You may feel as if you have a rock or marble tucked into your shoe, which is incredibly uncomfortable. What is causing this? You could be dealing with a neuroma of the foot. Custom orthotics in Austin, TX may help, but it is also important to better understand this painful foot condition. Take a look at a few common myths associated with foot neuromas.

Myth: The neuroma is cancerous.

Foot neuromas are not cancerous, even though the name itself seems to apply the growth is cancerous. And, a neuroma is commonly associated with what is often referred to in medicine as a tumorous growth. However, the neuroma is actually not even a tumor; instead, the condition is characterized by thickened tissue that sits around the nerves of the digits.

Myth: Neuromas only affect the two toes next to your pinky toe.

While neuromas are most commonly found developing in between your third and fourth toe, a neuroma can develop in other areas as well. For example, a neuroma can develop between your second and third toes just the same.

Myth: Shoes have nothing to do with neuromas.

While what causes neuroma development in the foot is not entirely known, the shoes you wear on your feet can have some bearing. Your shoes or most commonly worn footwear can have a great deal with the development of a foot neuroma because they affect the toes and the nerves between the toes. Women are actually more likely to develop a neuroma than men because women are more likely to wear shoes that squeeze the nerves between the toes.

Find Out More About Foot Neuromas from an Austin Podiatrist

Are you dealing with a great deal of foot pain, and you’re not sure of the cause? It may be time to speak to an Austin podiatrist for advice. Reach out to the office of Dr. Jeffery Lamour DPM, PA to schedule a visit today.

Cracked heels (also known as fissures) are usually caused by dry skin, which is typically not a cause for concern. However, there are times when heel fissures should prompt more than just a better moisturizer. If you’re looking for a podiatrist in Pflugerville or Austin, TX, we’ll tell you more about when it’s really time to call a professional.

What Are Cracked Heels?

Thankfully, fissures are hard to miss because they present as deep grooves in the heel. They’re not just hard to look at, they can actually rip your socks and stockings or wear down your shoes faster than need be. Typically, athletes like runners, walkers, and swimmers are more prone to cracked heels.

When Should You Take Notice?

There are a few major signs that your cracked heels have gone too far:

• Pain/bleeding: If the cracks are extremely deep, they can begin to bleed. Even if they don’t, you may experience pain in the heel while walking.
• Infection: Any cut on the body can open up your chances for infection. If your heels are starting to bleed, it’s important to keep the cut covered to avoid an unnecessary infection.
• Athlete’s foot/plantar warts: Fungus and viruses have a way of working their way into even the smallest cracks on the heel (whether they bleed or not).

How to Treat Cracked Heels in Pflugerville or Austin, TX

If you have  heel fissures in Austin or Pflugerville , TX you might be able to get away with soaking, exfoliating, and applying an extra-strength moisturizer. You might even consider adding more Omega-3 fatty acids or zinc to your diet. However, if the heels are starting to look more than just dry or you have another condition like diabetes, the office of Jeffrey LaMour DPM can help treat cracked heels so you can get back to normal.

Treatment Options for Neuromas  

A neuroma is not as ominous as it sounds, so if your podiatrist in Pflugerville, TX, diagnoses you with a neuroma, there’s no need to panic. In reality, while this condition can become quite painful, it’s not dangerous and is usually simple to treat. Neuromas happen when an abnormal bundle of nerves grows somewhere on your body — in this case, your feet. This is called Morton’s neuroma, and it usually appears between the third and fourth toe. If you develop Morton’s neuroma, it may feel as though you constantly have a pebble in your shoe.

What Can Be Done to Treat Neuromas?

Your podiatrist will have several options for treating your neuroma and may be able to recommend lifestyle changes you can make on your own to help lessen the pain. Treatment options include:

Padding and Taping

This treatment involves placing a small piece of padding beneath the painful area of your foot and then loosely taping it into place using zinc oxide tape. It’s purpose is to reduce the pressure on the painful nerve bundle. Your podiatrist will be careful to apply the tape using just enough, but not too much, pressure. Wrapping tape too tightly around a foot that has developed Morton’s neuroma can worsen the condition. But when done correctly, it can bring immediate relief from pain.

Orthotics

Your podiatrist may recommend custom-made shoe inserts to ease the pain of Morton’s neuroma. If so, they’ll examine and take molds of your affected foot to send away to a lab for fabrication. Your custom shoe insert will be made of thermoplastic material, which lasts for years. It will be specially designed to ease pressure beneath your neuroma.

Medication

Sometimes, anti-inflammatory medications can help ease the pain of Morton’s neuroma. Cortisone injections may also be helpful. In more severe cases, surgery may be required. In Pflugerville, TX, Dr. Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA can help ease the pain of Morton’s neuroma. Call today to schedule a consultation.

While performing weight-bearing activities (e.g., walking), the feet are exposed to a tremendous amount of friction and pressure. Certain areas of the foot bear more weight than others do, which makes these areas susceptible to the development of calluses. At his offices in Pflugerville and Austin, Texas, podiatrist Dr. Jeffery LaMour treats calluses.

What Is a Callus?

In response to the stresses placed on the foot, as a protective measure, the body thickens the skin. This thickened skin is referred to as a callus.

Which Areas of the Foot Are More Likely To Develop Calluses?

Most calluses develop on the heel and ball of the foot.

Tips for Treating Calluses at Home

If the callus recently developed, is on the smaller side and not very thick, try the treatment below.

Callus treatment at home:

1. Soak the foot in warm water until the callus feels soft. This usually takes about 15 minutes.
2. Prevent the likelihood of developing an infection by using a brand-new pumice stone or an unused nail file to gently rub off some of the softened callus.
3. Cover the treatment area with an over-the-counter patch for calluses. If the callus is too large for the patch to cover, apply a callus-treatment cream to the area, cover with a piece of gauze and put on a clean white sock.
4. The patch (or gauze and sock) can remain in place for up to 72 hours.
5. After removing the patch, repeat the treatment above.

If, after treating it for 2 weeks, the callus remains, it is time to contact Dr. Jeffery LaMour. Dr. LaMour is an experienced podiatrist, with offices in Austin and Pflugerville, Texas.

Who Should Avoid Callus Removal at Home?

Generally, a callus can be removed at home. However, some people should bypass at-home removal and contact an Austin or Pflugerville, Texas, podiatrist instead. These individuals are those with conditions or symptoms that make them more likely to develop an infection. People with poor circulation in their lower extremities and individuals who are immunosuppressed (e.g., cancer patients, transplant recipients) should seek treatment from a podiatrist. In addition, an individual who experiences numbness or tingling in the feet needs to seek professional treatment (e.g., people who have diabetic neuropathy).

Why Would Someone Need Orthopedic Surgery To Treat Calluses?

Individuals who have underlying bone abnormalities contributing to their callus development may need to have orthopedic surgery.

If you are in the Austin or Pflugerville, Texas, area, and you would like an experienced podiatrist to treat your calluses, contact Dr. Jeffery LaMour today at (512) 451-3668 to schedule a consultation at his Austin or Pflugerville, Texas, podiatrist office.