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What Is Sesamoiditis And What Is The Best Sesamoiditis Treatment?

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sesamoiditis treatment anderson podiatry center

The sesamoid bones are small pea shaped bones that sit beneath the big toe joint. Where there is pain under your big toe it may be called sesamoiditis pain. Let’s look at why you may be seeking sesamoiditis treatment to resolve a common foot pain.

Sesamoiditis basics – The sesamoid bones are like the kneecap, patella bone. They sit beneath the big toe joint and the great toe, and both are attached to muscles and tendons that help pull the big toe downward. Much like the kneecap they each glide in a groove under the joint. They function to increase the leverage of the muscles of the foot to pull this toe downward. This motion is very important for normal gait while running or walking. You may have heard of the term turf toe, this is associated with the sesamoid bones but may also involve inflammation to the tendons and muscles that attach to the sesamoids.

What are the symptoms of sesamoiditis?

Sesamoiditis pain tends to be very localized beneath the big toe joint in the ball of the foot. You’ll favor your foot tending to avoid putting pressure on the bottom of the great toe. High heels will make the pain worse. You may have swelling associated with it. The pain tends to be deep and dull, and you may notice it the most when you first step down in the morning. Which is why most people try to pass it off as morning stiffness and not seek sesamoiditis treatment.

What is the cause of sesamoiditis?

  • Foot type – some feet may tend to roll inward referred to as pronation. This would cause more pain to be placed on the ball of the great toe.
  • Trauma, sesamoid fractures. You may have fractured the sesamoid bone. You’ll usually be aware of this as a lot of force would be needed to cause a fracture. Landing with a lot of weight on the great toe or severely jamming your great toe upwards may cause a fracture.
  • Bunions – A bunion deformity causes the great toe joint to be misaligned. Because of this the seamaids may no longer glide centered in the grooves beneath the metatarsal bone but may now be gliding over centered. This may result in erosion of the cartilage on the ridge that separates the two grooves. Both the cartilage on the seamaid bone and the cartilage on the bottom of the metatarsal breakdown causing octopartite to occur
  • Hallux Limitus – This is a deformity of the great toe joint that limits range of motion of the great toe joint. As the joint starts to reduce its motion this may also interfere with the normal gliding of the sesamoid bones and produce pain.
  • Overuse- This may be the most common cause and typically develops gradually. This is especially true in activities that may cause a lot of weight bearing beneath the big toe such as ballet, dancing, basketball and volleyball to name a few.
  • Shoe gear – If you wear high heels excessively it may cause sesamoiditis. Soft soled shoes would be best.

How is sesamoiditis diagnosed?

  • Physical examination – your podiatrist will evaluate your foot to see if you have pain and swelling where the sesamoid bones are located.
  • x-rays- these will be taken to see if the sesamoid bones appear normal.
  • Congenitally abnormal – you may have been born with an enlarged sesamoid or one that is bipartite, has two parts. These abnormal presentations make it more likely to have pain from these sesamoids.
  • Alignment – are the sesamoids positioned where they should be beneath the great toe joint. A bunion deformity will cause them to be misaligned and more likely to hurt.
  • Fracture – the x-rays will also help to rule out a fracture.

How can I avoid sesamoiditis pain?

  • Surgery – Surgery to remove the pain of damaged sesamoid may also be performed but only after conservative measured have failed. When surgery is performed it is usually the medial sesamoid that tends to be more prone to pain. This sesamoid is the one that is located towards the other foot.
  • Reduce or eliminate activities – for some it may be practical to eliminate an activity that causes more stress to this area of the foot. For others better management of how much of the specific activity that is more likely to cause an injury should be considered. You should gradually increase each activity or consider doing it less frequently.
  • Avoid high heels – these will tend to put more weight on the bottom of the great toe joint.

What is the Best Surgical and Non-Surgical Sesamoiditis Treatment?

