What May Cause Pain Under The Heel And How To Deal With It

Overview

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel. Approximately 2 million patients are treated for this condition every year. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot becomes irritated and inflamed. The plantar fascia is a long, thin ligament that lies directly beneath the skin on the bottom of your foot. It connects the heel to the front of your foot, and supports the arch of your foot.




Causes

Training on improper, hard and/or irregular surfaces as well as excessive track work in spiked shoes, or steep hill running, can stress the plantar fascia past its limits of elasticity, leading to injury. Finally, failure in the early season to warm up gradually gives the athlete insufficient time for the structures of the foot to re-acclimate and return to a proper fitness level for intensive exercise. Such unprepared and repeated trauma causes microscopic tearing, which may only be detected once full-blown plantar fasciitis and accompanying pain and debilitation have resulted. If the level of damage to the plantar fascia is significant, an inflammatory reaction of the heel bone can produce spike-like projections of new bone, known as heel spurs. Indeed, plantar fasciitis has occasionally been refereed to as heel spur syndrome, though such spurs are not the cause of the initial pain but are instead a further symptom of the problem. While such spurs are sometimes painless, in other cases they cause pain or disability in the athlete, and surgical intervention to remove them may be required. A dull, intermittent pain in the heel is typical, sometimes progressing to a sharp, sustained discomfort. Commonly, pain is worse in the morning or after sitting, later decreasing as the patient begins walking, though standing or walking for long periods usually brings renewal of the pain.




Symptoms

The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain on the bottom of the foot near the heel, pain with the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning, or after a long period of rest, such as after a long car ride. The pain subsides after a few minutes of walking. Greater pain after (not during) exercise or activity.




Diagnosis

After you describe your symptoms and discuss your concerns, your doctor will examine your foot. Your doctor will look for these signs. A high arch, an area of maximum tenderness on the bottom of your foot, just in front of your heel bone. Pain that gets worse when you flex your foot and the doctor pushes on the plantar fascia. The pain improves when you point your toes down. Limited "up" motion of your ankle. Your doctor may order imaging tests to help make sure your heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis and not another problem. X-rays provide clear images of bones. They are useful in ruling out other causes of heel pain, such as fractures or arthritis. Heel spurs can be seen on an x-ray. Other imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, are not routinely used to diagnose plantar fasciitis. They are rarely ordered. An MRI scan may be used if the heel pain is not relieved by initial treatment methods.




Non Surgical Treatment

The following recommendations are appropriate. Wear shoes with adequate arch support and cushioned heels; discard old running shoes and wear new ones; rotate work shoes daily. Avoid long periods of standing. Lose weight. Stretch the plantar fascia and warm up the lower extremity before participating in exercise. For increased flexibility, stretch the plantar fascia and the calf after exercise. Do not exercise on hard surfaces. Avoid walking barefooted on hard surfaces. Avoid high-impact sports that require a great deal of jumping (eg, aerobics and volleyball). Apply ice for 20 minutes after repetitive impact-loading activities and at the end of the day. Limit repetitive impact-loading activities such as running to every other day, and consider rest or cross-training for nonrunning days.






Surgical Treatment

When more conservative methods have failed to reduce plantar fasciitis pain, your doctor may suggest extracorporeal shock wave therapy, which is used to treat chronic plantar fasciitis. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy uses sound waves to stimulate healing, but may cause bruises, numbness, tingling, swelling, and pain. When all else fails, surgery may be recommended to detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone. Few people need surgery to treat the condition.




Prevention

Factors that help prevent plantar fasciitis and reduce the risk of recurrence include. Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg and ankle. Warming up before commencing physical activity. Maintaining a healthy body weight. Avoiding high heeled footwear. Using orthotic devices such as arch supports and heel raises in footwear, particularly for people with very high arches or flat feet. Daily stretches of plantar fascia and Achilles tendon.

What May Cause Heel Discomfort And The Way To Remedy It

Overview

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or, rarely, a cyst. Because there are several potential causes, it is important to have heel pain properly diagnosed. A foot and ankle surgeon is able to distinguish between all the possibilities and determine the underlying source of your heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that extends from the heel to the toes. In this condition, the fascia first becomes irritated and then inflamed, resulting in heel pain.




