Ask The Experts

Many problems with left foot, including a pronounced tailor's bunion (beside the little toe for most of my life) plantar faciitis in heel, hammer toes, and most recently, a painful corn between the little toe and the 4th toe. I am 75 and in good health. What's happening to my poor foot?

Thank you for contacting us. Congratulations on maintaining your health! Foot health certainly can be enhanced by being in good overall condition. What you are experiencing in your foot is a little unusual in that all of these conditions typically don't show up just in one foot. But they do have fairly common causes and progressions. One factor is simply the aging process. Our feet carry us many miles during our lifetime. If a person has been very active during that lifetime - and it sounds as though you have - then those miles you have traveled may be substantially more than the average person, and the wear and tear can build up over time. It sounds to us as though you would benefit from visiting a foot health professional such as a DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, or DPM). He or she can treat each of these conditions as appropriate to your activity level and general health. Your specific conditions are very common, and can be treated individually by a foot health professional. He or she may also be able to advise you on footwear choices that might address these conditions and any factors that might be influencing them (plantar fasciitis, bunions, corns and even hammertoes are sometimes related to poorly designed and fitted footwear). You can learn more about proper footwear by reading our article on the integrated approach to footwear selection and fitting.

Once again, we are glad to hear that you are in good health overall, but we hope you will consult a foot health professional and that he or she will be able to help you address the specific conditions you are experiencing.

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