Bunions can be painful and debilitating, affecting almost everything that you do in your daily life, including your knees. But surgical treatment can be just as debilitating, leaving you laid up in bed for weeks at a time, not to mention the pain and possible side effects, not to mention the expense!

You might have looked around at other options. Seen the variety of sleeves and pads available. Wondered to yourself, ‘Do bunion correctors work, and are they right for me?’

There’s a lot of options out there, some good, some bad. In this article, we’ll go over each type of bunion treatment, and what they can do for you.

Non surgical bunion treatment

There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that bunions are untreatable without a trip to the podiatrist and surgery. But the good news is that caught early enough, you can take measures that prevent the problem from getting worse, as well as ease any pain that you might be feeling right now.

So if you’ve started developing bunions, it’s definitely worth looking at bunion protectors and correctors.

There are three major types of bunion corrector available on the market. Bunion pads, bunion sleeves, and toe separators.

All bunion protectors are designed to do several major things.

• Protect the area around the bunion, relieving pressure and preventing the bunion from causing issues like rubbing of the skin or pain from excessive force on the area.
• Straightening the toe back to its natural position, and attempting to prevent the joint misalignment that causes the bunion from getting worse.
• Realigning the toe itself, making day to day life simpler. Bunions can cause issues with standing and walking, whether from pain or simply having a different way to standing. By straightening your toe back into a more natural position, it becomes easier for you to live your day to day life.  

We’ll be going into more detail about each of these below.

Bunion pads

A bunion pad is a small fabric protector that is designed to sit on the bunion itself and around your big toe and metatarsophalangeal joint, (MTP joint,) reducing the pressure and pain you might feel from wearing restrictive footwear.

Bunion pads are designed to be thin and non-restrictive, which means that they should be comfortable to wear in any sort of shoes. This is definitely something to bear in mind. If you wear a bunion pad and it increases the pressure on your foot or causes you any discomfort whilst wearing it, remove it immediately.

Bunion sleeves

A bunion sleeve is, in essence, a big bunion pad.

As opposed to a bunion pad, which is a small fabric sleeve that fits over and around your big toe and toe joint, a bunion sleeve covers almost your entire foot, like a sock.

Because they cover more of your foot, bunion sleeves can provide that much more support and help to realign your foot more easily. But they can be that much more restrictive and are a lot hotter to wear.

Sleeves are also a lot less discrete, but they are much less likely to fall off or need adjusting throughout the day.

Toe separators

Whilst toe separators aren’t designed for specific bunion use, they are a useful addition to the treatment of anyone with a bunion.

Depending on the type, toe separators can either be used throughout the day, like all other products on this list, as well as types designed to be used as a therapeutic measure in the home, as a daily practice.

A lot of bunion sleeves and bunion pads have toe separators built in, so toe separators aren’t something that everyone who suffers from bunions will need, but they’re great if you generally wear a sleeve and want to take it off when you get home, you wear smaller shoes or flip flops, or your bunions aren’t too severe.

Bunion correction without surgery

Whilst bunions can never be completely cured without surgery, regular use of bunion sleeves or bunion pads can make a huge difference in your day to day life.

Using a product like these can relieve pressure, make it simpler to perform day to day tasks, and alleviate the pain you might be feeling. If you do choose surgery, then you need to know how to recover safely from bunion foot surgery.

So, Do Bunion Correctors Work?

If you’ve just found out you have a bunion, consider the options and try one of the above varieties of bunion product, sooner rather than later. The quicker you make the change, the better it should be for you and your life. So now that you know the answer to the question, ‘Do bunion correctors work?’, are you ready to use them yourself?

Our feet go through a lot and take an awful lot of strain. But sometimes things happen that we simply can’t prevent.

If you’ve had a little bit of foot pain recently and come up with a painful knot in arch of foot, then you might have come down with a specific problem that affects an awful lot of people at some point in their lives. Plantar Fibroma.

What is plantar fibroma?

A plantar fibroma is a painful knot on bottom of foot, that’s caused by a benign nodule or non-cancerous tumor.

Slow growing, most plantar fibroma measure less than an inch in size, and tend to appear in later life, with an increasing chance as you age.

No one knows exactly what causes plantar fibroma, but damage and trauma to the area are not a factor, so the current hypothesis is that the main cause is genetic.

What are the symptoms of a plantar fibroma?

A plantar fibroma is easily recognized by the solid lump of flesh that can be felt in the middle of the arch of the foot, normally around halfway between the heel pad and foot pad.

Over time, this mass can increase in size, or more than one can occur. Instances of plantar fibroma may or may not be painful, but when they are painful, they are generally recognized by a pain in foot arches when walking, or when placed under pressure, ie, when you press on it.

Is plantar fibroma cancerous?

No. Plantar fibroma is a non-cancerous mass and apart from the pain and inconvenience, cause no long-term harm.

How do you treat a plantar fibroma?

Whilst some knots in the arch of your feet will have no effect on your ability to live your life, sometimes a plantar fibroma can have long-term issues.

If you’ve got a bad plantar fibroma that causes you debilitating pain in arch of foot when walking or otherwise, then it may require treatment.  

The standard treatment is therapeutic footwear or insoles that offset the pressure on your foot, as well as physical therapy.

Steroid injections can be used, but their effectiveness is under debate. Whilst steroidal injections can cause short-term shrinkage of the mass and a reduction in short-term pain, it has also been shown to have little to no longer-term effects on either pain or growth.

In fact, some doctors refuse to use steroid injections for problems of this sort, because in certain cases it can actually cause the fibrous mass to grow in size.

If physical treatment is ineffective, then the next step is generally surgery, which is usually considered if the fibroma continues to cause pain after all non-surgical means have been exhausted.

Surgical intervention for a plantar fibroma tends to be relatively minor. As with all foot and leg surgery, expect to be off your feet for a time, but surgery of this sort tends to only require around a week or two of recovery time if you can get adequate rest and recuperation.

All things going well, you should be completely healed and back to full strength in around a month, potentially two.

Are there possible complications with fibroma surgery?

As a relatively non-invasive surgery, there are few side effects that can happen with this procedure.

In general, you may face a wound that becomes infected or requires fluid drainage. You may also find chronic or returning pain or in worst cases the return of the mass after foot surgery. If you are worried about any of these potential complications, make sure you talk it over with your practitioner.

Can I do anything about painful knot in arch of foot at home?

Unfortunately not. Whilst massage can help foot recovery and revitalize tired feet, it does nothing to deal with the cause of the problem.

If you find massage helps, by all means, massage your foot, but be aware that you can’t break down that painful knot in arch of foot or plantar fibroma with physical therapy.

