Hey there, Big Fellas. Aches and pains slowing you down? We heard your questions about foot pain and if there are conditions that affect you more than women.
Yes, There are Foot Conditions that are Especially Prevalent in Men and Boys!
We present you with six of the most common sources of foot pain that affect big men and young men alike.
1) Plantar Fasciitis
If you work outdoors, or you’re into sports that require a lot of running, you might want to watch for signs of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain that we treat.
Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia – that’s the thick band of tissue connecting your heel to the ball of your foot. Repeated stress over time can rip teeny tiny tears into the fascia. While you’re sleeping at night, these tears begin to heal, but split open again when you bear weight first thing in the morning.
Keep plantar fasciitis pain in check with a foot massage. Roll a lacrosse ball or a chilled water bottle under your foot to break up some of the sore tissue. You can also stick a metatarsal pad in your shoe, or have your feet fitted for a custom pair of insoles. This can more evenly distribute your body weight onto your foot, giving those high-pressure areas a chance to fully heal.
2) Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail might seem like a small issue, until you get one. From little boys to grown-ups, the cutting pain and pressure caused by an ingrown toenail can be debilitating.
If you’re getting ingrown toenails, you might need to change the way you use the clippers. Toenails should be cut straight across the top – not arced with the curve of the toe. It could also be that your shoes are too tight. Soccer players and track athletes tend to run into this issue.
An injury – like a stubbed toe – can also cause the nail to fracture at an odd angle. To treat at home, soak your foot in a solution of warm water and Epsom salt. While the nail is still soft, wedge a piece of cotton or dental floss underneath. This will help the nail grow up and over the skin again.
3) Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is an itchy, burning rash that forms between the toes. It’s caused by a fungus that likes to live in warm, moist, public places, like locker rooms and public showers.
An athlete’s foot infection is fairly easy to avoid with some caution and good hygiene. Some helpful advice for boys and men – always wear shower shoes when sharing facilities, and keep your feet clean and dry. Wash or replace old, sweaty sneakers.
4) Gout
Known throughout history as the “King’s disease,” gout earned its nickname from the caliber of diet that often precedes the diagnosis: rich feasts of red meats, liver, seafood, and beer.
But this is a common – and dangerous – mischaracterization. In reality, anyone can develop gout. Even children are at a higher risk of developing gout if they are obese or have diabetes, kidney disease, or certain blood cancers. In fact, incidence of gout is rising, due to increasing levels of obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and alcohol consumption.
Gout is a form of arthritis, in which crystals of urate accumulate in the joints, particularly in the big toe joint. Urate crystals form when there’s an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood stream. Medications do exist to treat gout, but normally the condition can be managed with improvements to diet, regular exercise, and putting a cork in your alcohol intake.
5) Bunions
Got a sore, reddened, bony bump on the inside edge, near the base of your big toe? That’s a bunion. Besides the sore spot, a bunion can clash with your footwear, refusing to fit nicely inside your closed-toed shoes, and looking a little funky in your flip-flops and sandals.
But wait, you thought that Bunions were caused by wearing high heels. What’s up with that?
Well, it’s true that bunions are more common in women than men, but men see their fair share of them. Bunions have multiple interacting causes, not the least of which is your foot mechanics, body weight, and genetics. Yep, you can inherit susceptibility to bunions from your parents just as much as your eye color and receding hair line.
The trick is to find shoes with a wide toe box to accommodate your bunion. If you can’t part with a particular pair of shoes, use a bunion pad to cushion your toes from the friction and pressure. A toe spacer, like the ones from Correct Toes, can help straighten the toe out.
6) Achilles Tendonitis
Another common scourge among athletes is Achilles tendonitis. The shooting pain just underneath your calf muscle is an inflammation of the tendon, usually caused by overuse. You might also see a touch of tendonitis if you switch too quickly from supportive to minimalistic athletic shoes.
You can avoid tendonitis by easing into your shoe transitions and stretching the calf before and after high-impact exercise.
But if you’re already experiencing pain, the most important thing to do is rest. We mean it. Don’t mess with an angry Achilles. Stop exercising, ice the area for 10-15 minutes a day, and pop some NSAIDs, but NEVER on an empty stomach! Once you’re back on your feet, use a heel lift inside your shoe to keep pressure off the tendon.
If you are experiencing problems with your feet or ankles, Dr. Bob Baravarian is here to help. As a nationally recognized podiatrist and foot and ankle specialist, he provides the most advanced care with some of the highest success rates in the nation and is a leader in the research and treatment of all foot and ankle conditions.
To schedule a consultation, please call (855) 557-5400 or make an appointment now.
Dr. Bob Baravarian is conveniently located in Los Angeles, near Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, providing expert foot and ankle care for patients throughout Southern California.
