Ever wish you could take your feet off?

Ever wished you could take your feet off, even for just a minute?  Ahhh...what a relief it would be, if only we could!  Unfortunately, we have to look to other less drastic measures for relief from foot pain.

Aching joints and muscles, tendon sprains and sore feet all too often come low down on the list of health priorities and yet they are usually the reason why we reduce our physical activity as we age. What few realise is that this is just our body’s way of telling us that the way it is working is beginning to overwork some supporting structures. This can so often be easily put right with the right treatment.

As the foot is the only part of the lower limb in contact with the ground, how it behaves is fundamental to keeping the limb in tune. Our feet are similar yet different and the way they work inside our shoe causes major changes to how the skeleton works as we move.  This is often responsible for painful conditions affecting not only the foot but the leg, knee, hip and even the lower back.

There are many medical problems that our doctors are not always best placed to deal with. If we need glasses do we just stop reading? No, we visit the opticians. If we develop toothache do we just let dental problems advance to the point where we lose our teeth? No, because a regular dental check-up helps prevent this. So what about our feet and legs? Where can we go for help?

The role of podiatrists

Podiatrists are highly skilled professionals who have been trained to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate disorders and diseases of the foot and lower limb. A podiatrist will examine your feet and give special attention to how the whole lower limb is working.  Many foot problems and pain affecting the lower limb can be resolved with the use of an orthotic device. This is a corrective shoe insert that restores the balance of forces that are involved in walking, running and other recreational activities or sports.  

Some podiatrists will  go on to undertake extensive post graduate training to qualify as Podiatric Surgeons. This enables them to undertake corrective surgical procedures for conditions such as bunions and toe deformities.

As an experienced Podiatric Surgeon & Podiatric MSK Specialist, I can offer a full range of services from surgical assessments and opinions to biomechanical assessments to help explain and solve the symptoms of foot and lower limb dysfunction. My experience over 25 years includes orthopaedic and rheumatoid problems, corrective surgery and orthoses.  I have designed insoles for commercial companies and worked extensively within the NHS and in the military.

During a consultation, a simple explanation of the problem is always given so that you can better understand not only what's required to put things right so that you can get on with all those things you’ve been avoiding, but also what to do to avoid these problems starting again. So the next time foot pain strikes, think about how much better you’d feel if you could do something positive about it.  Don't put up with pain, seek advice from a qualified podiatrist and get back on your feet!

Greg Quinn

Consultant Podiatric Surgeon