If you’ve recently found a lump in the arch of your foot, or if you’ve been dealing with plantar fibroma for a while, the best thing to do is speak to your doctor. They will be able to give you treatments based on your specific circumstances.

Our feet put up with a lot. We’re on them all day. They take all the pressure and strain of our day to day lives without issue, and usually without complaint.

But sometimes your feet need a little bit of TLC. One of the best ways you can treat your feet is with a vinegar soak. But is vinegar good for your feet, really? And what exactly are the benefits?

What does vinegar do for the feet?

Vinegar is a mild form of acetic acid that has been used for hundreds of years to clean and preserve almost anything, because of its antifungal and antiviral properties.

It has huge healthcare properties that are only now really being explored, including fighting cold and flu symptoms, weight and cholesterol problems, and sometimes even heart issues. But this article focuses on the feet, and all the benefits that vinegar can have for your cute little tootsies.

Here are X reasons you should be using vinegar to treat your feet.

Vinegar for athletes foot

Athletes foot is a fungal infection that tends to occur in the nooks and crannies of your feet, generally around the toes. It is sometimes caused by old shoes, bacteria-ridden areas, and exposure to the fungus that causes it. It’s normally heralded by itching and redness but can have other symptoms.

A vinegar foot soak can be an effective treatment for athletes foot, because of its antifungal properties. To make a vinegar foot soak, add one-quarter cup of white vinegar to a bowl of lukewarm water, then soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes per day.

Make sure that you completely dry your feet when you’re finished, as leaving them damp can actually make the issue worse.

It can take a couple of weeks for this treatment to have an effect, so don’t worry if it takes a little while for the positives to show. If your athlete’s foot gets worse, or you notice any adverse effects, slow down the treatment, only soaking your feet once or twice per week.

Toenail fungus vinegar treatments

Soaking feet in vinegar can also be an effective treatment for toenail fungus. In this case, you want a slightly stronger solution of around one part vinegar to three parts water.

Soak your feet for around 15 or 20 minutes, three times a week. As above, make sure that your feet are completely dry after you’re done because fungus thrives in wet, damp environments.

Vinegar treatments for smelly feet

We all suffer from this at one time or another. Thankfully, it’s simple to remedy. You guessed it, vinegar soak.

Vinegar works on smelly feet not by dealing with the smell itself, but by eliminating the bacteria that actually cause the smell in the first place.

A more mild solution is good for foot odor. Soak your feet once or twice a week in normal circumstances, increasing the amount you soak for particularly hard cases.  

Vinegar for warts

Vinegar acts as a mild exfoliator and can kill the viruses that cause warts, as well as softening the skin around existing warts. You can apply vinegar directly to warts with a cotton swab or ball as well as using a vinegar soak.

After applying the vinegar, the wart will be softer, meaning that this is also an ideal time to file it down with pumice or a foot file.

Vinegar treatments for dry skin

A vinegar soak is an effective treatment for dry, cracked skin. Vinegar can act as a mild exfoliator and soothes dry, damaged skin.

When soaking your feet for dry skin, use cool water, because hot water can actually dry your feet out more.

Once done, moisturize your feet fully, then leave to rest.

Is vinegar good for your feet? Yes or No?

So, is vinegar good for your feet? Of course, it is. Everyone has vinegar in the cupboard. It’s a cheap, effective remedy for an awful lot of things, and can be used for so much. Plus, relaxing into a foot bath after a long day can be incredibly relaxing. It might even be something you start to do regularly.

Bursitis is a problem you might not even have heard of, until it affected you. Because it’s a problem we are all at risk from, and that could potentially affect anyone, at any time of their lives. So if you don’t have bursitis now, it’s important that you understand what it is, what causes it, and how to treat it. Just in case. But what is bursitis of the foot?

Bursitis of the Foot

Our joints are all surrounded by small, fluid filled sacs called bursa that cushion the joint and reduce friction between the bones as they move throughout the day.

In a healthy joint, this bursa will be thin, because it doesn’t need to take much stress. However, infection or irritation of a bursa, whether by bacteria or repetitive strain, will cause this sac to become inflamed and swell up.

The physical symptoms are obvious. You can see swollen areas around the joints, and it will feel soft and fluid to the touch. Areas affected by bursitis are also tender to the touch, because of the inflammation, and will cause you pain as you use and move that joint.

Bursitis of the foot tends to affect three key areas.

• The heel
• The base of the big toe joint
• The ball of the foot

These areas are the ones that do the most flexing and moving throughout the day, take the most force from walking, and absorb the majority of the shock as we move around throughout the day.

What Causes Bursitis in the Foot?

Bursitis generally forms when a joint is used to make the same motions again and again, like a repetitive strain injury.

People who play a lot of sports or over exercise, especially without adequate preparation or wearing the correct shoes, can get bursitis. It’s common in runners for this particular reason. It can even be caused if you’ve done a lot more walking than usual recently.

Bursitis in the feet can also be caused by a sudden, shocking movement. In this case you’ll probably have done minor damage to the feet, and the body responds like this. If you remember pulling a muscle or a sharp, sudden pain in your feet in the days coming up to when you first had bursitis, it is possible that this might be the cause.

Sadly, bursitis can also be caused simply by ageing. As we get older our joints slowly wear down over time, and the increased inflammation this causes can affect our joints and cause bursitis.

How to Treat Bursitis of the Foot?

Thankfully, once you’ve identified the problem, the solution is relatively simple.

• Rest your joints as much as possible. Stay off of your feet and walk as little as you can to take the stress off of your foot joints.
• Use padded insoles and heel cups in your shoes to provide additional shock absorption and foot protection as you walk.
• Wear only comfortable shoes, nothing that places undue stress on the foot. No tight or constricting shoes. No high heels. Nothing that places pressure on the toes.
• If you’ve got bursitis in your toes or the ball of your foot, wear shoes that are more open at the front, to take pressure off of this area of your feet.

On top of resting your feet, you can also;

• Apply cold treatments to your feet. Ice packs or over the counter chilling creams will help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Try to apply this treatment regularly, and with 15-30 minute intervals.
• Avoid sleeping with the foot that has bursitis under your other leg. Although it might not hurt, this will place added pressure on the joint and slow recovery.
• If the pain is debilitating or interferes with your day to day life, you can take normal painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce the pain and help fight the inflammation and swelling.
• If you’re capable and it doesn’t hurt to perform the movements, stretch and massage the affected area to strengthen your muscles. This will fight against the inflammation and stimulate your immune system.