Causes

Patients with tight calf muscles will suffer with excessive pulling of the muscle group on the back of the heel. This in turn creates pulling of other structures that are attached to the heel, including the Plantar Fascia. When the pulling continues for long enough, then inflammation will develop and lead to Plantar Fasciitis. This causes Heel Pain. It is extremely common for patients who increase their level of activity to develop Plantar Fasciitis. Boot camp, running, zumba, recreational walking or other quick movement sports such as tennis or touch football are typical causes of Heel Pain. The sharp increase in exercise is too much for the foot to cope with and the stress on the Plantar Fascia causes inflammation. The Heel Pain that is caused by this inflammation is known as Plantar Fasciitis.




Symptoms

The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain when you walk. You may also feel pain when you stand and possibly even when you are resting. This pain typically occurs first thing in the morning after you get out of bed, when your foot is placed flat on the floor. The pain occurs because you are stretching the plantar fascia. The pain usually lessens with more walking, but you may have it again after periods of rest. You may feel no pain when you are sleeping because the position of your feet during rest allows the fascia to shorten and relax.




Diagnosis

Plantar fasciitis is one of many conditions causing "heel pain". Some other possible causes include nerve compression either in the foot or in the back, stress fracture of the calcaneus, and loss of the fatty tissue pad under the heel. Plantar fasciitis can be distinguished from these and other conditions based on a history and examination done by a physician. It should be noted that heel spurs are often inappropriately thought to be the sole cause of heel pain. In fact, heel spurs are common and are nothing more than the bone's response to traction or pulling-type forces from the plantar fascia and other muscles in the foot where they attach to the heel bone. They are commonly present in patients without pain, and frequently absent from those who have pain. It is the rare patient who has a truly enlarged and problematic spur requiring surgery.




Non Surgical Treatment

Plantar fasciitis can be a difficult problem to treat, with no panacea available. Fortunately, most patients with this condition eventually have satisfactory outcomes with nonsurgical treatment. Therefore, management of patient expectations minimizes frustration for both the patient and the provider.






Surgical Treatment

The majority of patients, about 90%, will respond to appropriate non-operative treatment measures over a period of 3-6 months. Surgery is a treatment option for patients with persistent symptoms, but is NOT recommended unless a patient has failed a minimum of 6-9 months of appropriate non-operative treatment. There are a number of reasons why surgery is not immediately entertained including. Non-operative treatment when performed appropriately has a high rate of success. Recovery from any foot surgery often takes longer than patients expect. Complications following this type of surgery can and DO occur! The surgery often does not fully address the underlying reason why the condition occurred therefore the surgery may not be completely effective. Prior to surgical intervention, it is important that the treating physician ensure that the correct diagnosis has been made. This seems self-evident, but there are other potential causes of heel pain. Surgical intervention may include extracorporeal shock wave therapy or endoscopic or open partial plantar fasciectomy.




Stretching Exercises

Stretching exercises for your foot are important. Do the stretches shown here at least twice a day. Don't bounce when you stretch. Plantar fascia stretch. To do the plantar fascia stretch, stand straight with your hands against a wall and your injured leg slightly behind your other leg. Keeping your heels flat on the floor, slowly bend both knees. You should feel the stretch in the lower part of your leg. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. Calf stretch. Stand with your hands against a wall and your injured leg behind your other leg. With your injured leg straight, your heel flat on the floor and your foot pointed straight ahead, lean slowly forward, bending the other leg. You should feel the stretch in the middle of your calf. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. Other exercises. You can also strengthen your leg muscles by standing on the ball of your foot at the edge of a step and raising up as high as possible on your toes. Relax between toe raises and let your heel fall a little lower than the edge of the step. It's also helpful to strengthen the foot by grabbing a towel with your toes as if you are going to pick up the towel with your foot. Repeat this exercise several times a day.

Symptoms Of Calcaneal Apophysitis

Pain across the bottom of the foot at any point between the heel and the ball of the foot is often referred to as "arch pain” Although this description is non-specific, most arch pain is due to strain or inflammation Flat Feet of the plantar fascia (a long ligament on the bottom of the foot). Wearing inappropriate footwear or foot problems like athlete's foot and Morton's neuroma are some of the factors that cause burning feet sensation.

