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Tag: foot pain

The One Thing Regarding Your Nerve Pain

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nerve pain in leg

I recently read a book called The One Thing. The concept was simple: with all the noise and distractions that we have in our lives it’s important to focus on that one thing that is most important. Not an easy task.

Some of you may have remembered the movie City Slickers where the cowboy character Curly challenged the City Slicker character played by Billy Crystal who seemed to be going through a midlife crisis, and he needed to find that one thing.

At Anderson Podiatry Center for Nerve Pain when we explain nerve conditions in the lower extremity we try to keep it simple. We must play the role of a teacher, as most patients have no idea about our concepts of treating nerve conditions. We constantly have to introduce patients to the new concepts that we follow. So whether its neuropathy, drop foot or restless legs it gets back to that one thing.

It may not be by accident that you don’t know about the one thing. Some of you are not aware of the one thing as no doctor has told you, and most of all Big Pharma would never like for you to know what I’m telling you. They would rather keep you on the drugs. So what is this one thing? In one-word: compression. Yes, compression of nerves.

We all are born with nerve tunnels in the legs. Five of them lie below the knee. You probably have heard of carpel tunnel in the hand. There are several other nerve tunnels in the arms that frequently become tight and squeeze or compress the nerves traveling through them. NO one questions this, and drugs are frequently one of the last treatments recommended. The legs and feet should not be any different.

Sadly, the medical awareness and understanding of the tunnels in the lower extremity are 30 years behind understanding of the upper extremity. Why must medicine continue to offer less than optimal solutions for your neuropathy and restless legs problems? Why aren’t’ you educated about the potentials to have a chance of a permanent solution to your problem? The reasons are multiple, but that’s a discussion for another day.

So for now please open your mind to what I have been doing since 2002. When you come in we listen to where your symptoms are, and based upon that my attention is directed to one or more of these five tunnels. It’s really a very simple concept. We don’t discriminate. We simply treat the lower extremity like the upper extremity.

So, I challenge you to reconsider your options when you’re told that you have neuropathy or restless legs and there is nothing you can do except take drugs and live with it. Others may tell you that your nerve symptoms are from your back and you need a back injection, surgery or chiropractic care. It’s a constant story: my back or neuropathy.

Consider the one thing. It could be that your problem lies where your neuropathy pain or restless legs symptoms exist in the leg. We’ve learned not to discriminate because we consider the one thing. And because of that knowledge I feel we are better able to give you a chance at permanent reversal of your problems.

Please give us an opportunity to help you understand that one thing: compression. It may make the difference between years of drugs, being inactive, weight gain, depression and lack of sleep.

Don’t do what most people do, give up searching and never learn about the one thing: compression, and the five nerves that it affects.

Custom Orthotics vs. Over-the-Counter Arch Support

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Okay, I’m going to come right out and say it: custom orthotics, made from a mold of your foot, are better than over-the-counter arch supports. How can I say this? Because I’m neutral on the subject.

You see, during normal motion while walking or running, the foot can sometimes roll too far to one side. The rolling of the foot too far inward is called pronation. Rolling too far outward is called supination. Both conditions are often painful, and can cause other problems.

A normal foot in motion is neutral. The foot and ankle maintain a straight line, and it doesn’t roll too far to one side or the other.

Herein lies the key difference between custom orthotics and over-the-counter arch support: custom orthotics are designed to hold the foot in neutral, whereas over-the-counter arch supports are not.

The neutral position created by custom orthotics stabilizes the forefoot to the rearfoot. Think of a car with the front and back wheels out of alignment—the wear and tear that ensues is a direct result of the wheels not lining up correctly. I’ve seen patients who have worn over-the-counter arch supports for months and are still dealing with pain. After switching to custom orthotics, their pain goes away.

The most glaring reason to use custom orthotics instead of over-the-counter arch supports is when the forefoot is tilted onto the rearfoot. Think of driving a car with a flat tire on the front driver’s side. The car doesn’t need something to support it in the middle; it needs the front balanced with a new (inflated) tire. In the flatter-footed population, the front “flat tire” is the big toe joint. A custom-molded orthotic will support the flat arch by supporting, or “inflating”, the first toe joint, which will bring the foot to neutral. Over-the-counter arch supports can’t do this.

 A custom orthotic will help the front and back of your foot work together, creating a more efficient, one-component system. An over-the-counter arch support, on the other hand, will be soft and fluffy and will only support your arch.

Custom orthotics can get you back to the level of activity that will improve your fitness and happiness. So, put it in neutral to get moving!

Custom Orthotics

4 Ways Your Weight Affects Your Feet

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Your feet are a vital part of your daily activity; they are responsible for carrying your entire body around. When you suffer from foot pain, whether temporary or chronic, everyday activities suddenly—and frustratingly—become much harder to accomplish.

There are many causes for foot pain, but a common culprit is your body weight. As troublesome as foot pain is, it’s not hopeless!