Bursitis normally only lasts a few weeks, but if your bursitis isn’t getting better, or the symptoms start to get worse, then the best thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor, who may prescribe a course of antibiotics or steroids to deal with the issue.  

Knowing All That, What is the Best Bursitis Foot Treatment?

If this is your first time suffering from bursitis, then the simplest and best treatment is this;

• Get as much rest as possible. Stay off of your foot as much as you can.
• Wear only comfortable shoes, with padded insoles if they help
• Treat the affected area with ice packs or cold crème and take painkillers as needed
• If you’re still suffering in a few weeks, see your doctor

The Final Word

So, what is bursitis of the foot? It’s basically a swollen or damaged joint in your foot. You don’t need to worry as it can be treated. As long as you follow the tips above, you should see improvements. If you’re still struggling after awhile, you should consult your physician.

Have you ever suffered from bursitis? Do you have any treatment tips? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments. Let us know what worked for you in the past, and how you deal with this right now.

Toenail fungus is an incredibly pervasive problem that has been theorized to affect around 10% of the world’s entire population. In fact, supposedly around 25% of us will have experienced some form of fungal toe issue by the time they hit 40!

Conventional toe fungus remedies can work, but they can be deceptively expensive, as well as meaning that you’re slathering your feet with more chemicals than you might be comfortable with.

Luckily for you and me, there are home remedies that you can use instead, that use all natural ingredients you might already have. One of the best is clove oil for toenail fungus. Keep reading to find out exactly why clove oil is so good for toenail fungus, and what you need to do.

What is toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus is a completely naturally occurring problem where fungal spores find their way into and around your toenails, normally resting in the nail bed, where they’re generally safe and protected from the outside environment.

Because it’s safe and warm in your feet, over time the fungus can grow and spread, and without treatment, it can become a problem.

There are a number of ways that you can prevent toenail fungus, but no method is 100%, so it’s always good to know how to treat it, should you ever have this problem and need to get rid of toenail fungus.

Symptoms of toenail fungus

There are several major symptoms of toenail fungus that you can rely on. In general, your toenails changing in drastic ways, either color or texture, are a good indicator that there might be something wrong. You might notice:

• Your toenails changing color, especially a yellow or brownish discoloration that starts at the front or side edges of your toenail.
• Nails becoming soft or brittle, breaking easily and warping in shape.
• Nails becoming painful to touch, or to constant pressure, ie wearing shoes.
• White patches on the nail itself.
• The nail detaching itself from the nail bed, either completely, or lifting up at one edge.
• Your feet will also start to smell.

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s likely that you have toenail fungus.

Toenail fungus treatment

There’s an awful lot of over the counter and prescription treatments for toenail fungus, which we know work, at least in the short term.

But in the long term, creams and other treatments do nothing to deal with the underlying cause of toenail fungus, and it might just reoccur.

Of course, you can run another course of treatment, but constantly using topical creams might not be what you want to do.

There are also tablet medications available, which are more consistent and effective in treating toenail fungus but come with long-term side effects and other issues.

The last option is to apply an essential oil treatment. Many essential oils have antibacterial and antifungal effects, and when applied topically, can treat the symptoms and effects of toenail fungus.

In our opinion, the most effective of these is clove essential oil.

Using clove essential oil for toenail fungus

Clove oil is an essential oil that has manifold beneficial effects, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

On top of this, clove oil contains a high concentration of eugenol, which is so potent an antiseptic and local anesthetic that it’s used in the dental industry.

Because of this, it’s ideally suited for treating toenail fungus, because it deals with absolutely every cause of the problem, whilst quickly and efficiently cleaning out any symptoms without any real side effects.

Using clove oil to treat your toenail fungus is simple.

• Apply around half a dozen (6) drops to the affected area, on clean and dry feet, and blend into the skin using clean hands.
• Leave the mixture to soak in naturally before putting anything on your feet like socks or shoes. This should only take a minute or two.
• Repeat this application two or three times per day.
• If the nail is rising from the nail bed, or you have broken or painful skin around the nail, dilute the mixture with two tablespoons of coconut or olive oil.

If you wish, or if you have multiple infected nails, you can also try a foot soak. Simply fill a bowl with warm (not hot) water, add a few drops of clove oil, and leave your feet to soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this once per day, in addition to the above treatment.

Following this simple regime should quickly fix the problem, but bear in mind that if it doesn’t, you could have an underlying issue that is causing your fungal problem.

The Final Say on Clove Oil for Toenail Fungus

If the problem persists for several months or returns more than once, it’s recommended that you see your doctor. But toenail fungus can be a difficult problem to shift, so if it seems like slow going at first, don’t worry. Just keep up with the clove oil for toenail fungus treatment,  and you’ll soon be free of fungus! Don’t forget to get rid of shoes that have the nasty fungus in the first place.

Tea tree oil has been used for literally thousands of years by Aborigines in the Australian subcontinent for almost everything.

In fact, its uses are so varied and widespread, as well as amazing for health and personal care, that some people actually call it the tree of life.

In addition to the many uses that you’re probably familiar with, including treating acne and other skin problems, recent research has suggested that it can also be used to treat a problem that so many of us face. Smelly feet.

So can you use tea tree oil for smelly feet, and are there any possible downsides?

What is tea tree oil?

Tea tree oil is made from the leaves of the tea tree plant, which is found almost exclusively in Australia, and occasionally in New Zealand. It’s used as a traditional remedy for almost everything,

It’s prized for its ability to heal and treat skin conditions and acts as a natural disinfectant and sterilizer.

But tea tree oil also has antifungal properties, which combined with the fact that it is a disinfectant makes it uniquely suited to treating smelly feet.

How to use tea tree oil on feet

If you’re wondering how to use tea tree oil for foot odor, then don’t worry. It’s simple.

Simply treat your feet after your bath or shower every day. Wash and dry your feet, then apply a few drops of 100% tea tree oil to your feet, and massage the oil into and around your whole foot.

Focus especially on the areas that damp can hide in, for example around the toes, but don’t overuse it, because tea tree oil has been known to cause skin irritation.

But why is it effective?

First, tea tree oil treats the causes of smelly feet.

In general, smelly feet are caused by two simple things. The first is sweat, combined with the second of naturally occurring foot bacteria and fungus. These two things work in concert, and one tends to feed into the other, which means when one starts to get out of hand, it can make the other far worse.

This happens because the bacteria and fungus that live on and around our feet feed on sweat, so if you let your feet get sweaty, then leave them, the naturally occurring bacteria multiply, causing the smell you hate.

But tea tree oil is an antibacterial agent, which means it cuts this issue off at the source. And because it will stay on your feet for a little while longer, it keeps your feet free of bacteria for longer.

