Older Feet Don’t Have to Hurt

About 75% of people will experience foot pain at some point in their life. And the older you get, the more likely it is that you’ll develop a foot problem.  After years spent doing the hard work of supporting your entire body, feet can change shape, wear out in places, or become less stable. 

Here are just some of the foot problems both men and women might experience as they age:

• Toe deformities like bunions, hammertoes, and bone spurs make it difficult to walk, run, squat, or wear certain kinds of shoes.

• Corns and calluses may form as a result of poor footwear or as a side effect of another problem. For example, if you’ve got a large bunion forcing your big toe to bend in toward your second toe, the pressure can cause a corn to develop.

• As the ligaments in your arch become more stretched out, you may develop flat feet. If you’ve suffered from flat feet in your younger years, your symptoms may become worse or you may develop symptoms, such as arch pain, for the first time.

• It’s not unusual for toenails to change, becoming thicker and discolored. Trimming your toenails may become more of a challenge.

• Years of diabetes may finally reveal symptoms in your feet such as nerve damage and poor circulation.

• Many senior citizens suffer from painful arthritis, which can affect any joint in the feet or ankles.

• Dry skin can become a problem and cause perpetually cracked heels.

Foot pain isn’t inevitable

Your feet don’t have to hurt just because you’re getting older. Many foot issues can be successfully treated, especially if we catch them in their early stages. Contact the board-certified podiatrists at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center for an evaluation of your problem before it becomes really serious. From conservative treatments to complicated surgeries, Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka are well-qualified to ease your foot pain. Call our Howell or Jackson office at (732) 905-1110 or make an appointment online.