| 800-210-6223 715-842-4228 |
| Wausau Podiatry Center LTD |
General Foot Health Tips
1. Don't ignore foot pain. It's not normal. If the pain persists, contact our office.
2. Inspect your feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature. Look
for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts
in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate Athlete's foot. Any
growth on the foot is not considered normal.
3. Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes, and be sure to dry them
completely.
4. Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut nails in corners
or on the sides; it can lead to ingrown toenails. Persons with diabetes, poor circulation
or heart problems should not treat their own feet because they are more prone to
infection.
5. Make sure that your shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet
tend to be at their largest and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.
6. Select and wear the right shoe for the activity that you are engaged in (i.e. running
shoes for running).
7. Alternate shoes - don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
8. Avoid walking barefooted. Your feet will be more prone to injury and infection. At the
beach or when wearing sandals always use sunblock on your feet as the rest of your
body.
9. Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments. Self-treatment can often
turn a minor problem into a major one.
10. If you are a diabetic, contact our office at least once a year for a check-up.
When To Call a Doctor
• You have persistent pain in your feet or ankles.
• You have noticeable change to your nails or skin.
• Your feet are severely cracking, scaling, or peeling.
• There are blisters on your feet.
• There are signs of bacterial infection, including:
o Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
o Red streaks extending from the affected area.
o Discharge of pus.
o Fever of 100°F (37.78°C) or higher with no other cause.
o Symptoms that do not improve after two weeks of treatment with a non-prescription
product.
o Spreading of the infection to other areas, such as the nail bed, or skin under the nail,
the nail itself, or the surrounding skin.
• Your toenail is getting thicker and causing you discomfort.
• You have heel pain accompanied by a fever, redness (sometimes warmth) or
numbness or tingling in your heel, or persistent pain without putting any weight or pressure
on your heel, or the pain is not alleviated by ice, aspirin, (or ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
• You have diabetes or certain diseases associated with poor circulation and you
develop athlete's foot. People with diabetes are at increased risk for a severe bacterial
infection of the foot and leg if they have athlete's foot.
• You have persistent pain in your feet or ankles.
• You have noticeable change to your nails or skin.
• Your feet are severely cracking, scaling, or peeling.
• There are blisters on your feet.
• There are signs of bacterial infection, including:
o Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
o Red streaks extending from the affected area.
o Discharge of pus.
o Fever of 100°F (37.78°C) or higher with no other cause.
o Symptoms that do not improve after two weeks of treatment with a non-prescription
product.
o Spreading of the infection to other areas, such as the nail bed, or skin under the nail,
the nail itself, or the surrounding skin.
• Your toenail is getting thicker and causing you discomfort.
• You have heel pain accompanied by a fever, redness (sometimes warmth) or
numbness or tingling in your heel, or persistent pain without putting any weight or pressure
on your heel, or the pain is not alleviated by ice, aspirin, (or ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
• You have diabetes or certain diseases associated with poor circulation and you
develop athlete's foot. People with diabetes are at increased risk for a severe bacterial
infection of the foot and leg if they have athlete's foot.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
