If you are exercising a lot, or the weather is very hot, your feet may perspire more than normal. But if you find that your feet sweat for no particular reason when you are at rest, you may have a condition known as plantar hyperhidrosis. Although the cause of hyperhidrosis is still unknown, medical experts have determined that the brain signals to the sweat glands that your body is overheating. As a result, the sweat glands in several parts of the body, including the soles of your feet, work overtime to regulate your body temperature. It is not known how to eliminate hyperhidrosis completely, but a number of temporary measures can keep it controlled. Treatment options, which vary with the severity of the condition, include topical gels or lotions, injections, and oral medication. Another treatment option is iontophoresis, which involves sending a mild electrical current through a foot bath to temporarily shut down the sweat glands in the feet. For guidance on which treatment options are best for you, a visit with a podiatrist is suggested.
Hyperhidrosis is a rare disorder that can cause people to have excessive sweating of their feet. This can usually occur all on its own without rigorous activity involved. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis may also experience sweaty palms.
Although it is said that sweating is a healthy process meant to cool down the body temperature and to maintain a proper internal temperature, hyperhidrosis may prove to be a huge hindrance on a person’s everyday life.
Plantar hyperhidrosis is considered to be the main form of hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis can refer to sweating that occurs in areas other than the feet or hands and armpits. Often this may be a sign of it being related to another medical condition such as menopause, hyperthyroidism and even Parkinson’s disease.
In order to alleviate this condition, it is important to see your doctor so that they may prescribe the necessary medications so that you can begin to live a normal life again. If this is left untreated, it is said that it will persist throughout an individual’s life.
A last resort approach would be surgery, but it is best to speak with your doctor to find out what may be the best treatment for you.
Of the many afflictions that can affect the feet, neuropathy is perhaps the most insidious and deceptive. Neuropathy can occur in the feet when the nerves are so badly damaged you might not feel pain when something is wrong with your foot and you may also feel that something is causing pain when nothing is. This nerve damage can occur from an injury, illness, infection, or other cause. Any range of symptoms can be felt because there is a spectrum of different nerves that may be affected. However, there are some self-care tricks that you can utilize for your neuropathy if it is not very severe. For example, you might try soaking your feet in a foot bath filled with chamomile or nettle leaves. These leaves are rich in antioxidants and aid in the pain relief of muscles and joints. It is beneficial to soak in this foot bath for approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, you might try giving yourself a massage or asking a friend to massage the affected areas. The purpose is to promote blood circulation. Lastly, you might consider applying an ice pack to the affected area for short intervals of time about twice a day. These are just some of the many different self-care tricks you might use for your neuropathy. It is always best, however, to consult a podiatrist about your condition.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with one of our podiatrists from Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.
What Is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.
Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:
Numbness
Sensation loss
Prickling and tingling sensations
Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
Muscle weakness
Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.
Treatment
To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.
Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.
Suffering from this type of pain? You may have the foot condition known as Morton's neuroma. Morton's neuroma may develop as a result of ill-fitting footwear and existing foot deformities. We can help.
As people get older, the feet and ankles have a higher blood volume level, which often results in having swollen feet and ankles. This generally produces little or no pain, despite the fact that some patients find it difficult to move their ankles as they once did. Swelling of the feet can occur for many reasons. A common concern is additional salt in the diet, as this may cause water retention. An antidote may be drinking plenty of fresh water daily, which is helpful in moving the fluids around in the body. Many people can develop swollen feet if they sit for extended periods of time, and this is common while flying. Additionally, blood can collect in the ankles in warm climates, and gravity may contribute significantly toward this. Losing weight, in addition to reducing sugar intake and avoiding unhealthy fats, may help to control swollen feet and ankles. Relief may come from elevating the feet as often as possible, and this is typically effective when coupled with other methods to reduce existing swelling. If you suffer from swollen feet and ankles, please confer with a podiatrist who can guide you toward proper management of this condition.
Swollen feet can be a sign of an underlying condition. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Swollen feet are a common ailment among pregnant women and people who stand or sit for extended periods. Aging may increase the possibility of swollen feet and patients who are obese often notice when their feet are swelling too. There may be medical reasons why swollen feet occur:
Phlebitis - A condition that causes the veins to become inflamed and can also cause leg pain.
Liver disease - This may lead to low blood levels of albumin which is a protein. This can cause fluid in the blood to pass into the tissues and several areas of the body can become swollen.
Heart failure - When the heart doesn’t pump properly the blood that is normally pumped back to the heart can pool in the veins of the legs causing swollen feet.
Kidney disease - One of the main functions of the kidneys is releasing excess fluid in the body. This type of condition can make it difficult for the kidneys to function properly, and as a result the feet may become swollen.
Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)- This is a serious condition where blood clots form in the veins of the legs. They can block the return of blood from the legs to the heart which may cause the feet to swell. It is important to be treated by a podiatrist if this condition is present.
Swollen feet can also be caused by bone and tendon conditions, including fractures, arthritis, and tendinitis. Additionally, there may be skin and toenail conditions and an infection may cause the feet to swell. Patients who take medicine to treat high blood pressure may be prone to getting swollen feet.
Many patients elevate their feet to help relieve the swelling and this is generally a temporary remedy. When a podiatrist is consulted the reason behind the swelling can be uncovered and subsequently treated.