You can also soak your feet in a tea tree bath.

Simply add several drops of tea tree to a lukewarm bowl of water, then soak your feet in it for fifteen to twenty minutes once a day.

Do this two or three times a week, or as needed. Don’t let the water get too hot, as that can actually make the issue worse. It’s also worth making sure that your feet are completely dry after finishing your foot soak because this is something else that can exacerbate the problem.  

Tea tree oil for smelly shoes

Tea tree oil isn’t just good for your feet. It can also destroy the bacteria that cause your shoes to smell as well.

It’s as simple as adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your shoes once a week before you go to bed, then leave them in a well-ventilated area until morning. It is also best to replace shoes you wear on a regular basis.

Tea Tree Oil for Smelly Feet: Yes or No?

Whether you think it’s bacterial, caused by sweat or simply something else, tea tree oil is the answer. It can make a huge difference in as little as a few days and hits the problem right at its cause.

It’s a simple, cheap and effective treatment, that’s great for the skin and helps you heal. Even if you’ve never tried it before, it’s well worth doing. Head down to your local health store and grab yourself a bottle. It’s relatively inexpensive, and it lasts for ages. If it’s a serious case, you should contact your podiatrist next.

And once you do, make sure you come back here and let us know how it went!

You’d think walking and running were pretty similar. After all, it is pretty much the same process, but faster, right?

In reality, though, running is far higher impact than walking. You hit the ground twice as hard when you are running rather than walking, and that increase in force can cause major issues if you are wearing the wrong footwear.

That is why it is important to understand the difference between walking and running shoes, so you can make a conscious choice when it comes to your footwear. Here is a list of the things that you can expect to be different between walking and running shoes.  

Cushioning

Like we said earlier, when you are running, you hit the ground far harder, impacting it, (and themselves) with around three times their body weight.

Because of this, running shoes tend to have much more cushioning than specified walking shoes, especially around the heel and ball of the feet.

However, all this padding comes at a cost – Weight. Running shoes also tend to be far heavier than walking shoes. For this very reason, lightweight running shoes will cost more because they have to come from higher tensile, more robust material, which is, of course, more expensive.  

Heels

Walking shoes have angled heels, to allow the feet to roll forward and aid natural gait. Walking shoes are also generally around the same height all the way across, with no noticeable difference in toe and heel height.

Running shoes, on the other hand, tend to have a more built up heel with a larger difference in heel to toe height. It is because running has a markedly different stance and gait than walking. A lot of runners hit the ground with their heel or toe first and roll down into the rest of their foot, so you need far more support and the ability to bring your foot down smoothly.

Flexibility

Another design aspect that can provide an enormous amount of support to the foot, most running shoes are designed to flex as the foot comes down, usually around the middle of the foot, on the arch. Some more specific brands might also flex at the toe if you are the sort of runner who lands primarily on the balls of your feet.

Walking shoes, on the other hand, will flex primarily at the toe because when you are walking, you don’t need impact support. But a flexible toe helps you to push off the ground and eases the strain on your heel and Achilles tendon.

Flexibility is hugely important for both types of shoe, so make sure you understand what you are looking for and why when you are buying running or walking shoes.  

Can you wear running shoes for walking?

As long as they provide adequate support, running shoes are usually fine to wear for walking. The only exception to this rule is if you are going for long walks on rough terrain or hiking. If this is the case, you are going to want a walking shoe with a lot of ankle support.

Can you wear walking shoes for running?

Unfortunately, because of the difference in support and flexibility, almost all walking shoes are not suited for running.

If you run in walking shoes, the lack of support and flexibility will most probably result in an injury, whether short or long-term.

In our opinion, it is not recommended even to go running in walking shoes to ‘try it out.’ Instead, always invest in a decent pair of running shoes. Not only will you reduce your chances of injury, but you will also enjoy the process a whole lot more.  

The Verdict: The Difference Between Walking and Running Shoes

Hopefully, now you understand the difference between walking and running shoes enough that you can make a well-informed decision on what you need, and what is right for your situation.

As always, if in doubt, your local sports retailers or shoe shop will be able to guide you through the process. But now you are armed with all this knowledge; you should be able to get what you need, every single time.

Acupuncture can have a huge effect on various conditions it is almost untrue. But did you know it can also help with plantar fasciitis?

Keep reading to find out how plantar fasciitis and acupuncture work together, and why you should consider this form of treatment.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for a strained foot arch. It is a regular problem for anyone who is on their feet for extended periods of time, whether that is for work, because of exercise, or simply because you are getting a little older and your tendons aren’t as strong as they used to be.

It is due to repeated stretches and tears in the ligaments, which build up over time until you can no longer ignore the damage.

While standard treatments like insoles and foot massage can work for plantar fasciitis, there is a growing body of evidence that acupuncture can also have a huge effect on your foot health.  

What is acupuncture?

Originating in China, acupuncture is the method of placing fine needles into the body to stimulate specific points. Initially, there was a belief that there were meridians that boosted energy flow in the body, and the needles could unblock these. Modern science instead suggests that nerve clusters at these points, stimulated by the needles that produce more pain-blocking endorphins and can stimulate repair in the area. Some doctors now use acupuncture in their treatment as well.

Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis

While it might sound ridiculous, sticking needles into your feet can help relieve your long-term pain.

In studies performed on people with plantar fasciitis, patients who were given a treatment of acupuncture over weeks showed significant improvement based on standard medication and massage treatments.

In fact, it was so effective that acupuncture could be more effective for treating plantar fasciitis than conventional therapies.

The benefits of acupuncture for plantar fasciitis

Acupuncture is considered a fantastic treatment for muscle spasms and muscle pain, as well as long-term chronic joint and muscular issues, which is why it should consider being a treatment for plantar fasciitis.

In study after study, acupuncture shows its efficacy when compared to conventional therapies, as well as placebo groupings.

How often should you get foot acupuncture and is it expensive?

According to practitioners, if treated for repetitive strain issues, such as plantar fasciitis, the best course of treatments is twice a week for at least three weeks.

Accordingly, most patients will start to see results and will notice significant changes once this period has passed.

At this time, it will be up to the practitioner and patient to work out the best thing for them. It may be that you will need another week or two of further treatment, or just a single holding treatment every two or three weeks.

It is also completely possible that your problem will have cleared up enough that you will no longer need treatments.

As for cost, it differs across the USA. You can expect a starting consultation to cost somewhere in the region of $100 to $200, with regular treatments costing around half that.

Plantar Fasciitis and Acupuncture: Try It

Overall, the evidence is mounting. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for various muscular issues that include plantar fasciitis. If you are currently suffering from this painful and debilitating condition, it is worth checking your area to see if there are any practitioners, and booking yourself in for a check up.