U-Shaped portion surrounds sore callus and reduces pain by transferring pressure from callus to the cushion. Soft orthotics cushion the ball and arches of the feet and protect them from injury and pain, while rigid orthotics correct abnormal foot angles and movements that can cause or worsen pain in the ball of the foot. Many insoles fit inside of slippers so that people suffering from pain in the ball of the foot can walk more comfortably inside their homes as well as outside. In addition, some insoles include added deodorizers to help decrease foot odor. While gel or foam insoles are sold at pharmacies, grocery stores and sporting-goods stores, orthotics require a visit to a podiatrist, who will make a cast of the foot and build a custom-fit insole from the cast. Foam, gel and soft orthotics require replacement once a year or more as the cushioning wears out. Rigid orthotics rarely need replacement. Hip bone spur can cause a lot of discomfort.

Most flat feet usually do not cause pain or other problems. Flat feet may be associated with pronation, a leaning inward of the ankle bones toward the center line. Foot pain, ankle pain or lower leg pain, especially in children, may be a result of flat feet and should be evaluated.

Do not consume food items which you are allergic to. Keep dead skin off your lips by lightly scrubbing them at least twice a week using a mild, natural ingredient such as cornflour or a lemon juice-sugar pack. I had a long road workout two weeks ago and immediately after starting having pain on the ball of my foot in this area. I have also learned buying shoes online is easy.

During the average lifetime our feet cover over 70,000 miles, the equivalent of walking four times around the world., so it's not surprising that problems can occur. Indeed around three-quarters of all adults will experience some sort of problem with their feet at some time. And without treatment most foot complaints will become gradually worse with time. This means people often endure painful conditions for far too long, and the problem can get worse. People often assume nothing can be done to help their condition, but in fact these conditions are extremely treatable. Swollen lump on big toe joint; lump may become numb but also make walking painful.

Chronic Back Pain Cure

Treatments can be made from drugs (such as anti-inflammatories, steroids, opiates and muscle relaxants), physical therapy and physical exercises, surgery or alternative treatments. Plants such as willow bark and arnica homeopathy and also are indicated. It is important that the patient always control your weight, maintain good posture, avoid smoking, get healthy lifestyles and practice sports. These measures help to treat and prevent the emergence of new pains. In some cases, back pain may radiate to other areas such as thighs and legs. In this situation, the most common cause is nerve compression that may be associated with disc herniation. Be certain you understand how to properly elevate objects. Lifting a heavy box might cause your back to scream at you in pain. There are many things to understand on the way to lift different objects. See the resources below for additional info on this. Use logic too. If it is too serious for you, get some assistance. You need to understand the seven Do's of lifting and bending within the resources below. A complete bed rest for 24 - 48 hrs relieves back pain in most of the instances. Walk a little every few hours to keep the blood flowing and the muscles toned. A cervical laminectomy (may be combined with an anterior approach) is sometimes performed when acute cervical disc herniation causes central cord syndrome or in cervical disc herniations refractory to conservative measures. Studies have shown that an anterior discectomy with fusion is the recommended procedure for central or anterolateral soft disc herniation, while a posterior laminotomy-foraminotomy may be considered when technical limitations for anterior access exist (e.g., short thick neck) or when the individual has had prior surgery at the same level (Windsor, 2006). The BlueCross BlueShield Association Technology Evaluation Center, the Washington State Health Technology Assessment Program, and the California Technology Assessment Forum are conducting reassessments of the vertebroplasty procedure. Various species of angelica have been used to quiet pain by American Indians throughout North America. The European species (Angelica archangelica) and the Chinese species (Angelica sinensis) have been used in the same way in the folk medicine of Europe and China respectively. The Chinese species is sometimes sold in North America under the names dang gui or dong quai. All species contain anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and anodyne (pain- relieving) properties. The European species of angelica has been used in European folk medicine since antiquity, as has the Chinese species in Chinese medicine. Low back pain is usually a signal of injuries or some underlying problem associated with the spine - its bones, muscles, and also other soft tissues. It could disrupt your job, regimen, and your activities. It may even impact your normal lifestyle as you are struggling to participate in recreational activities due to pain. If you would like fast-acting low back pain relief, you will find over the counter medicines obtainable in the majority of drugstores. These kinds of medicines can help to eliminate pain along with inflammation and offer back pain relief for patients. They consist of aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ketoprofen (Orudis), naproxen (Aleve), along with ibuprofen (Motrin). Studies have found that 20 to 25% of all chronic lower back pain comes not from the spine but from the sacroliac, or SI, joint, which bears and transfers weight and movement from your upper body to your legs. When the ligaments wear out and the SI joint becomes unstable, it can generate a similar kind of sharp back pain - or sciatica-like pain down your leg - as a ruptured disc. One study found that among "failed" spinal fusion patients - people who had their lumbar vertebrae fused and were still in pain afterward - the SI joint was the real culprit in more than half the cases. A thorough evaluation is useful in cases of prolonged discomfort or pain that reoccurs often. The first step may be an x-ray. It shows the bones of the spinal column and the status of the intervertebral discs can be evaluated indirectly. Computer tomography, MRI and neural pathway examination and EMG may be used as an additional diagnosis tools. In the most severe pain phase one can relax the back by lying on the back and lifting the legs against a wall or bending the knees on top of pillows. Follow the same rules with heat (15 minutes on, 1 hour off, repeat numerous times throughout the day) for best results. Lower back pain may result from a number of different causes, which may depend upon the individual's age. There are several things that you can do at home to relieve the pain, so you should explore all home treatment methods to determine the most effective one for you. Past research has hinted that low back pain, which affects roughly one in five people worldwide, could be related to the shape of the foot's arch in the standing position. Among 1,930 men and women recruited from Framingham, Massachusetts, pronated feet - which tend to roll inward as a person walks - were linked to lower back pain in women only.

