 12:32 pm

Some of the potentially most irritating places on the feet are the areas between the toes-also known as the “web spaces” or “inter-digital spaces” of the feet. You’re probably quite aware of how hot and moist our feet can become under normal circumstances while wearing socks and shoes and forced to perform standard activities. Now consider that the areas between the toes are subject to those same conditions in addition to further heat and pressure and it suddenly becomes obvious that they are a natural place for superficial infections and irritation to occur.

There are many different causes which can lead to irritations between the toes. A common suspicion is “Athlete’s foot” which is a fungal infection of the skin. However, fungal infections which affect the web spaces can actually be caused by several different types of fungus which are each treated differently. Furthermore, fungal infections need to be distinguished from bacterial and parasitic infections which also have a predilection for the inter-digital spaces and are, of course, treated differently. Even metabolic diseases and autoimmune disorders need to be considered when assessing symptoms. Finally, friction and mechanical stress caused by a mal-aligned toe or inappropriate shoes may be causing the problem and should be ruled out.

Common symptoms that people may experience include burning, stinging, or itching sensations between the toes. They may also encounter certain changes as the skin becomes scalded, beefy red, cracked, or scaly. Of course, there are many other possible symptoms-each of which depends on the particular underlying cause. For this reason, podiatrists do a thorough assessment-which may include taking skin scrapings and using other simple measures-to determine what that cause is. From that point, the appropriate regimen is implemented which may range from oral or topical treatments to shoe-gear adjustments to changing the medications that you are currently using.

When one considers how often we wash our hands compared to our feet throughout the day, it’s not surprising that our feet are frequently susceptible to attack from microscopic organisms and other potential risks. Keeping your feet clean and dry as often as possible is a big step you can take to prevent infections. Thankfully, when serious irritations do occur, appropriate treatments are available.