If you had back pain 50 years ago chances are you would be told to lie on a board for a month and not move. We now know that this is exactly the wrong [...]]]> Here is an article I wrote for the Hotter Shoes Comfort Club booklet, spring 2012 edition. Fame!

If you had back pain 50 years ago chances are you would be told to lie on a board for a month and not move. We now know that this is exactly the wrong thing to do. You need to move as soon as possible. Get mobile. Get walking as soon as you can. To do this you need comfortable shoes. You don’t want sore feet to add to your misery. So put your broken down old shoes in the dustbin where they belong and make sure you only wear shoes that are up to the job, ones that are supportive and comfortable.

As a podiatrist I deal with people on a daily basis who freely admit to me that their feet are not perfect. So what should you do if you think you are in that category?

Sue’s Tips

First tip: wear shoes that accommodate all your lumps and bumps. It sounds obvious but your shoes should have room for all of your toes. So if you have hammer toes or toes that overlie each other then wear shoes that are deep enough and wide enough at the toe box end. If you have bunions make sure your shoes are wide enough across the forefoot. Don’t make your bunions or your corns worse by wearing tight narrow shoes with pointed toes. Corns will not appreciate being rubbed on a hard shoe. When in doubt think “comfort” and you won’t go wrong.

Second tip: Save your inappropriate glam shoes for party nights when you are not planning to be walking far.

Third tip: especially for winter, when you go out dog walking don’t wear cheap rubber wellies … your feet will get cold and sore. Choose Gore-tex boots or shoes to keep your feet dry, warm and comfortable. And don’t forget to slip in your orthotics if you normally wear them. Save your cheap wellies for washing the car. Walking for miles on uneven ground in unsuitable footwear like wellies can wreck your feet … and even cause back pain.

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… and no doubt more to come in. Roll on more in the 2012 range.

"8 years ago, I stepped onto a rusty nail. I had treatment for the wound and the wound finally closed up. Some years later, the bottom of my foot would become purple. I then went to see the doctor again and the doctor took a [...]]]> Online podiatry help – advice needed

"8 years ago, I stepped onto a rusty nail. I had treatment for the wound and the wound finally closed up. Some years later, the bottom of my foot would become purple. I then went to see the doctor again and the doctor took a syringe, tried to suck out whatever was in there, but failed and said there’s nothing. It was a lil painful. Then 4 years ago(2008) , pure pain started.. Unbearable pain.. My whole leg(up till the thigh region) would be painful.. I couldn’t walk.. But when you’d see the foot, nothing looked wrong.. Just a few veins.. I went to the doctor again and he said it’s nothing, then gave me some antibiotics and I was well again.. 3 years back(2009), a lump started to grow on the "TOP" of my foot.. This lump isn’t painful most of the time.. It appears and disappears.. The lump is directly above where the initial wound was.. Its pain intensity varies.. From numb, to normal skin feeling, to itchy, to painful, to excruciatingly painful.. It gets painful only if I party and dance all night.. I do bodybuilding and I used to play rugby.. The infected foot’s skin is a bit darker than the other one.. A bit numb too.. What’s this?"

ANSWER

I’m sorry but this type of question is far beyond the scope of an online answer. You should go back to your doctor for an investigation/x-ray/scan or whatever he considers is appropriate for your foot.

"I have 5 verrucas on my big toe. I think I see a 6th but its very small. I have had them for 3 years, but there were only 3 last year and 1 the year before that. I have tried bazuca [...]]]> Online podiatry help – How to get rid of verrucae

"I have 5 verrucas on my big toe. I think I see a 6th but its very small. I have had them for 3 years, but there were only 3 last year and 1 the year before that. I have tried bazuca gel but that has failed to get rid of them. Can you tell me what to do next and what treatments are available?"

Christmas is coming early at ECCO Shoes. Here’s a chance to win £800 worth of ECCO shoes and bags from the ECCO website. All you need to do is to click on the image below. Then answer the questions and register your contact details before 1 December 2011 to be entered into the [...]]]>

Christmas is coming early at ECCO Shoes. Here’s a chance to win £800 worth of ECCO shoes and bags from the ECCO website. All you need to do is to click on the image below. Then answer the questions and register your contact details before 1 December 2011 to be entered into the competition draw – it’s so easy! ECCO will notify the winner of the £800 voucher by email at the beginning of December, and will even send you a free shipping voucher by email – just for entering the competition.

BEST OF LUCK