Why You Need a Foot Check

Do you schedule regular dental checkups? We certainly hope so! Taking care of your teeth prevents diseases and can stop a small cavity from developing into a full-blown root canal.  

No, we aren’t dentists. So let’s turn our attention to the other end of your body – your feet. After all, just like your mouth health, the well-being of your feet and ankles is also extremely important.  

A Deformity That Progresses Suddenly

A good example of this is Charcot foot. This condition may occur when you have diabetes – it can lead to bones breaking or slipping out of place and, if left untreated, the bones may heal in an incorrect position (resulting in foot deformities).

Common symptoms include: pain, redness, and a hot, swollen foot.

A Lump or Bump That Grows or Hurts

If you experience a lump or bump that is painful and getting bigger, then you should come visit us immediately. These could potentially be signs of a condition as simple and benign as a basic cyst, but there is also a chance that it may be something more serious like a tumor. Even though malignant (dangerous) tumors in the foot are rare, you’re better off staying on the side of caution.

Common symptoms include: lumps or bumps in the foot, pain, redness, swelling, and difficulty walking.

A Wound or Sore That Does Not Heal

You should visit our office as soon as you notice any sores or wounds developing in your feet. This is especially true if you are living with diabetes. With professional help, you will have a better chance of healing sores and wounds. On the other hand, when you delay treatment, you will increase your risk of getting an infection – and that can be a very serious situation!

Common symptoms include: the symptoms here are pretty straightforward; you have tried everything in the book and yet wounds or sores just don’t seem to heal. 

A Change in Foot Color

Both of your feet should look alike – if one foot is a different color than the other, then you probably have a problem developing in your feet and/or ankles. It might be that you have an infection, or gout, or perhaps a vein or circulatory problem. Either way, it is not normal, and you should seek professional advice and treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.

Common symptoms include: feet are different colors and painful, foot is red, blue, purple, or pale.

A Numb, Burning, and/or Tingling Sensation

These symptoms may be signs of neuropathy, which can cause decreased sensation in your feet. Diabetes is actually one of the many factors responsible for neuropathy. And together, neuropathy and diabetes can be a dangerous combination. After all, if you can’t feel your feet, then how are you supposed to know when there is something wrong with them?

Common symptoms include: sharp pain, burning and tingling, cramping of the muscles, and lack of feeling altogether.

A Pain and/or Swelling in One Foot

If you have pain and/or swelling in one foot and not the other, this is not normal. In fact, there are many problems that could be causing the pain and swelling such as a broken bone, tendonitis, tendon rupture or infection.

Though it is common to have both feet swell up in certain situations (such as during pregnancy or as a result of excessive sodium intake, etc.), whenever only one foot presents symptoms, then it is a good sign that there is an issue – and you need to see us to determine what is wrong and how we can help make it better.

Common symptoms include: pain, swelling, difficulty bearing weight.

A Pain That Increases with Activity

If you have pain that gets worse with activity, this may be a sign of a stress fracture. In this case, you should not try to push through the pain – come visit our office immediately. If you treat a stress fracture early, you can avoid more serious problems such as a fracture that won’t heal or one that turns into an actual broken bone.

Common symptoms include: sharp pain that diminishes during rest, swelling on top of foot, bruising or tenderness to the touch.

You Have Diabetes

We’ve already mentioned this, but it’s definitely worth emphasizing – if you are living with diabetes, then it is imperative that you not only visit a podiatrist on a regular basis (at least once a year), but you should also have a daily foot care plan in place. When diabetes is part of your life, a simple cut or scrape can quickly advance to a limb-threatening infection (as healing is usually slow or even nonexistent).

The truth is that this list could go on forever, but these are some of the most common foot and ankle symptoms indicating that you should come in for a foot check from trained, experienced professionals. Of course, things like flat feet, ingrown toenails, bunions, and heel pain are also things you should be on the lookout for whenever checking on the well-being of your feet.