It goes with saying that another option is to consider the shoes you are wearing. You may want to consider shoes for plantar fasciitis, or if you are a runner, running shoes for plantar fasciitis.

If you find a link between plantar fasciitis and acupuncture, then please make it sure to come back and tell us how it went. We love hearing our reader’s stories, and anything you learn could help another person in the same situation to deal with their pain.  

A bunion is a problem with the bones of your feet, specifically the big toe. But what you might not realize is that a bunion does not just affect your foot. Your body is an entirely connected unit, so when something goes wrong with your foot, your entire body shifts to compensate. Put simply, can bunions cause knee pain? Yes. Read on to discover why, and what you can do about it.

What is a bunion?

The biggest symptom of a bunion is when your big toe starts to point towards the rest of the toes on that same foot. Over time, this can cause the bones that your toe is attached to bow outwards, forming a painful lump or ridge along the outside edge of your foot.

Other symptoms that may occur also include callused skin on or around your big toe or second toe, particularly when they overlap.

The sore skin over the bunion itself, where it rubs on shoes.

Pain and swelling on or around the big toe itself.

Changes to foot shape that make wearing and buying walking shoes difficult.

The strange thing is when it comes to bunion causes; science draws a blank. It has theorized that it may be genetic in some regard because bunions also found in siblings. Bunions are also more likely to appear in people who are flexible, perhaps because it allows the big toe to move more freely.

You also find bunions in people with bone conditions, for example, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. It is why you can find bunions, with a higher instance, amongst older people.

How to prevent bunions?

Caused by constriction of the feet, specifically your big toe, the simplest way to prevent bunions is to wear shoes that give your feet adequate room to move around and breathe.

You should be looking for shoes with a deep and wide toe box, so there is no pressure on your toes at all, especially sideways pressure constricting your toes together.

You should also look for shoes that have good arch support, and prevent your feet from rolling inwards as you walk because these things can also contribute to increased pressure on your toes.

How can bunions cause knee pain?

Studies show that as many as one in three adults has bunions and that adults with bunions are far more likely to experience pain in parts of their body as varied as their knees, hips, lower back, and other foot.

The reason for this is the altered gait caused trying to compensate for the bunion and the pain it is causing you.

Like we said earlier, your body is a complicated system, designed to work in harmony. And when you introduce something into that system that throws everything off, it makes the whole system fall out of a concert.

Imagine you are driving your car, and one wheel is just slightly egg-shaped. Imagine how rough the ride would be. It is a similar concept.

So when you get a bunion that is severe enough to affect your walking, you are going to move and stand differently. It will put increasing stress on other joints, usually the knees or hips, that will twist awkwardly and take the excess strain to compensate for the lack of force put on your foot.

Over time, the undue strain on your joints causes problems, whether that is something relatively minor like inflammation or something more severe like joint issues.

Long story short, if you’ve got a bunion, go to your doctor. The “soon” is far better than the “later”. The earlier it is caught, the easier it is to treat.

Like we said earlier, sometimes a bunion can be dealt with just by changing your footwear and becoming aware of how you stand and how you put pressure on your feet. But the longer you leave it, the less the chances of this, and the higher the chance that you will need corrective surgery in the future.  

As always, if you are having problems, we recommend seeing your doctor. Self-diagnosing is always difficult, and there is a risk you could do more harm than good.

Can Bunions Cause Knee Pain?: Yes

Hopefully, now you understand what bunions are and what they do, and we’ve answered your question. Can bunions cause knee pain? They can, as well as hip and back pain, and more, if left to get worse. So if you’ve got a bunion, please, see your podiatrist.

If you’ve ever had a bunion, and you’ve got any tips and tricks for treatment and management, let us know in the comments below. That knowledge could help someone currently suffering.

It is the end of the day, and you are pulling off your shoes, only to be greeted with an odour so foul you would have thought you just stepped into a dead skunk.

But it shouldn’t be this way! You are wearing new shoes. You washed your feet this morning. You even put odour eaters insoles in your shoes! But your feet still smell! Well, worry no longer. Once you have finished this article, you will know our foolproof method for how to get rid of stinky feet forever!

Why do my feet smell? A quick primer

Your feet sweat. It is something they are designed to do. It helps to regulate temperature and keeps your skin soft, supple and moist. Unfortunately for our bodies, we were never intended to spend all day with our feet cooped up in little leather prisons!

So when we wear shoes, our feet sweat a bit more than normal, which causes the natural bacteria that live all over our bodies to multiply. They feed, and the by-product of that is the stinky feet smell that is currently plaguing you.

But sweaty feet are healthy, and shouldn’t cause excessively smelly feet. If your feet are too sweaty or smelly, there might be a few causes.

• If you wear the same footwear day after day, the sweat from your feet can soak into the linings. If you don’t give the shoes time to dry, the problem only compounds.
• Hormonal changes can cause issues, both with excessive and excessively smelly sweat. So pregnant women and teens can have stinky feet.
• Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can give your feet like bathing pools.
• Stress causes us to sweat. So try and chill a little more. If you feel overstressed, even taking 60 seconds to relax and breathe can make a huge difference.
• Lastly, simply not washing can cause you to sweat more, and cause your sweat to smell more.

It is all well and good, I can hear you say, but how do I solve my problem? Relax, my loves. We got you.

How to cure stinky feet, once and for all

There are a few ways to deal with this issue. As you read through our list, bear in mind that you can use more than one of these at a time, so if one doesn’t work, just move on and try the next. But if none of them work, maybe it’s time to book a trip to your podiatrist.

Make sure you are cleaning your feet properly

Because foot odour is caused primarily by bacteria, you might be able to solve the problem with the simple step of washing your feet with an antibacterial soap.

Not only that, but when you are washing your feet, make sure that you are also drying them correctly, and by that we mean completely. Make sure you are drying between the toes, and if you need further help, dip a cotton swab in witch hazel and use it between your toes.

It is also good to remove the hard skin because when hard skin patches get damp, they stay moist for longer than normal healthy skin, which can promote the growth of bacteria.

Use an antifungal powder or foot product

Whether you buy it from the pharmacy or make your own at home, an antifungal powder will make a massive difference in foot odour.

If you fancy trying to make some foot odor remedies at home, baking soda, arrowroot powder, cayenne powder and cornstarch are a great start.

Soak your feet

There are multiple methods to this, but the primary purpose is literally to soak your feet in something that will kill the bacteria, then thoroughly dry them.