Non-Surgical Treatments

  • Rest and Activity Modification – Reducing weight-bearing activities to allow the sesamoid bones to heal.
  • Orthotics – Custom orthotic inserts have been shown to have great success by limiting the amount of weight placed on the sesamoid bone to relieve pressure on the sesamoid bones.
  • Padding and Taping – Protects the sesamoid bones and restricts excessive movement. This may help by minimaxing the motion in the joint and thereby reducing the pain.
  • Cam-walker (short leg fracture brace) – By resting and limiting the motion of great toe joint.
  • Anti-inflammatory NSAIDs and Ice Therapy – Helps reduce pain and inflammation in more acute stages where the pain has been short-term and not too severe. Using an Ice pack or wrapped may also help.
  • Physical Therapy – Techniques like ultrasound and laser therapy to promote healing by reducing inflammation. We use the MLS (Multiwave Locked System) to accelerate healing.
  • Corticosteroid Injections – May be used to reduce severe inflammation and pain. When combined with orthotics it has been shown to beeffective.

Surgical Treatments

  • Sesamoidectomy – Removal of the affected sesamoid bone if chronic pain persists despite conservative treatments.
  • Bone Drilling or Grafting – In cases of fractures, drilling may stimulate healing, while severe cases may require bone grafting.
  • Joint Realignment Surgery – If misalignment from a bunion or hallux limitus contributes to pain, realignment surgery may be needed.

Finally, the number one way to reduce the chances of getting sesamoiditis and prevent recurrence

Orthotics you can have your cake and eat it too. The use of custom-made arch supports may be your best option as a sesamoiditis treatment. Especially if you want to do activities that might make you more prone to injury of the sesamoids. These activities may be tennis, pickleball, running, walking, basketball etc. With every step you take you reduce the load on the sesamoid bones. So don’t assume that you’ll always need to limit your activities or stop doing what you’re presently doing.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sesamoiditis

  • What is the best sesamoiditis treatment?
    The best treatment depends on severity. Non-surgical options like orthotics, physical therapy, and NSAIDs work well for most cases. Surgery is reserved for persistent pain or fractures.
  • How long does sesamoiditis take to heal?
    Mild cases can heal within a few weeks with rest and treatment. More severe cases or fractures may take months.
  • Can sesamoiditis go away on its own?
    If caught early and managed with proper footwear and rest, symptoms may subside. However, untreated cases can worsen over time.
  • When is surgery necessary for sesamoiditis?
    Surgery is considered when conservative treatments fail, there is a chronic fracture, or the sesamoid bone is severely damaged.
  • Can I walk with sesamoiditis?
    Walking is possible, but excessive pressure on the forefoot can worsen symptoms. Using orthotics or a walking boot can help reduce strain.
  • Does cortisone help sesamoiditis?
    Cortisone injections can temporarily reduce inflammation and pain, but they are not a long-term cure.
  • What shoes should I wear for sesamoiditis?
    Low-heeled, cushioned shoes with a wide toe box help reduce stress on the sesamoid bones.

Can Flat Feet Cause Ankle Pain and Swelling?

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Flatfeet, commonly referred to as Pes Valgus or Pes Planus, is a condition with varying degrees of physical issues. If the condition is severe, there may be a minimal arch, and the arch may be touching the walking surface. The term pronation is often used to describe the motion of the foot rolling inward as the arch flattens with weight bearing. A flatfoot can be a congenitally acquired flatfoot from birth, or it can be an adult-acquired flatfoot. In children, it’s important to understand that a flatfoot is not normal, and assuming the child will grow out of it can lead to complications. In many situations, treatment may be needed to reduce the progression or correct the deformity. A foot specialist will be able to evaluate the child to see if, for their age group, the foot is normal. Ankle pain and swelling, as well as flat feet ankle pain, may also be associated with a flatfoot. In the adult population, hypertension may also be a cause of ankle swelling unrelated to flatfeet.

flat feet treatment

Causes of a Flat Foot

Symptoms of Flat Feet Ankle Pain

Some may not have any symptoms associated with their flatfeet. This can be an issue in children and young adults because over time the condition may progress and cause symptoms at a later age. When symptoms are present, they can include pain in the arch or heel area. There may also be pain in the achilles tendon. In later years patients may have symptoms caused by overuse of a tendon called the posterior tibial tendon. This tendon is on the inside of the ankle joint area. Swelling around the ankle may also be present with this condition. If left untreated it can result in chronic tendonitis with the potential for the tendon to eventually rupture. This is commonly referred to as posterior tibial dysfunction. Over a lifetime the possibility of pain and swelling in the ankle can occur because of arthritis from the additional stress placed on the joint by the flat foot. Anti-inflammatories may help with this condition on a temporary basis. Because the foot is the foundation of the body the improper biomechanics of a flatfoot can have significant impact throughout the body. This can result in pain at the knees, hips and back and shin splints in the leg.

