Don't be Scared to Take Care of Your Health Needs even with Covid-19 Still Present!

"I can still bear weight, so it must just be a bad bruise" said my friend when she sent me this photo of her painful, swollen and bruised foot resulting from a pancake griddle catastrophe over a week ago!  So many things wrong with this statement!

First of all, just because you can bear weight doesn't mean there isn't a fracture.  Some bones of the foot and ankle do not bear weight so they may not be very painful when you stand on them.  Some bones fracture where the tendons attach so they may only be painful when you walk, not when you stand.  And some bones break in places that are only vaguely painful.  BUT if there is an injury that has swelling and bruising after a week, you must get an x-ray to rule out a fracture!

Cute Sandals!

Why do you need to rule out a fracture if there is no pain you ask?  Because not all fractures will heal properly on their own, especially in the feet because your feet support your full body weight and are subject to many different forces.  Because some fractures may not heal at all if they are in an area that does not have adequate oxygenation.  Because some fractures heal in abnormal positions that will affect the function of your feet (and ambulation) down the road.  So don't wait!

Yes, we are all worried about contracting Covid-19, but many podiatry offices are open for urgent and essential needs.  Injury is considered an essential health care need.  So PLEASE see a podiatrist if you have an injury, especially one that results in swelling for more than a few days!

Women's Feet After Menopause

Does the ball of your feet cause  you pain when you walk or wear certain shoes?   Do you feel that your arch is falling as you get older?  Do you feel that your bunions and hammertoes are becoming more painful?  Is your skin more dry and calloused?  Menopause may be the culprit!  Hormones have major effects on our bodies, including our feet.  Both in pregnancy and after menopause, foot problems develop in many women.

See the article that I was interviewed for here.

COVID 19 Signs in the TOES of People Without Symptoms

COVID 19 manifestations are now seen in young people, including kids, that are otherwise asymptomatic.   Due to the changes in the arteries and clotting issues, a variety of changes are showing up in the toes.

Discoloration, small sores and even just signs that look like an ingrown nail may be present. Please keep an eye out for these changes in your kids and in younger adults.  It could be a sign that they ARE infected even thought they may not have any respiratory symptoms.

(thank you to the mom's podiatry group for photos with permission).

The PERFECT Wedding Shoes

I happened to notice the shoes that this bride was wearing in this photo - granted, the article was about the wedding couple being photo bombed by a group of naked bike riders in Philly (they do that in Chicago too); but my attention immediately went to her shoes!

They are the perfect height for dancing, smiling, kissing and walking down the aisle!  However, if you absolutely must have a higher heel for walking down that aisle with your very tall groom; take the following precautions:

1) Have a second pair of shoes with a lower heel.  That's what I did.  My husband is a foot taller than I am and I didn't want all the photos to make is so obvious.  I had one pair for the ceremony and one pair for the rest of the evening.  I had the dress hemmed to accommodate both at a sort of in-between length.

2) Practice and rehearse - not just at the rehearsal!  While you are not going to break in those heels, you can at least get used to wearing them if you start wearing them around the house for short periods of time weeks before the wedding.

3) Put pads in those shoes to take pressure off painful spots.  Nothing like your painful feet keeping you from smiling on the happiest day of your life (hopefully) so far.  You may need to experiment with the pads but better yet, take the shoes to a podiatrist and see how he or she can help you reduce pressure points while wearing them.

4)  Walk slowly.  I have known brides that are in such a rush to the alter and from the alter that I would swear that they were wearing roller skates.  Walking slowly will help you keep your balance and have a more normal gait despite any crazy heel height you wear.

5)  BE CAREFUL!  Especially if you are not used to wearing four, five or six inch heels.  It is very easy to literally fall off your heels.  Nothing worse than having an ankle sprain and not being able to dance to "your" song.

Now that I have your feet covered - its someone else's job to help you figure out your hair issues!

How High is Too High??

After watching the Grammy's and watching so many beautiful women try to walk in their heels - I felt compelled to ask this question!  Well, compelled to give a simple answer.

Too high is when you are not walking properly.  So many of the women I saw presenting or accepting a Grammy were walking with their posture changed, their gait changed and their hips, knees and feet not working as they should!

High heels not only put pressure on the feet but also on the knees and the back.  If you are wearing heel and it does not feel like you are walking heel to toe, standing straight and having your normal stride (length and rhythm of each foot step) - the shoe you are wearing are too high!!