Home recipes you could try include:

• Apple cider vinegar in a bath, with two parts water and one part vinegar.
• A salt wash, with a quarter cup of Epsom salts and four cups of water
• A tea soak, which is four or five tea bags in a bowl of water

Wear socks

Socks help to wick away the sweat from your skin, and some socks are also designed to help with foot ventilation, allowing your feet to breathe and cool down.

Either way, a fresh pair of socks every day is the way to go.

Change your shoes

Like we explained earlier, if you wear the same set of shoes day after day, you might not be giving them time to dry out completely.

You should be giving your shoes a day or two to dry out, so have a few pairs you can wear. Yes, we did just give you an excuse to buy more sets of shoes.

If you are at home, try not to wear shoes so your feet can breathe for as much of the day as possible.

Take a glance at what you are eating

It is more of a long shot, but if you are eating a diet high in sugar and refined carbs, you might be contributing to the problem.

Apparently, a diet high in sugar and carbs can act as fuel for bacteria, and increase their numbers.  An increase in bacteria is equal to more smell. So maybe cut back on the soda for a few days, and see if it makes a difference.

How To Get Rid of Stinky Feet Forever: The Verdict

Hopefully, now you understand your problem a little better, and with a few simple changes can beat it once and for all. When you hit it, make sure you come back here and share what worked for you in the comments, so other people in the same situation can deal with it just as well as you did!

Sweaty feet can cause major issues, including making your feet smell bad enough that you are almost embarrassed to take off your shoes, as well as just feeling disgusting.

But some people, no matter what they do, just seem to sweat through their feet. Well, after reading our article, you will know exactly how to keep your feet dry, and how to stop sweaty feet forever.

Why would I want to keep my feet dry?

Wet, sweaty feet can cause multiple problems, from the relatively inoffensive problem of slightly smelly feet, all the way up to blisters, warts, and even full-on fungal nail and skin problems.

As well as this, sweating into your shoes over and over can cause them to degenerate faster, costing you money in the long-term, not to mention going through your day with damp, sweaty feet is overall just a miserable, demoralising experience. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to keep your feet dry throughout the day.

How to keep sweaty feet dry

Wear socks

A great pair of socks can make a huge difference in whether your feet sweat or not. Cotton helps to wick away sweat, leaving your feet dryer, and a good pair of socks will also let your feet breathe.

Make sure that your socks are cleaned and dry every day. If you have issues with smelly feet, you can also buy antibacterial socks that help to fight the problem.

Change your shoes

When you wear the same pair of footwear day after day, the sweat from your feet soaks into them, and you might not be giving them a chance to dry out completely.

If possible, have two or three pairs of shoes that you wear on a rotating basis, so each pair of shoes dries out properly before you wear them again. And when you get in, take your shoes off. It helps to let your feet breathe.

You can also leave your shoes in the boiler cupboard or underneath a radiator to dry them out if you have to. But if they are already sweaty, this can make them smell worst, so it might not be ideal.  

Look after your feet

Make sure that you are cleaning your feet properly, and drying them correctly when you are done, especially between your toes, which can be a harbor for both moisture and bacteria.

It is also a good plan to look after your feet in other ways. Hard skin retains moisture for much longer than normal, healthy skin, so if you are struggling with wet feet and you’ve got hard skin patches, that could be a contributing factor. 

Buffing thick skin patches away, cleaning and trimming your nails, and just generally caring for your feet can go a long way in deterring them from excessively sweating.

Use a medicated foot powder for sweaty feet

Treat your feet after cleaning them correctly, and you can also add some powder to your shoes to help fight the problem.

If you don’t want to use medicines, then baking soda, cayenne powder, cornstarch and arrowroot powder are great alternatives.  

Use a foot bath

Foot baths is another thing you can do at home, and it can make your feet far healthier as it can help stop from sweating so damn much.

Either add apple cider vinegar to a foot bath at a one to two concentration of cider to water or add four or five tea bags to a foot bath and leave your feet to rest in it.

Remember, you need to dry them correctly when done!

Use an antiperspirant

Proviso: Be careful with this, because some antiperspirants can make the problem worse by preventing your feet from breathing correctly.

But if you need to stop your feet sweating in a hurry, and need a quick fix, a quick spritz of antiperspirant could make a huge difference.

How to Keep Your Feet Dry: Follow Those Steps

By following these tips, hopefully, you should have perfectly dry, contented feet within days. And when you find out what works for you, make sure you come back here and spread the love in our comments so that other people can solve their problems just as fast. Knowledge is power after all.

We are designed to move. For most people, the stresses of a career and day-to-day life keep them either sitting or standing in one place all day.

Over time, this can cause structural issues in your body, so it is important to be aware that this is happening and to know what to do to fix it.

Here are our 7 tips for people who stand all day:

#1. Position correctly.

It may sound like the most obvious thing in the world. But when people complain about aches and pains, and you ask them what they are doing about it, they always seem surprised that it can make such a difference just by standing correctly.

We’re designed to stand, but most of us are used to standing hunched over, with a forward head carriage and anterior pelvic tilt. And smartphones and other daily habits only contribute to this.

Luckily, it is easy to fix this. The first step is to become conscious about how you are standing. Get those shoulders back, tighten up those glutes and engage your core to start standing a little straighter and taller instantly. Even just this small change can have a huge effect on posture and how you are feeling at the end of the day.

#2. Practice posture fixing exercises.

A lot of posture problems will eventually start to manifest themselves in long-term health problems, be it aches and pains, an imbalance in the way you move, or even long-term joint issues.

On the upside, mobility exercises can easily fix this. Pilates, yoga, even a simple stretching routine can have a huge effect on your body, and get everything reset into proper positions once again.

Lifehacker has a great article with a bunch of different stretches you can do throughout your day, no matter where or what you are doing.

#3. It could be affecting your breathing.

Stop reading this and look down at yourself as you breathe. Watch what part of your body is moving as you breathe in and out.

Is it your chest? A surprising amount of people these days breathe primarily with their chests. This habit leads to shorter breaths, less oxygen flow and an overall lack of general health and fitness.

We are supposed to ‘belly breathe,’ breathing primarily with our diaphragms. You can tell when you are belly breathing by placing one hand on your stomach, just over your navel. It should noticeably move when you are breathing in and out.

But bad posture, especially a slumped spine and tilting pelvis, can cause your diaphragm to become compressed, which causes the chest breathing problem we have just mentioned.

If you find yourself breathing into your chest throughout the day, it is a good indicator to check your posture. And fixing your posture could fix your breathing, too, making you feel better in your day-to-day life.

#4. Avoid standing in one position for longer periods.