Treatments- What you can do

  1. Stretching – If the flatfoot is related to a tight Achilles tendon stretching exercises that focus on this may be helpful.
  2. Shoegear -Be sure to wear more supportive shoes. If you’re a runner or walker make sure to ask for a shoe that has more motion control.
  3. Foot exercises – There is some resent evidence that foot exercises may be useful. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31590069/
  4. Lose weight – Losing weight is obviously helpful but for most it is not the primary cause of the flatfoot.
  5. Medication – treatment may include medication for hypertension or anti-inflammatories for arthritis.

What the foot specialist can do?

orthotic flatfeet ankle swelling

  1. Orthotics’ For many the use of custom-made orthotics is a vital part of the treatment. In children they are used to slow down the progression of the flatfoot and in adults when symptoms related to flatfeet occur, they are a common recommendation.
  2. Physical therapy – may be helpful if symptoms arise from the flatfoot
  3. Surgery – This could include surgery to correct the flatfoot in the adult or pediatric foot. Also surgery to repair tendons that have been damaged from many years of overuse because of the additional stress from the flatfoot.
  4. Ankle scope surgery – Small incision may be made to then perform a minimally invasive procedure to clean out the inflamed and damaged ankle joint resulting from the trauma brought on by the flatfoot.
  5. Restorative medicine – in recent years this has been a common minimally invasive procedure to avoid surgery on damaged joints such as the ankle joint or to repair tendons that normally would have required surgery.

If you think you have flatfeet or your child, does early intervention is important. It’s very important for children and young people to get the opinion of a foot specialist. Avoiding treatment in the formative years may result in more severe issues with your knee, hip, back, or foot problems in the adult. And don’t forget if your ankles are painful and swollen, it may be from your flatfeet.

Listen to what Orin has to say about restorative medicine!

Orin Testimonial

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Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery may have better options. Read this!

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Put your best foot forward after reconstructive foot and ankle surgery

reconstructive foot and ankle surgery

The purpose of reconstructive foot and ankle surgery is to restore normal function to the foot and ankle. It may also be needed to eliminate a painful condition and in some situations improve the cosmetics of the foot or ankle. Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery can be for soft tissues problems, structure problems and some conditions may be treated with minimally invasive techniques.

Soft tissue problems

before-after-swift-apcSoft tissue foot reconstructive surgeries may include treatment for ganglions and fibromas. Ganglions can originate from a tendon sheath or from joint capsule. In some cases, the doctor may be able to aspirate the fluid out with a needle in an office setting but if the problem returns or the ganglion is large surgical excision may be the treatment of choice. This can help with the pain and cosmetically improve the look of the foot or ankle.

A fibroma may occur on the bottom of the foot is known as Ledderhose disease or plantar fibromatosis. Seldom is surgery to remove the mass necessary but in most cases the use of an injection with a specific enzyme to dissolve the growth can be very successful.

Warts can also be very unsightly and painful. In the past treatment options have included, excision, use of chemicals that destroy the wart or freezing. These are all destructive in nature, however, with the advancement of technology the use of microwave energy with the SWIFT® device is used. It is the preferred option because it helps the body’s immune system have a more aggressive response to the wart virus. The patients’ own immune system eliminates the wart! Treatment with the SWIFT® device is in the office and allows the patient to walk immediately with no down time.

Structural problems

before after bunion surgery

The most common foot reconstructive surgeries may include bunions and hammertoes. Bunions usually require the use of pins, bone screws or plates to correct the alignment of the boney structure. View our patient testimonial from Kari on bunion surgery completed for both feet!

Hammertoe procedures may need a minimally invasive technique requiring a small incision to release a tendon that has become too tight or removal of a boney segment from the toe or fusion of one of the digital joints may be needed in more severe cases.

