Pain in the back of the heel is usually caused by Achilles tendonitis or inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone.

A painful mal alignment or enlargement of the bone at the base of the big toe. They can be caused by poorly fitting shoes however in 40% of the population they are hereditary. A bunion can lead to joint arthritis if not treated, and will get progressively worse over time. It can also prohibit a woman from wearing stylish shoes and usually requires surgery to correct.

A hammertoe is a deformity where the joints of the toe become contracted and the toe begins to curl as a result. It can be either flexible or rigid and is caused by a dynamic imbalance of the muscle that attach to the toes. This is also a progressive condition and also requires surgery to correct.

Heel pain is usually caused by irritation of a ligament that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot. Patients usually experience pain when taking the first step in the am or when getting up after prolonged periods of sitting. Heel pain can be treated conservatively with anti-inflammatories (ie advil, aleve, ) ice, stretching, physical therapy, night splints, orthotics. If heel pain is recalcitrant to conservative therapy a physician may choose to inject the heel with cortisone or correct the problem by cutting the ligament. Although surgery can be performed, shockwave therapy is now also available for this condition.

Pain and numbness in the ball of the foot can often be contributed to a neuroma or an enlargement of a nerve that runs between the ends of the long bones (metatarsal) of the foot. This is sometimes referred to as a tumor of the nerve and is usually benign. Initially the patient will feel a sharp pain in the ball of the foot, especially when wearing shoes. Over time the pain will progress to numbness. The most common location for these symptoms is between the 2nd and 3rd or the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads.

Callouses-areas of hard thick dead skin usually found on the bottom of the foot, heel or ball of the foot. Usually caused by excessive friction from shoes. More commonly occurring in the summer during sandal season.

Corns-also areas of hard thick dead skin usually found on top of the foot covering areas of protruding bone, called hammertoes or contracted digits. Can also be found in between toes where there is excessive bony prominence noted on the side of the toe. When located in between toes this is called a soft corn. Usually caused by irritation from poorly fitting shoes.

You probably have what is called onychomycosis or fungus in the nail. The nail usually appears yellow to brown in color and may be accompanied by thickening, peeling or lifting of the nail from the skin. Usually the infection is noted in the skin first and subsequently spreads to the nail. You can also pick it up in nail salons especially if they do not properly sterilize their instruments. Once the nail is infected with fungus, it is VERY VERY difficult to get rid of the infection. Most topical agents unfortunately do not penetrate the nail plate. For mild onychomycosis treatments such as Penlac Nail Laquer must be used once a day for a period of 9 months to a year or the length of time it takes the nail to completely grow out. Even then the cure rate is only 40% at best. Really the most effective treatment for onychomycosis remains Lamisil tablets and seeing a podiatrist to get your nails cut.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin. It usually involves redness, cracking, and itching of the foot. Also noted on the bottom of the foot are small blister like lesions that appear to have ruptured. Skin can also appear scaly and dry and can be confused as dry skin, especially in the geriatric population

A wart is a thickening of the skin and can often be confused as a callous. It is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It differs from a callous or corn in that the skin lines are obscured. Many treatment options are available and will differ with every physician.