It’s important to remember that your feet not only carry your body weight; they also absorb the impact of each step you take. When they’re carrying more weight around, they’re put under more stress, which in turn puts more stress on the tissue and wears down the foot structure.  Being overweight by even 25 pounds increases the stress on your feet.

Here are four of the main ways that your weight can negatively affect your feet:

  1. Tendon Inflammation – Carrying too much weight causes you to change your posture, which shifts your body weight to the inside. This weight shift puts extra pressure on your arches and tendons, often resulting in tendonitis.
  2. Plantar Fascia Inflammation – The plantar fascia is the soft band of tissue on the sole of your foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. When it becomes inflamed it causes plantar fasciitis, a stabbing sensation in the heel that makes it painful to walk.
  3. Osteoarthritis – This is the breakdown of cartilage in joints. Though this most commonly affects knees and hips, it also causes swollen and stiff joints in your ankles.
  4. Nerve Pain – Burning, tingling, or numbness are typically a result of nerve pain, which stems from neuropathy and neuromas.

As discouraging as foot pain can be, there are ways to reduce or even eliminate it. Losing weight is one of the best ways to decrease foot pain, but since walking or even standing can be uncomfortable, it can be difficult to exercise.

Here are a few other ways to help decrease your weight-related foot pain:

  • Try regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is a minimally invasive treatment that is particularly helpful with tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Regenerative treatments like AmnioFix change growth factors to the body’s own stem cells that reduce inflammation and scar-tissue formation to enhance healing. These treatments have minimal lay up so you can continue to work out and even do weight-bearing exercises.
  • Wear sufficiently cushioned shoes. Being overweight makes it difficult to bend over, and flip-flops or other slip-on shoes seem to be a good choice because they are easier to put on. These shoes offer little to no support, however, and will only make your foot pain worse.
  • Invest in orthotics. Custom orthotics are an excellent way to correct foot misalignment and decrease pain. Anderson also points out that “custom orthotics are hugely important, and take the support you need from shoe to shoe.” Orthotics combined with AmnioFix are commonly used in treating weight-related foot pain.
  • Do low-impact exercises. Low-impact exercises like swimming and cycling are a great way to shed some weight without the pain of higher-impact workouts like running or hiking.

Whether your foot pain is weight-related or caused by something else, it’s important to understand that foot pain is never normal, and you don’t have to live with it.

effect of weight loss on feet

How to Avoid an Ankle Fusion or Ankle Replacement

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One of the most debilitating problems is arthritis in the ankle joint. This can be caused from overuse or just getting older (wear and tear). It can also be caused by previous injuries including an old ankle fracture or repetitive ankle sprains. In both situations the cartilage that lines the joint may become damaged to the point of almost having bone rubbing bone in your joint. Ouch!

“But doctors don’t understand!”

I hear that a lot from my patients. They come in frustrated as they have been told to exercise more. Maybe they are overweight, maybe they need to better control their diabetes. And they are motivated! But, the pain is stopping them. It’s a vicious circle.

More exercise=More pain.

Many feel they are not being listened to. And yes some think that your feet and ankles are supposed to hurt, that’s just what happens. They may have been dumbed down by all the drug marketing to the point they assume that if something below the knee hurts and a drug doesn’t help, then there may be nothing that can be done. Sound crazy? Well, sadly, it’s becoming a more common mind set.

Major surgery or living with it are the only options patients are getting!How to avoid ankle fusion or replacemet

Regarding ankle arthritis: the common approach in severe cases are the options of replacing the joint, just like replacing a hip or knee joint, or fusion of the joint. Both are major surgeries.
On the one hand, ankle joint replacements may not be as successful as replacing a hip or knee. On the other hand, ankle fusion leaves one with a stiff ankle that no longer moves, and a much altered walk.

Stop- consider a simpler, less painful solution.

Before you take the last step to replace or fuse a joint with all the potential risk consider deinervation of the joint. Simply stated this means getting rid of the nerve or nerves that send messages to the brain telling it the joint hurts. The area where the nerve or nerves are removed is just above the ankle.

We have been doing this surgery for 2 years, and our success rate is very high! Patients are able to walk immediately, or within just a few days.  I must stress, we don’t remove nerves that would make the joint weaker, but simply remove branches that give the joint sensation. We have seen very rewarding results, and if it fails there is still the option to have the ankle replaced or fused. Patients who had given up are now being active with very significant reduction of pain, and now with no more drugs!

Don’t let the thought of a major surgery stop you from getting better! Just remember, before you fuse or replace consider this simple, proven procedure and simply deinvervate.

How to Prevent Jogging Injuries with Proper Foot Alignment

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Sadly, jogging injuries are not uncommon. In fact, it’s very likely that you or someone you know has been benched due to a jogging injury, whether it be a shin splint, sprained ankle, leg or foot pain, or a stress fracture.

With a little help and preparation, you can ensure you stay off the bench and on the track.