Hallux rigidus is also a painful foot complaint that results in a great toe joint that is stiffer and arthritic. Surgery may be needed to remove the unsightly boney growth from the top of the great toe joint and reposition the joint with the use of pins or bone screws. The result is pain-free motion and elimination of the bump. Flatfoot surgery may also be needed for a flatfoot that has been acquired as a birth defect or has progressed over a lifetime. Flatfoot reconstructive surgery may be as simple as using an implant in a joint beneath the ankle joint to block flattening of the arch or may involve procedures that require tendon lengthening’s with the use of bone grafts and even bone fusions in some situations. These procedures may require more recovery time.

Minimally invasive procedures

A very common complaint is heel pain. This is referred to as plantar fasciitis. When conservative measures fail two small incisions on either side of the heel are made and a scope is then inserted into the foot so that the fascial tissue can be released. This allows the fascia to be lengthened reducing its excessive pulling from the heel bone.  Small incisions may also be used to help with ankle surgery. A scope is placed into the joint and the surgeon then then repair the damage if the joint is arthritic or has inflammatory tissue. Both procedures may require minimal recovery time with the patient ambulating soon after surgery.

Joint denervation surgery – Avoiding ankle replacement surgery!

This involves the blocking of pain signals to the brain by the resection of one or more nerve branches through small incisions just above the ankle joint. The nerves have no motor function therefore there is no resulting weakness after the procedure. Many of our patients are choosing this before considering procedures such as ankle replacement surgeries.

Yes, surgery may require significant recovery time. However, the good news is that with technology and surgical innovation you may have less recovery time needed than in the past. If you would like help considering all the options that are now available, please allow us to guide you through the decision process. You may be surprised that your condition can be addressed with minimally invasive technique or by non-surgical means.

Listen to how Steve avoided the layup and risks of joint fusion in this testimonial video.

joint-denervation-patient-testimonial

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No More Icky Fungal Nails! Consider Laser Toenail Treatment

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Treatment of Onychomycosis
Treatment of Onychomycosis

Toenail fungus is one of the most common foot complaints. For many it can be very embarrassing with yellow discoloration of the nails. The nails may also become thickened, crumbly and even painful and difficult to trim. At Anderson Podiatry center we have the most experience as we were the first to bring laser fungal nail treatment to the Rocky Mountain area.

Other treatment options may include.

Topicals

If you’ve tried these chances are you were very frustrated. Most patients, we treat have had multiple attempts using topicals for nail infection treatment with little or no success

Oral antifungals

Another option is the use of the oral medication Lamisil. However, it has liver toxicity so many patients are reluctant to use it and we seldom recommend it for this reason.

Laser nail treatment

This laser nail treatment is the option most of our patients prefer. Lasers destroy the toenail infection because it’s able to penetrate the nail bed where topicals just can’t penetrate. The heat created by the laser is what destroys the infection. The laser light pulses rapidly so there is little to no pain and no side effects. You can return to regular activities immediately.

Is laser toenail treatment effective? Here are some studies to back up its effectiveness.

Studies to back up high cure rates.

The following clinical studies show support and toenail laser treatments are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. Here are some clinical trials /studies to show laser nail fungus treatment is effective.

  • A 2016 study by the FDA found that patients who received laser treatment displayed clear nails at three months and six months after treatment.
  • A 2019 study published in the journal American Family Physician by the American Association of Family Physicians found that after 180 days of toenail laser treatment, patients had a 30% cure rate and a 91% improvement in symptoms. This study also concluded that laser treatment is more effective for the treatment of toenail fungus than both over-the-counter and prescription topical and oral antifungal medications.
  • In 2018, the journal Lasers in Medical Science published a study about the success rate of laser nail treatment. These researchers reported a success rate of 83.7% among the patient population, who had infections that affected at least two-thirds of the nail.

So how does laser therapy work?

The laser nail treatment is painless although you may feel some warmth as the treatment is performed and if you do the technician will simply move the laser to another area of the nail. Also, if the nail is thickened it will be ground down, so it is much thinner allowing the laser to penetrate better. Thinning the nail is painless and patients appreciate the improved appearance after it is done. Many will start to see clearing of the nail which usually starts at the base as soon as 4-5 months. At 9 months you can expect to have maximum effect from a treatment as this is how long it takes for a nail to grow. The number of treatments that are needed can vary and your doctor will help you determine this.