The best posture is one that is constantly on the move. Holding any position or keeping yourself in one post, for extended periods of time, will do damage to anyone no matter how healthy.

Whether you take 5 minutes to do a few mobility exercises or simply stretch first thing in the morning, at lunchtime, and just before bed, it all helps.

If you are in a job, where you find yourself standing in one position for extended periods of time, mix it up. Make sure you shift your balance, and the leg your weight is on, frequently.

#5. Experiment with different shoes.

Your shoes have a huge effect on how you stand and the way you change your stance and body. Everyone’s feet are different, so the best advice I have got for you here is to get them examined by a professional, even just to see whether you have got high or low arches.

There is a lot of different options in the world of footwear. If you are mainly flat footed, a firm sole and orthotic insole could make a huge difference. Conversely, if you’ve got high arches, some extra support could be just what the doctor ordered to stop leg and hip pain.

The big thing, though, is to get a pair of shoes for standing all day, that suit you and your feet. You will notice the difference immediately. We promise.

#6. Make sure you are taking care of your feet.

After a long day of being on your feet, they could do with a little bit of TLC. If your back were aching, you would ask your significant other to rub your shoulders or get a massage. Why not do the same for your tired feet?

A foot massage, where you slowly work into all of the joints with your thumbs and rub through your entire foot piece by piece, can be an intensely relaxing experience.

You could also go for a relaxing, hot bath. The hot water pays dividends at reducing strain. If you don’t have time for that, you might even consider a foot bath. Doesn’t have to be anything special. Just fill a bowl with hot but tolerable water, maybe add a couple of drops of bath soap or essential oils, and leave your feet to relax for half an hour.

#7. If you have any concerns, make sure you see a doctor.

It is worth stressing this over and over. You only get one set of legs, so if there is anything that has been plaguing you for more than a few days, it is worth seeing the podiatrist and making sure that there is nothing major causing issues.

If you’ve got any long-term aches or unexplained pains, make sure you see a professional, ASAP.  

That is the end of our list of 7 tips for people who stand all day. Hopefully, now you are more aware of your posture and the effect it can have on your day-to-day life. As long as you can follow our tips, and keep yourself conscious of the way you are standing, you are ready to go.

If you’ve got any pointers for our readers about posture, make sure to share them in the comments below.

You recently found something on the bottom of your foot. You found it because it started to hurt to walk on it, so you checked it out and found something growing on the underside of your foot.

Obviously, this isn’t an ideal situation, so, making the smart play, you searched online and found out it’s either a plantar wart or a callus. But how do you know which it is, and how do you treat it once you’ve identified what it is? Read on to find out the verdict between plantar wart vs callus.

Plantar Wart vs Callus

A plantar wart, otherwise known as a verruca, is caused by a virus that works its way into the weak or damaged skin and attacks the area around it, causing thickened skin and blister-like area.

Warts are found to be contagious and can spread from person to person, or even from different areas of your body. While warts can resolve themselves, because they can be contagious, it’s far better to deal with the issue before this can happen.

A callus is thickened skin that forms as a result of repeated friction or excessive pressure on the bottom and side of your foot.  

Calluses can hurt, or they can be completely inert, in which case it’s just a pad of hard skin. Caused by repeated friction, it’s your body’s way of dealing with something repeatedly running against it, and the callus is the way of protecting your body against the damage.

Plantar Callus vs Plantar Wart: Differences and How to Identify

• Warts can have black dots in the centre, one or many.
• Warts are usually painful if squeezed
• Calluses found in areas that either bears weight or sit on the outside of the foot
• Warts enlarge over time and can start popping up elsewhere
• Warts can bleed if trimmed back. Calluses don’t
• Warts found mostly in children and teens while calluses are more common in older people
• Calluses have skin lines following the pattern of your own body. Warts will break the lines of your skin

It can sometimes be difficult to identify whether you have a wart or a callus. If you still can’t work out whether you’ve got a callus or a wart, then the next best move is going to the doctor. They may be able to identify it for you, or failing that they will take a biopsy and send it off for analysis before suggesting a course of treatment.

Foot Callus Removal

Calluses are pads of hard skin. Before dealing with them, it helps to soften them out, whether by taking a long hot bath, or covering them with moisturising cream and leaving it to soak in.

Once the callus is soft, it’s time to trim it back.

The easiest way to do this files it away. You can use a pumice stone, a foot file, or even a powered micro pedi foot machine. You can start slow and work on it over time. If it starts to hurt in any area, that means that you’ve worked through the callus and you’re filing away healthy skin underneath.

You don’t have to file away the whole callus in one go. It’s fine to file it back slowly over the course of days.

Caused by pressure or friction, even if you remove the callus unless you deal with the cause, it will come back. If in doubt, see a podiatrist and have them take a look at your feet.

Plantar Wart Removal

The simplest and the easiest way of dealing with a plantar wart is to go to your doctor, who will freeze the wart out with liquid nitrogen, laser it off, or give you immune system boosters to help your body kill it.

You can also try over the counter medication, which works around half the time. If this fails, you will have to go to the doctor or just wait for the issue to resolve itself.

A common home remedy is to duct tape over the area, replacing it every few days and filing the wart back in between. However, we’ve seen no evidence that this works better than simply soaking and filing it back, which we wouldn’t recommend.

Hopefully, now you’ve been able to identify whether you’ve got a plantar wart or just a simple callus. Whichever you have, you should have the tools to deal with it, but remember, if it causes you pain or you can’t handle it yourself, you can always resolve the problem quickly and efficiently by seeing your doctor.

If you’ve ever struggled with either of these conditions, and you’ve got any stories about treatments that worked for you, or even home treatments, then let us know in the comments. Your experiences can help other people deal with the same problem, so feel free to share the difference between plantar wart vs callus!

Podiatrists are doctors specifically trained and specialised entirely in the feet. It’s their job to diagnose and treat foot ailments, as well as rehabilitate anyone who is suffering from foot problems and give help and advice to anyone who might need it for better foot health. So, what does a podiatrist treat?

Is there a difference between a podiatrist and chiropodist?

Nope. It confuses quite a lot of people, but the truth is that podiatry is the name given to what used to be called chiropody in the UK and some other parts of the world.

You may also hear a podiatrist called a podiatrist surgeon, a podiatric surgeon or a doctor or podiatric medicine.

What is podiatric medicine?

