How is the Metrodome like a bunion pad?

An analogy from Dr. Andrew Schneider, a friend and colleague of Dr. Feeny's

This past Sunday, football fans everywhere marveled when a blizzard caused the roof of the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Vikings, to collapse. It was the fourth time in the stadium's 28 year history that the roof collapsed. As I was searching for the video on YouTube to show a friend of mine, I came across an article that compared the roof to a bunion pad.

An interesting comparison, don't you think? At first glance, you'd think they were made of similar materials. I learned that the roof was made of a fiberglass cloth that's 1/16" in thickness. Surprisingly a bunion pad is thicker than that!

What the article was referring to was both an air supported, inflatable roof and a bunion pad are cheap and unsophisticated methods of treating a complex problem. Let's face it...it's Minnesota...it really snows there...you really need a proper dome on your stadium!

Similarly, using a bunion pad to control the pain associated with a hallux valgus deformity is the easy way out. It is simply addressing the pressure on the bump on the side of the foot against the shoe. Nothing more. It doesn't address the function of the foot that caused the bunion to form in the first place and will cause it to continue to grow. It does not address the rotation of the metatarsal bone that is causing the bump to form. It's merely helping to cushion the bone today, to allow you to wear shoes today, hoping that it will feel better tomorrow, but it won't.

Treating the bunion requires, at the very least, good mechanical control to return stability and efficiency to the foot. This will stop the foot from deforming further and prevent the bunion from getting bigger. If a bunion is already painful in shoes, then surgery to correct the bunion may be the best option. It's better to address that sooner than later since the complexity of the procedure and recovery will change depending on how bad the bunion is.

It's not worth wasting time on a bandaid solution. In Minnesota, they'll patch the flimsy roof and reinflate it. But when it comes time to treat your painful bunion, take a smarter approach. If you haven't seen the collapse of the roof yet, watch it here!

Dr. Andrew Schneider is a podiatrist with Tanglewood Foot Specialists in Houston, TX.

What is Athlete's Foot?

No, it's not just something athletes get. Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus that can occur on the feet and between the toes. The term "athlete's foot" became popular because athletes who used these facilities would develop the fungal infection. Some symptoms of Athlete's foot are dry skin, itching, burning, scaling, inflammation, blisters, and pain.

Athlete's foot can happen to anyone, and the fungi grow abundantly in many common places. Shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment, the ideal environment for the growth of a fungus, which is why a the feet are a common spot for a fungus to attack. Breeding grounds for fungi can also be found around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms.

You can prevent Athlete's foot by practicing good foot hygiene and washing your feet daily with soap and water. Be sure to dry your feet well, especially between the toes, and try to change your shoes and socks often to decrease the moist environment. You can also decrease excess perspiration by using a talcum powder. If you are in an environment where a fungus can be found - such as a pool, locker room, public shower, or dressing room - avoid walking barefoot and wear shower shoes when rinsing off.

If treatment does not respond to good hygiene or self treatment, make an appointment with a podiatrist. The podiatrist will determine if the condition is a fungus or some other problem and determine a plan of treatment, which may involve topical and oral antifungals.