Why choose Anderson Podiatry Center for laser toenail treatment?

We were the originators of this treatment option in the Rocky Mountain area. I think you’ll discover that our staff is well trained and yes, they are passionate about improving the looks of your nails. Please consider this option to maximize the chances of eliminating your icky toenails. We have two convenient locations when looking for ‘nail laser treatment near me’. Watch our patient testimonials and information videos on laser nail fungus treatment on youtube.

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Laser Nail Treatment Device by PinPointe

laser-nail-treatment-blog-anderson-podiatry-center

Restless Legs Syndrome Has To Do With The Brain Right? Wrong! No It’s In The Legs Where You Feel It.

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Many of you have been led to believe that restless legs may have to do with dopamine a neurotransmitter in the brain, or your iron levels or magnesium levels. Yes this may have a role however from my experience, the experiences of my patients along with my research point another direction, THE LEGS! Yes where your symptoms are located and where the cause is are the same. For many the nerve tunnels in the lower extremity have become to tight. The symptoms of restlessness, cramping, jerking and creepy crawley sensations then begin.

For many that first learn this its like the lights turned on. Common comments are,

“this makes so much sense” and “I knew there had to be an answer”

Have you ever wondered why few doctors do a full examination of the nerves in the lower extremity.

Often your diagnosed with Restless legs by the symptoms you share with your doctor as that is the standard of care. You may be surprised to find how little research has been done evaluating the nerves in your legs regarding your Restless legs. Currently we have one peer reviewed study to back up what I’m saying. A second study with more rigorous data will soon be submitted for publication. When everyone’s searching for metabolic problems as the issue I’m saying consider it to be a mechanical issue from compression of nerve tunnels. This has been shown to be the root cause. You may also be wondering why is a podiatrist opening the door to this new pathway. I suspect most of what you read about restless legs is coming from the Neurologists. Why aren’t they talking about this? Most doctors have been poorly trained in the evaluation and treatment of the peripheral nerves in the lower extremity so the pathway to this discovery you may find interesting. Like so many revolutionary changes it took people on the outside looking in and saying “have we ever considered this?” Its an area of medicine that’s been ignored and it’s time that you consider the peripheral nerve tunnels in your legs as the problem.

To learn more you may want to consider reading my Amazon best seller book , A Perfect Nights Sleep. Also consider visiting my website, reviewing my research paper, or consider giving us a call .

Five Stages of Peripheral Neuropathy and How to Cure the Nerve Damage

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Have you heard these comments regarding peripheral neuropathy?

“The nerve fibers have disintegrated so they are permanently damaged, it’s irreversible.” “There is no cure.” Listening to this, you walk away from whichever doctor told you this and you say to yourself “Oh well, I guess the nerve damage is permanent and there is nothing I can do to change that.” Typically, if your neuropathy is severe, you may walk away from this healthcare encounter with a prescription of Lyrica, Gabapentin, or a Narcotic. In this blog we talk about your treatment options and the different stages of peripheral neuropathy.

Nerve Cell Damaged vs Normal Comparison

Challenging what conventional medicine is telling you because it is false! It’s not true!

Aside from treatments aimed at reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake in your diet or looking at vitamin deficiencies; current medical treatment involves two options, however, there is a third option that very few of you hear about.

Option 1 -The problem is metabolic.

It may be from diabetes or if one is prediabetic. It could be from an autoimmune disease, alcoholism, thyroid condition, or an unknown cause. Therefore, the nerves are damaged and just don’t work well.

Option 2 – The problem starts in the back.

So the back needs to be addressed. Maybe, you see a chiropractor, get injections in your back, go through surgery on your back, or use nerve stimulators or pain pumps in your back.

Option 3 – The problem is mechanical and it is in the foot and legs.

