Be Thankful for Your Feet

November is Thanksgiving time and we at Goldsmith Podiatry think your feet are worthy of your gratitude! In addition to getting you where you need to go every day, did you know that your feet are like an “early warning system” for the rest of your body? Your feet can provide important clues to the foot doctor that can help you detect systemic diseases in their earliest stages when they are most treatable.

Below are some indicators and what they may mean:

Sudden hair loss on your toes—can signal a decrease in blood flow and potential circulation problem.

Foot cramps—this can point to something simple like dehydration or a more complex problem such as nerve damage or a nutrient deficiency.

Cold feet—the most frequent cause of feet that won’t warm up is hypothyroidism. An underactive thyroid can also result in fatigue, unexplained weight gain, and depression. This condition is more likely to strike patients over the age of 40.

Sore or cut that won’t heal—poor circulation associated with diabetes can make it difficult for oxygen-rich blood (necessary for healing) to reach your feet. Stubborn sores that don’t seem to improve can be a red flag for diabetes. The same goes for loss of sensation in your feet or tingling or burning sensations because nerve damage can be another consequence of the disease. 

Numbness—in addition to diabetes, numbness could point to a pinched nerve—maybe indicating that your shoes are too tight. Numbness can also be a side effect of chemotherapy or the result of alcoholic neuropathy.

Heel pain—most often caused by inflammation of the long band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, the plantar fascia, heel pain can be a sign that your arches are falling or that you are spending too much time in shoes or boots that don’t have good arch support.

Due to the wide range of possible conditions—some serious, some not—it’s essential that you listen to your feet and bring any unusual symptoms to our Upper West Side New York City office so that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia, can examine your feet and make the proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Contact us today for an appointment by calling: 212-877-1002.