Common Foot Ailments (page 2)
Verrucae
Verrucaes are a common complaint amongst children and adults. A verruca is a small skin lesion which is commonly found on the bottom surface of the foot. The lesion is usually approximately 1cm in diameter but can be larger. Sometimes a single wart may have many small satellite warts surrounding it. They appearance is similar to corns but verrucaes are more superficial in depth. The surface of the verrucae is covered with black dots that are actually small blood vessels that feed the verrucae. The color is usually paler then the usual tone of the skin. Verrucaes are usually surrounding by hard skin and will not be well circumscribed.
Bunions
Bunions are one of the most common forefoot deformities. A displacement of the bone under the 1st toe occurs. This causes the big toe to move towards the smaller toes. This shifting of the bones causes a bony prominence on the side of the patients foot. A bunion is more common in women than men due to women wearing tighter fitting shoes. This condition can cause a variety of different soft tissue and bony complaints which may result in severe pain.
Symptoms include redness, swelling and pain which may be present along the inside margin of the foot. The patients feet may become too wide to fit into their normal size shoe and may experience moderate to severe discomfort may occur when the patient is wearing tight shoes.
Gout
Gout is one of the most common forms of arthritis or inflammation of a joint. It most commonly affects the big toe joint (first metatarsophalangeal joint), but can affect any joint. Gout usually starts as an acute attack that often comes on overnight. Within 12-24 hours there is usually severe pain and swelling in the joint.
Chilblains
Chilblains (sometimes called pernio) are small, itchy, painful, red swellings on the skin. Chilblains are thought to be caused by an abnormal skin reaction to cold. They tend to occur on the 'extremities' that more easily become cold. That is, the toes, fingers, nose, and earlobes. However, other areas of skin sometimes develop chilblains when they become cold. For example, the heels, lower legs and thighs.
Chilblains are very itchy. A burning sensation is also typical. They are usually red to start with but may become purple. Pain and tenderness over the chilblains often develops. In some cases the skin over a chilblain may blister which may delay healing. Sometimes the skin breaks down to leave a small ulcer which is prone to infection.