To understand this option, we must look elsewhere at the upper extremities, hands, and arms. When burning, tingling and numbness occur, doctors are trained to consider nerve tunnels such as the carpel tunnel. They are looking for a mechanical problem. Could there be a tight nerve tunnel that is compressing the nerve, and if so surgery to open the nerve tunnel would be considered. This may occur in both diabetic and non-diabetic neuropathy. Our research provides objective evidence of this. (Ref, Anderson 1, Yamasaki 2) The nerves can be damaged from metabolic processes but there’s another solution to fix the problem. Very few doctors have been trained to evaluate and treat nerve pathways in the lower extremities. So, surgical treatment must be considered in the five stages to save lives and limbs, especially when one has a diabetic condition. It may even have a positive effect on blood vessels. In the diabetic state, it is known that because of high sugar levels, the body produces a sugar by-product called sorbitol. This sugar will reside in the nerve tissue and will attract water to the nerve causing swelling. Now with a larger nerve, the nerve tunnels that the nerve branches pass through become tighter. (Ref D Lee; D Dauphinée, J. Jakobsen 3, J. Jakobsen 4. With this information in mind, it is ideal to consider surgical decompression to relieve pressure on the nerve.

nerve compression inforgraphic andersonpodiatry to understand the stages peripheral neuropathy

So here are the stages of peripheral neuropathy and what to do

First Stage – In this stage of peripheral neuropathy, the symptoms of burning tingling, and numbness may be very inconsistent and sporadic. The intensity of the burning, tingling, and numbness in the feet or the legs comes and goes. At this stage, looking at the possibility of being prediabetic is important, and nutritional modifications may have a significant impact

Second Stage – The symptoms will now be getting more intense and frequent. Patients are more concerned and may be more likely to seek treatments. At this stage, nutrition considerations are still useful and consultation with a peripheral nerve specialist should be considered to address surgical or non-surgical options.

Third Stage – This is when the symptoms will peak. At this stage, the symptoms may be 24/7 and it may become difficult to sleep comfortably, and walking may be more difficult because of the pain. Many patients may consider medication such as Gabapentin or Lyrica or even pain medication or narcotics. At this stage, nutritional options will have less impact and the option for surgical decompression should be considered. When symptoms are the worst, surgery may be more impactful.

Fourth Stage – In this stage, the severity of the pain and burning may decrease, and walking may now be affected by numbness and weakness. With balance and reflexes being affected, concerns about using a cane or walker are common. In diabetics, the risk of an amputation starts to go up. At this stage, nutritional options do not help that much, and surgical options may still be considered. Now the risk of amputation in the diabetic becomes more real.

Fifth Stage – At the final stage, the nerve is very damaged and there is little pain. The feet will be number and weaker. Walking becomes more challenging and in diabetics, the risk of amputation is more common. This is the stage of peripheral neuropathy where amputations are most likely to occur. Surgery may still be entertained, but it may not be as effective as if it had been performed in stage three or four.

In summary, consider the following when dealing with different stages peripheral neuropathy

Get treatment early to know if you have neuropathy in early stages one and two. Addressing it nutritionally may also have more impact. For most types of neuropathies, you should be evaluated for nerve compression by stages two or three. Especially in diabetics, at the stage where you’re contemplating medication, nerve decompression surgery should be considered. Rather than being medicated through the most painful stages of peripheral neuropathy, patients may want to consider the surgical option of treatment to maximize potential reversal of nerve damage. Waiting till stages four or five may limit the potential improvement gained by surgical decompression. By addressing stages two and three the potential to avoid amputation, limb loss, and possible death could be reduced in diabetics. In summary, as more patients are learning about nerve compression in the lower extremity, the health risks can be eliminated especially in those suffering from diabetic neuropathy.