A podiatrist primarily treats the feet. It means the issues that a podiatrist will treat include:

• Ingrown or thickened toenails: This is where the nail starts to grow into the skin beside the nail, causing tenderness and pain.  
• Fungal infections of the toenails: The visible signs of this are yellow or white streaked nails, as well as general distortions. It’s typically easily treated with antifungal medication.
• Calluses and corns: Areas of the hard skin caused by ill fitting shoes and friction from walking and another day to day activities. While you can treat corns by removing the affected area, unless addressing the particular cause of the corn or callus, it will only come back. Luckily, your podiatrist will be able to assess your feet and tell you what might be causing your problems, and how to solve them.
• Verrucas: Warts that affect the bottom of the feet specifically, these are easily treated with medication.
• Athlete’s foot: Itchy, red or scaly skin, athlete’s foot is another fungal infection, this time normally around the toes and bottom of the feet.  Wetting the feet repeatedly without correctly drying can cause it, but is easily treatable once identified.  
• Smelly feet: While this isn’t normally a medical issue, your podiatrist can give you steps to reduce the problem.
• Dry or cracked skin and heels: Again, this is usually not a medical problem, and a proper foot care regime can treat it.
• Flat feet or overly arched feet: While it sometimes isn’t a problem, flat feet can be a problem, especially for anyone who’s regularly on their feet as part of their workday, or who regularly exercises. A podiatrist will be able to give you orthotic insoles or dedicated shoes that fix this problem, as well as other advice.
• Bunions: Caused by a slowly built up deformity of the big toe, bunions can be incredibly painful. It is manageable through exercises and footwear if caught early on, but if left long enough, surgery can be the only option.  
• Blisters: I’m sure you’ve had a blister. If it becomes a regular, recurring problem, there could be an underlying reason which your podiatrist can identify.
• Gout: It is a form of arthritis that causes severe pain in joints, generally joints near the end of limbs. It’s caused by a buildup of uric acid and can be a sign of underlying issues. While a podiatrist would refer you to a GP to deal with the causes of gout, they can help you manage the problem and give you advice on how to handle the symptoms.
• Sports injuries, including strains
• Biomechanics: A podiatrist can assess the way you stand and walk, and prescribe you exercises to help you move better, which can deal with chronic pain or other issues you might be facing.

How can a podiatrist help me?

First off, if you’re currently suffering from any of the above issues, your GP might refer you to a podiatrist for treatment. Whether you’ve seen your doctor or not, if you’re suffering from foot pain, toenail problems, dry or cracked skin, foot growths like warts or verruca, or any other foot issues, you might want to see a podiatrist.

Podiatrists are also great if you want to understand your feet and gait, which is the manner of how you walk and how it affects your body.

If you’ve got flat or high arched feet, your podiatrist can give you orthotic insoles designed mainly to support your feet and deal with arch and heel pain. All you do is place them in your shoes, and they take pressure off of your feet, realign your posture, and make walking and standing more comfortable.

Now you’ve finished the article. Hopefully, you’ve learned the particular podiatrist definition and everything that they can help you. If you’ve struggled with any of these issues, or you’ve ever just wondered to yourself ‘What does a podiatrist treat?’ then now you know, and they could just be what you exactly need.

If you’ve experienced treated by a podiatrist, we’d love to hear from you. Tell about it and how it went in the comments below, what they helped you with and whether it helped. We’d love to hear your stories.

Unlike almost every other type of surgery, even minor foot surgery can lead to long periods of recovery, because of the delicacy of the area and the amount of pressure your feet go through even in the most regular days.

Because the procedures involved in can vary so wildly, it’s hard to give a definite answer about what to expect after foot surgery. In general, it’s always worth talking to your surgeon about any specific concerns you might have, and what to expect when it comes to recovery from foot surgery and any complications that you might have.

In the mean time, here’s what to expect after foot surgery in general.

Recovery From Foot Surgery: What to Expect

• After your surgery, it is incredibly unlikely that you will be able to walk. Your doctor will tell you if you are going to be able to walk, so make sure you have a way to get home, whether that’s a designated driver or a taxi pre-booked.
• They will give you post-op instructions regarding rest, medication and exercise. Follow them to the letter.
• With almost all foot surgery, expect to be out of commission for at least two weeks after the surgery.  
• If you have a cast or bandage, keep it dry and don’t change it. It also means no baths. Some casts or bandages may allow showers. As always, ask your doctor.
• If you already take medication, you should be safe to resume taking it, unless otherwise.
• If given some pain medication, take it as instructed.
• Eat regularly. If possible, increase fibre intake slightly to account for constipation that can occur from pain medication.
• If you experience any pain or other issues, contact your doctor immediately.

Warning signs that you should contact your doctor:

• Severe pain that can’t be relieved with ice, pain medication or elevation
• Severe calf pain, chest pain or shortness of breath
• A fever over 38.5 degrees Celsius.
• Lymph node tenderness in the groin
• Reactions to any prescribed medication

The First Two Weeks

For the first two weeks after foot surgery, expect to do little more than rest. You’re going to be almost immobile, so friends and family will have to do tasks like shopping for you, but you should be okay with basic care tasks like going to the loo.

Expect to feel far more tired than usual. Your body has been through a lot, and it will be expending a massive amount of energy healing the surgery, so if you feel exhausted, don’t despair. It’s entirely reasonable.

Try and resume regular activity. Rest when you can, eat healthily, and make sure you follow any physiotherapy exercises given.

Keep as much weight off of your leg, and when possible, keep your foot elevated.

Swelling After Foot Surgery

All surgery causes swelling, because of the effect it has on the body, so expect some swelling on or around the area where you have had surgery.

The best thing you can do for swelling is kept your foot elevated, take your pain medication and ice it when you have your cast or bandages off.

If you experience excessive swelling, or you’re overly worried or feel unnecessary tenderness or pain in your foot, make sure you speak to your doctor.

Infection

With modern surgery, the risk of infection is incredibly minor, and if anything occurs, it is usually manageable with antibiotics.

With foot infections, there is a slim possibility of bone infections, which can be more dangerous, generally requiring a stay in the hospital and further complications.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Because of the immobility of the leg, there is a risk of DVT when recovering from foot surgery, but it is manageable with exercises. If you are at particular risk, your doctor will tell you.

Delayed Healing

Your doctor will tell you your expected healing time, but every person is different, and your healing time could be less or more than normal.

It is caused by ill health, and can also be a complication of smoking. Typically, resolve the problem through further time or rest. But in the worst cases, it may require further surgery.

Foot surgery recovery is not as bad as it’s made out to be. In most cases, the worst thing you will face is the boredom of sitting at home unable to do anything for days on end, and an itchy and possibly aching foot.

As always, if you have specific concerns, the best thing to do is always speak to your doctor. If you’ve got any questions in the meantime, though, leave them in the comments, and we’ll try to do what we can, to help your recovery from foot surgery go as swiftly and painlessly as possible!