And by the way, platforms are not much better!  Many people thing that the height of the platform negates some of the overall heel height, but I can tell you first hand that you do not have a normal walking pattern when wearing platforms.  Often, walking in platforms does not absorb shock like walking in regular shoes do and back pain becomes a problem.

Why Some Shoes No Longer Fit

I was getting ready for an upcoming trip and all set to pack my red/black/white floral skirt and my really cute red peep toe pumps that I haven't worn in awhile and slipped them on to make sure they still looked cute. But I got a surprise - they were no longer comfortable!

The fit of a shoe may change for a number of reasons. First of all, anyone with deformities such as bunions or hammertoes may find that shoes are suddenly causing more pressure and tightness around those deformities. This is usually a sign that those deformities are advancing, even if there is no pain associated with them. Custom orthotics made by a podiatrist can help reduce the progression of bunions and deformities.

Swelling of the feet often occurs in the summer months due to the heat. Swelling can tightness in shoes that were once comfortable. Swelling can also be due to a tendon problem or injury and should be evaluated by a podiatrist if persistent. Lower leg swelling that is continuous can be due to systemic problems, vein problems or even kidney or heart problems and should be evaluated by your primary care physician.

And finally, foot size can change as we get older. Pregnancy can cause the ligaments and tendons of the foot to stretch which may make the foot longer. The tendon that holds the arch commonly becomes stretched, torn or injured in people that have a flexible flat foot or are overweight. It is very important to see a podiatric physician if you develop pain in the arch with or without swelling!

So, I went shopping to set to find comfortable black sandals that I could wear with multiple outfits and I ended up finding really cute red sandals. Happy Day - red shoes make me happy!! It quickly became a really happy day when I saw the price of those red shoes!!

Summer Shoes - Flip Flops are NOT the Answer!!

With the weather improving, more and more people are participating in their favorite outdoor activities and for many people, the flip flop is the first shoe they reach for. Easy to put on, airy and light weight– flip flops seem like the perfect summer shoe!

But, all flip flops are NOT always the best choice for your feet

Sometimes, it IS appropriate and safe to wear flip flops. For example – its fine to wear them to the beach and the pool, relaxing outside in your own back yard, or at a party where you won’t be walking too much.

But most flip flops are not appropriate for walking, biking, doing lawn work or for other athletic activities. Flip flops should not be your go to shoes in the summer!

For those who might over use these flimsy non-supportive shoes, you risk

• Tendonitis
• Heel pain
• Stubbing or jamming toe
• Ankle injuries
• Foot lacerations

Not all flip flops are bad, but most are.

Those that can easily be bended in half from toe to heel and twisted as well will not provide adequate support for normal daily activities.
If the “toe thong” is made inexpensively, either by design or material, you can also experience blistering in between the toe area because. This is a very common problem with flip flops. You want to make sure there are no seams that would cause irritation and its best when the material is soft. Blistering can also occur with constant slippage of an ill fitting flip flop.

Not all flip flops are bad however. Some flip flops have a more structured, solid arch support and make with a more sturdy material. Look for ones that bend at the ball of the foot and do not twist easily. Thicker soles and padding can be found in some flip flops. Look for those that have somewhat of an arch, a deeper heel cup and a soft and natural toe thong.

Go to http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources/lifestyle_community&id=8173033 to see my discussion of better flip flops with Linda Yu and Sylvia Perez on a recent ABC Chicago News story.

Any sandal or flip flop that forces you to scrunch your toes or use your tendons abnormally is not a shoe you should be wearing.

Any shoe related problems should not be ignored. The bottom line is that no matter what shoe you wear, if you have foot pain, see a podiatric physician- foot pain is never normal!

Resolution #7: Give your toes a break

Hammertoes are deformities of the digits (toes) that cause them to bend or curve. They can be flexible or rigid and often cause pain, corns or bursitis on the tops of the toes. Severe hammertoes can even cause problems at the ball of the foot and make walking difficult with or without shoes. Changing your shoes can help give them more room to sit comfortably, but often surgery is necessary to “break” the toes to allow them to lie straight to avoid these problems.

When is it time to have your hammertoes corrected? Unlike bunions, hammertoes can be put off as the surgery usually involves destroying the joint sp it is not so necessary to try to preserve the joint. However, that being said; hammertoes are progressive and if treated early, it is possible to save the joint if treatment is during the flexible state.