Your Feet...Out on the Town

According to a survey in British newspaper The Telegraph, it only takes an average of 34 minutes for a woman wearing high heels to start feeling pain in their feet from high-heeled shoes. Four out of ten women surveyed stated that they carry a spare pair of pumps in case their first pair starts to rub throughout the night. More than fifty percent admitted to walking home barefoot after a night out on the town. The survey also showed that the average British woman owns 18 pairs of high heels.

The survey included 4,000 women between the ages of 18 and 65. Click here to read more.

Just remember that while your high heels may look fabulous, it's wise to listen to your feet when they hurt! Change into more comfortable shoes (not another pair of stilettos!) or take a seat and let your tootsies rest. And we don't recommend walking home barefoot - broken glass and rocks are just a few of the possible hazards you could stumble upon.

And if your feet keep hurting, please come see us - we can help! Visit our website or give us a call at (540) 904-1458 to have all your questions answered.

Diabetic Ulcers

Contributing Factors :

- Mechanical changes in conformation of the bony architecture of the foot

- Peripheral Neuropathy

- Peripheral Arterial Disease

- Glycosilation - Predisposes ligaments to stiffness

Diabetic Facts:

- 12-24% of individuals with ulceration require amputation

- Half of all non-traumatic amputations are the result of diabetic foot complications

- The 5-year risk of needing an amputation on the other extremity is 50%


Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy results in:

- Loss of sensation in the foot

- Injuries and fractures

- Structural foot deformities

- Hammertoes

- Bunions

- Metatarsal Deformities

- Charcot Foot

- Tissue Breakdown


Peripheral Arterial Insufficiency Results In:

- Intermittent claudication

- Pain at rest

- Non-healing ulceration of the foot

- Ischemia of the foot - Inadequate blood supply

Examination:

Diabetic Ulcers tend to occur in the following areas:

- Heel

- Metatarsal Heads

- The tops and ends of hammertoes


Lab Studies:

- A complete blood count may signal an abscess or infection

- Non invasive vascular studies to assess circulation deficiencies

- Infection markers such as the sedimentation rate


Imaging (to evaluate the presence of osteomyelitis):

- Plain Radiographs

- CT

- MRI

- Bone Scans


Treatments:

- Treat infections with appropriate antibiotics

- Offloading the area of the ulcer

- Wound care

- Application of a Wound Vac - Negative pressure under an occlusive wound dressing for deep cavity wounds

- Surgical Debridement - Surgical management is indicated for debridement of non viable and infected tissue from the ulceration

- Debridement of infected bone