Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional podiatric advice. Treatment is individually based and is dependent upon your diagnosis and presenting complaint. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following a personal consultation with a Podiatrist.

At Southern Podiatry, we can tackle almost any foot-related problem you may have.

Below is a selection of the most common ailments we deal with. If you have any concerns related to a foot condition, don’t hesitate to give us a call to arrange an appointment.

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Corns and Calluses

calluses and corns affect more people
than any other kind of foot problem.

Our feet play an important role in getting us around. When we walk or stand, our feet carry the burden of our body weight, as well as bearing the various pressures of movement and the constraints of footwear.

Sometimes, pressure placed on the foot becomes out of balance and extra friction falls on particular areas of the foot.

When this happens, the body may respond to the pressure by producing thickenings in the surface layer of the skin. If the cause of pressure is not relieved, calluses become painful. The presence of a central ‘core’ suggests a corn has formed.

Types

If pressure becomes concentrated in a small area, a ‘hard’ corn may develop. Sometimes the pressure of the corn or callus may produce inflammation, which can result in acute pain, swelling and redness. Sometimes ‘soft’ corns may form between the toes where the skin is moist from sweat or inadequate drying. These appear white and rubbery and are also caused by excessive friction.

Diabetic Foot Care

The best footwear fits well and protects your feet.
Wherever possible, wear shoes to avoid injury.

Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly.

This is because the body’s method of converting glucose into energy is not working as it should.

How Diabetes Can Affect Your Feet

Your feet are supplied with blood to keep them healthy. They also have a multitude of nerves that act as an emergency warning system. For example, if you have a stone in your shoe, nerves will send a message to your brain to investigate. However, if your diabetes is poorly controlled for a long period of time, this may lead to nerve damage, or ‘peripheral neuropathy’, which impairs sensation to the feet, and/or reduced blood supply, also known as ‘poor circulation’.

How We Can Help

Podiatrists provide accurate and up to date information to determine your foot health classification. We will be able to highlight any risks that you may be predisposed to and in many cases, unaware of. Our Neurological and Vascular Assessments utilise Doppler ultrasound blood flow technology, as well as other diagnostic tests to determine the health of your lower limb blood flow and nerve supply. The information about your foot health and risk category is then shared with your Doctor for a multidisciplinary collaborative health care approach. Your Podiatrist will also recommend management strategies to help you to minimise the risk of lower limb diabetic complications

Our Foot Collection

We see feet everyday. There is nothing to be embarrassed about, or scared to show us.

As Podiatrists, our role is “Keeping you happier and healthier from the feet up”. And that involves us seeing your feet.

So here is a small collection of foot concerns that we see every day- some cases more extreme than others- but each in their own right worthy of a Podiatrists intervention. If you wish to keep updated and informed- check out our Facebook page and sign up for our newsletter.

We aim to show you the news that is current and relevant to you keeping your feet healthy.

Some of our favorite feet (before we did our magic).

Heel Pain

Recovery depends on the cause of your heel pain
and your individual health.

Heel pain is one of the most common conditions treated by podiatrists. It is often a message from the body that something is in need of medical attention.

Pain that occurs right after an injury or early in an illness may play a protective role, often warning us about the damage we have suffered.

Who is at Risk

The greatest incidence of heel pain is seen in middle-aged men and women. It is also seen in those who take part in regular sporting activities and those significantly overweight and on their feet a lot.

Causes

While heel pain has many causes, it is usually the result of faulty biomechanics (abnormalities in the way we walk). This can place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues attached to it. The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed footwear; or being significantly overweight.

Toenail Problems

Toenail problems tend to be more common with advancing age. Problems include ingrown toenail, fungal infection and nail deformities.

Professional care from your podiatrist can improve the health of your toenails.

Ingrown Toenails

The most common problem treated by podiatrists is ingrown toenail. The big toe is particularly prone to this painful condition. Incorrect trimming technique, trauma (such as stubbing your toe), nails that naturally curve too sharply, or wearing tight shoes can cause an ingrown toenail.

Fungal Infections

Symptoms of a nail with fungal infection include discolouration and thickening of the nail, and the separation of the nail from the nail bed. There may be a white, cheesy discharge. Without treatment, the nail bed itself can become infected. Treatment options include anti-fungal preparations and professional trimming, shaping and care of the nail by your podiatrist.

Inflammation of the Skin Alongside the Nail

The skin lying alongside the nail can become infected with bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus. This infection is called paronychia. The symptoms include pain, redness and swelling around the cuticle, and perhaps a discharge of yellow or green pus. Acute cases can be treated with antibiotics. However, chronic paronychia is harder to treat. The nail distorts and discolours and the skin may lift at the site of infection. Sometimes, the inflammation spreads from one nail to another.

Deformed or Brittle Nails

A violent toe-stubbing, dropping a heavy object on the toe or some other trauma can injure the nail bed and cause the nail to grow in deformed ways. The nail may be thickened or ridged. Brittle nails are common in elderly people because of the tendency to poor circulation. Deformed or brittle nails can benefit from professional attention. Trimming, shaping and nail care from your podiatrist can improve the health of your nails.