GOUT
Have you been awakened at night by a hot painful feeling in
your big toe or ankle? Did the painful joint appear to be
swollen and red? These can be symptoms of a gout attack.
Gout is caused by an excess
of uric acid (a waste product made by the body). The uric
acid forms crystals that collect in the joints, bringing on
a gout attack. If you have many gout attacks, crystals may
form large deposits called tophi. Tophi can damage joints
and cause deformity.
BUNIONS
Although they may develop on the fifth (little) toe, bunions
usually occur at the base of the big toe. Bunions are often
caused by incorrect foot mechanics. The foot may flatten too
much, forcing the toe joint to move beyond normal range. In
some cases, joint damage caused by arthritis or injury
produces a bunion. Some people are born with a tendency to
develop bunions. If you're at risk for developing bunions,
wearing high-heeled or poorly fitting shoes makes the
problem worse.
NEUROMAS A Neuroma is a painful growth of nerve tissue in the
foot-most often between the third and fourth toe bones. It
forms when the bones in the feet press together and irritate
the nerve. Neuromas often form in women who wear high heels
frequently. Injury or foot deformity can also cause neuroma.
As a neuroma gets worse, it can cause a lot of pain, but
fortunately there are treatments that provide relief.
WARTS A wart is an infection caused by a virus, which can
invade your skin through small cuts or breaks. Over time,
the wart develops into a hard, rough growth on the surface
of the skin. A wart is most commonly seen on the bottom of
the foot (plantar wart) but can also appear on the top.
Children, teens and people with allergies or weakened immune
systems are more vulnerable to the wart virus.
