4 Foot Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
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Did you know that your feet can act as an “early warning system” for the rest of your body? At Texas Foot Specialists we want to encourage our patients to pay attention to changes in their feet. Even if a symptom isn’t painful or particularly uncomfortable it may point to a bigger problem. Below are four symptoms you should not ignore:
Dry, Cracked Skin—sometimes dry skin is, well, just dry skin. But if even after applying moisturizer consistently for a few days, you don’t see improvement in the condition of your skin and you notice cracks on the heels, it means further investigation is needed. The condition of the skin on your feet is affected by oil secretion from your glands and hormonal changes too. For example, one sign of an underactive thyroid is cracks on your heels. Patients with diabetes may also have difficulty keeping skin moist and supple.
Loss of Sensation—if you notice that you don’t have the same level of feeling in your feet that you once did you may have neuropathy or nerve damage. When nerves are damaged it may decrease your ability to feel heat, cold, or pain. Another sign of neuropathy is a tingling or burning sensation in your feet. Oftentimes one of the first signs of multiple sclerosis is numbness or a tingling sensation. Neuropathy is also frequently associated with diabetes.
Swollen Ankles—you may think they’re just annoying but swelling in your lower legs and ankles can be indicative of a serious medical problem. Heart disease, kidney failure, and liver problems may all manifest by causing swelling and fluid retention in the lower extremities.
Toenail Deformities—although most patients know that discolored toenails or those that appear thickened or crumbly are usually caused by a fungal nail infection, it’s important to look more closely. Toenails that appear to be pitted or have small dents in them can be an indicator of psoriatic arthritis. A persistent dark spot or streak under a nail may be melanoma.
Your feet are amazing structures and by keeping a careful eye on them you may be able to detect systemic diseases in their earliest and most treatable stages. Be sure to report any unusual symptoms promptly to our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum. Make an appointment at our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston (713-664-6677) office today.