Halloween is almost here, and that means spooky sounds will soon fill the air. While a howling werewolf or a shrieking witch may send a chill down your spine, you shouldn’t be afraid of scary sounding foot conditions. In today’s blog, we explain when you shouldn’t fear these five foot conditions, even though their names may sound a bit scary.
Don’t Be Afraid Of These Scary Sounding Foot Conditions
1. Morton’s Neuroma – Morton’s neuroma may sound like some crazy monster that was built by H.W. Morton in an underground laboratory, but in actuality, it describes a condition that involves the thickening of the nerves in your toe area. You can learn more about the condition in depth on this page, but know that Dr. Silverman can help you treat the issue by getting you set up with anti-inflammatory medications, examining your shoes and recommending changes if they are contributing to the problem, and through rest and simple movement exercises.
2. Claw Toe – No, this isn’t what happens if you’re turned into a werewolf or a flying monkey. This describes a condition in which the toe joint abnormally bends upwards, giving the toe a claw-like appearance. You’ll want to treat this condition in its infancy before the joint damage becomes worse, otherwise it will be tough to flatten out this bend. Footwear changes and physical therapy are two of the best options for claw toe, but a surgical procedure can also work wonders for more serious cases.
3. Plantar Warts – When you think of a wart, you may picture in on the face of a witch, but plantar warts are a condition that affect ordinary people all the time. They are caused by an infection but are non-cancerous and typically are only removed because they are unsightly or irritating your hands or feet. Dr. Silverman can help to freeze off or excise any plantar warts that are bothering you.
4. Onychomycosis – It may be hard to pronounce, and while it’s not something you really need to be afraid of, you shouldn’t ignore it either. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the toenail that causes discoloration and thickening of the nail. It affects about 10 percent of the population, and can typically be treated with topical medications or by removing the nail.
5. Sesamoiditis – This condition involves inflammation to the sesamoid bones in your feet, and it can cause pain and discomfort in your forefoot. It is a condition we’re quite familiar with, and it is oftentimes treated with rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, activity avoidance and orthotic inserts to pad and protect the area.