5 Foot Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

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At Texas Foot Specialists we know none of our patients want to be labeled as hypochondriacs, but it’s important to pay attention to your feet and any unusual symptoms—even if they’re not terribly uncomfortable. Below are five symptoms that can point to potentially serious medical problems.

1.  Swelling. It’s not unusual for feet and ankles to swell on hot summer days. It’s also common to experience swelling during the later stages of pregnancy. However, swelling that happens often and doesn’t seem to be linked to a specific cause can be the sign of several serious health issues including kidney and heart failure. Due to gravity, excess fluid in the body tends to collect in the feet and ankles. Any medical conditions that cause your body to retain water may show up in your feet.

2.  Unexplained Pain. If you’re experiencing consistent pain in one part of your foot but you don’t recall injuring it there may be a stress fracture in one of your bones. These tiny, hairline cracks often develop over time because of repetitive stress to an area of the foot.

3.  Discolored or Deformed Toenails. If you’re a serious runner, you may notice a black toenail that’s caused by the constant hitting of the toe up against the front of your shoe. But, if that’s not the case, toenail changes can point to a fungal infection, anemia, or, in rare cases, melanoma.

4.  Numbness or Tingling. Feeling these sensations in your feet can be related to nerve damage. This can exist on its own or as part of another health problem, such as a thyroid disorder. These types of symptoms can also be caused by a blockage in your arteries or spinal stenosis.

5.  Slow-to-Heal Wounds. If you notice a cut or sore on your foot that doesn’t seem to be scabbing over and healing properly, it may be a sign of decreased blood flow to your feet. This is often associated with diabetes.

New foot symptoms are no need for alarm, but they should be checked out promptly by our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum. To schedule an appointment contact our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600), or Houston (713-664-6677) office at your earliest convenience.