  1. Anderson JC, Nickerson DS, Tracy BL, Paxton RJ, Yamasaki DS. Acute Improvement in Intraoperative EMG Following Common Fibular Nerve Decompression in Patients with Symptomatic Diabetic Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy: 1. EMG Results. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2017 Sep;78(5):419-430. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1593958. Epub 2016 Dec 30. PMID: 28038479. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28038479/
  2. Yamasaki DS, Nickerson DS, Anderson JC. Acute Improvement in Intraoperative EMG During Common Fibular Nerve Decompression in Patients with Symptomatic Diabetic Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy: EMG and Clinical Attribute Interrelations. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2020 Nov;81(6):484-494. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701619. Epub 2020 May 26. PMID: 32455446. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32455446/
  3. Lee, D., & Dauphinée Damien M. (2005, September 1). Morphological and functional changes in the diabetic peripheral nerve using diagnostic ultrasound and neurosensory testing to select candidates for nerve decompression. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.  https://meridian.allenpress.com/japma/article-abstract/95/5/433/156230/Morphological-and-Functional-Changes-in-the
  4. Jakobsen, J. (1978, February 1). Peripheral nerves in early experimental diabetes – diabetologia. SpringerLink.  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01263449

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Stages of Peripheral Neuropathy

  • What is neuropathy and what are its symptoms?
    Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, involves damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, burning sensations, and pain typically in the hands and feet.
  • What causes neuropathy?
    Various factors can cause neuropathy including diabetes, chemotherapy, certain infections, and physical injuries. Each type has its own specific causes and risk factors.
  • Are there different types of neuropathy?
    Yes, there are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy, each characterized by the specific nerve types involved and the symptoms presented.
  • How is neuropathy treated?
    While there is no cure for neuropathy, treatments are available that focus on managing symptoms and underlying conditions. These can include medications, physical therapy, and in certain cases, surgical options like nerve decompression surgery.
  • What are the long-term impacts of neuropathy?
    Neuropathy can be a chronic condition with symptoms that vary in severity. Long-term impacts might include persistent pain, increased sensitivity to touch, and potential mobility issues due to muscle weakness or coordination problems.

Do feet get bigger as we age?

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What can cause your feet to get bigger and what can you do about it?

Why Are Your Feet Getting Bigger?

growing feet as we age bigger feetYou may have noticed, especially as you’re getting older, that your feet are getting bigger. The shoes that used to fit you no longer are adequate and you find yourself shopping for shoes that may be wider or longer. Why is this? There are multiple reasons but for this blog, I’ve narrowed it down to five.

Mileage on your feet

The mileage of walking all your life or running on your feet has a lot to do with this. The simple act of the thousands of steps we take daily has an impact. With each step two to three times your body weight comes down on your feet. The ligaments that hold and maintain the arch tend to get stretched over time and this will allow the arch to flatten and possibly the foot to get wider.

Obesity

Having additional weight on your feet can also contribute to them becoming bigger. With additional weight, the foot may splay apart and widen and the ligaments that support the arch get stretched so the foot lengthens. It’s also been noted that the average shoe size for men and women has increased from years ago and this may be due to increased obesity in the general population. So, a size 13 shoe for a man may be closer to an average size now than it was years ago.

Foot Deformities

Foot deformities are also something that may be impacting you. For example, a bunion deformity, where there’s a bump by the big toe joint and the first toe may be deviating towards the second toe will make your foot wider. Also, on the opposite side of the foot, you may have what’s referred to as a bunionette or tailor’s bunion. This will cause a prominence on the outer side of the foot by the small toe. If these deformities progress over your lifetime it’s going to make your foot wider.

Diseases That You May Have

This would include people that have rheumatoid arthritis or maybe diabetes where the foot might break down and lead to a longer or wider foot. The joints and ligaments of the foot can be negatively affected by both of these.

Pregnancy

With pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin aids in relaxing the birth canal in preparation for the delivery. This can also cause the ligaments in the foot to become more flexible and can cause the arch to flatten and the foot to get wider. Also, the weight gain associated with pregnancy can contribute.

What Can Be Done to Correct This?

More support for your feet

One of the most basic things would be to use arch supports or custom-made orthotics that you can get from a podiatrist. By doing this, it creates more support for the foot and there may be less impact of your body weight on the foot that would lead to the foot lengthening or getting wider. You may also consider wearing shoes that are more supportive.

Control your weight

Weight gain has a big impact on how flat your feet may get. The larger your body, the more impact that this will have on the progression of a longer and wider foot. Anything that helps you to maintain your weight is a good idea.

So don’t be surprised as you get older if your feet are getting bigger. There’s really nothing to worry about as this is a normal part of aging, but do consider the suggestions in this blog that may slow down the progression.