Alignment is the most important aspect of running well

Jogging injuries can come from an array of sources, but a common perpetrator is foot misalignment. Foot misalignment is often the culprit behind many injuries, including:

  • Shin splint – a stabbing, aching pain in the shins that happens when the muscles and tendons covering the shinbone become inflamed.
  • Sprained ankle – this painful injury is caused by the inward or outward stretching of the ligament, and can take weeks to months to fully heal.
  • Leg, knee, and foot pain – caused by overuse, pulled muscles, joint strain, and runner’s knee, to name a few possible culprits.
  • Stress fracture – tiny cracks in the bone that are the result of repeatedly pounding more force into the leg bones than they can handle. Don’t be deceived by their tininess: these cracks in the bones are very painful, and they can be difficult to recover from.

So what exactly is foot misalignment?

Alignment refers to how the axes of the bones line up. Misalignment is when the bones don’t line up properly, which puts extra stress on the outer parts of the joints where thin cartilage can’t withstand it. This puts added pressure on the ligaments, which weakens joints.

Common foot alignment issues include:

  • Flat feet – can produce pain in the arch and lower leg, foot swelling, weakness in the toes, or there can be no pain at all, yet it still can be a huge factor in foot misalignment. A high arch can also misalign the feet.
  • Pronation – the arch of the foot flattens, resulting in increased stress on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
  • Supination – the outward roll of the foot. Supination, like pronation, results in increased stress on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and can also result in runner’s knee, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and many other injuries.

Even though jogging injuries are about as common as mosquitos in a swamp, there are actions you can take to help prevent them. Proper shoes, along with orthotics, are a fantastic way to realign your feet, and getting the correct orthotics can easily be accomplished by seeing a podiatrist. Also, by following a few simple preventative measures you can greatly reduce your risk of getting injured.

Stretching can avoid repetitive stress injuries

Dr. Murdock, one of our skilled doctors who is also an avid-runner, offers a few key tips for avoiding jogging injuries. First, practice cross-training: don’t do the same activity every day, and if you do the same activity, don’t have two hard days, but rather do a hard day and then an easy day.

He explains, “Listen to your body! Cross-train with biking, running, elliptical, etc. Make sure that part of your cross training is working your core. Core strength is really important in preventing injuries.”

Dr. Murdock also says to cross-train foot function with different shoes such as a stability shoe, cushion shoe, rock shoe, etc.

Next, avoid repetitive motion. One great way to do this, Dr. Murdock says, is by varying your pace so you’re not running fifteen miles at a seven-and-a-half minute pace, but rather change it to an eight-minute mile, then seven, then nine, etc. Also, make sure the surface you’re running on is flat, not an angle, to avoid tendon injuries.

Last, make sure to stretch. “I’m an advocate of stretching, particularly after a workout,” Dr. Murdock says.

Jogging injuries are common and often fierce, but by following the steps above they can be prevented.

Neuropathy: Why It’s Important Not to Delay Treatment

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It starts with some tingling in your feet, and maybe a little in your legs.  Then, the tingling turns into pain: sharp jabbing or stabbing sensations. You begin to lose coordination in your feet, and you start being more at risk of falling down. One day, paralysis may even occur. It’s frustrating, it’s frightening, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Neruopathy can stop you from simple tasks like walking, driving, or even staying balanced

The most frightening thing about neuropathy, however, is that even if you think it’s getting better (your pain and symptoms decrease, for instance), it could actually be getting worse. This is because the later stages of neuropathy often cause numbness, meaning that you can no longer feel the pain that’s telling you something’s wrong. This can eventually cause the skin of your foot to die and become necrotic, and it sometimes even leads to amputation, especially in diabetic patients.

This is why it’s so important to start treating your neuropathy right away.

The first step to recovery is understanding the problem. Neuropathy is the disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves, or in other words, nerve damage. If you suffer from neuropathy you likely experience muscle weakness, twitching, tingling, numbness in the feet and lower legs, prickling sensations, and nerve pain in the feet and lower legs. The most common causes of neuropathy include injury, infection, diabetes, and even some cancers.

What’s most discouraging about neuropathy is how difficult it can be to find relief. This discouragement is exacerbated by the fact that medications-a common first step in treating neuropathy- often have unwanted side effects or are ineffective. Furthermore, medications can treat the symptoms of neuropathy, but they can’t treat the root cause: the tight nerve tunnels that are “squeezing” the nerves and preventing them from functioning properly.

Since neuropathy can worsen over time, it’s essential that you don’t delay treatment. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with the pain. There are many treatment options for neuropathy, including:

Treating your neuropathy may well offer relief for common symptoms as well, such as: improving balance, strength, and nerve sensations, providing more restful sleep, reducing risk of falling, and decreasing pain.

We truly understand how painful and even debilitating neuropathy can be which is why we urge you not delay your treatment any longer. Even if you think you’ve tried everything, research in neuropathy is progressing every day, and new treatment options are out there. You have the power to stop your neuropathy from progressing, and we can help you find the treatment plan that’s best for you. Start feeling better today!