Foot Corn Prevention

It's better to cut your toenails after you do the soaking and lotion steps because the toenails are pretty thick and it's much easier when they are softened. Use a toenail clipper with a straigt edge so you don't cut them too short. Cutting your toenails too short can cause ingrown toenails and they are not fun! Next file your nails with the emery board. Create a relaxing spa treatment at home, put your feet your hands (or), a stone massage with natural essential oils. Feel free to use the oil in your closet, if available read more People suffering from Metatarsalgia often experience a burning sensation under the ball of the foot. Sometimes combined with a sharp, tingling sensation near the toes (this condition is called Morton's Neuroma, see further below). The pain can also be stabbing pain that comes and goes throughout the day. In some cases people experience a feeling similar to having a pebble sitting under the forefoot. Ball of Foot pain worsens when wearing high heels/fashion shoes for a longer periods of time or, for men after walking long distances in hard shoes. Typically people with Ball of Foot pain also display excessive callous formation under the balls of their feet. Three times a week, after you get out of the shower before you put on your socks or nylons or before you get into bed apply a cream or lotion containing 2% salicylic acid (BHA—beta hydroxy acid). On the days or nights when you don’t apply a BHA product apply an emollient, thick moisturizer such as pure shea butter or cocoa butter that you can buy at most drugstores or health food stores. Apply the paste to the callus. Place your foot or hand in a plastic bag and wrap a damp towel around it. Leave the paste on the callus for 15 minutes. You Might Also Like Step 4 So if you have rough dry heels and calluses on your feet, if your hands are rough from dishwashing, if your knees and elbows are rough and dry, I highly recommend this product. It is inexpensive, it works, it smells great and it does not have a greasy feel and the tube looks like a foot at the end and it has a snap close cap unlike many other creams. Nobody wants to have to put a cap on a tube when your hands are coated with the product. So they have just about covered everything to make the usage easier. A corn, or heloma, is a thickened area of dry skin that has a visible centre, or nucleus, at the area of greatest pressure. It is caused by direct pressure from shoes upon a bony surface of the foot. The centre, or nucleus, presses on nerve endings in the skin. If it is large enough, it can be quite painful. If the corns and calluses have been caused by repetitive actions, avoiding them will most probably solve the problem. Wearing shoes and socks that fit properly, as well as having protective pads and other self-care measure also help. However, when diabetes and peripheral neuropathy enter the picture, there is increasing evidence that excessive callusing may indeed be harmful to foot health. A callus may hide and even worsen inflammation that occurs under the callus The inflammation may be an early sign of a diabetic foot ulcer. Perhaps most concerning is that inflammation under calluses may be very hard to detect. In the Nishide study, experienced wound care nurses and specialists could not identify the latent inflammation in the calluses, even though three of the five inflamed calluses had tissue damage reaching down to the muscle layer. Several factors usually combine to cause rough, callous feet. Dry weather, bad footwear choices and repetitive foot motions can all cause your feet to become thick and callous-especially unfortunate when you want to wear foot-baring shoes, calluses are meant to protect your feet, but look ugly. Smooth out feet by exfoliating the skin and applying nourishing moisturizers to get the soft, touchable feet you want to show off in sandals and open-toed shoes. Step 1 You can usually keep the same wrap on your feet for up to two or three days before it needs changed. Be sure to consult a professional before attempting any self treatment for foot problems. Six percent of the United States population suffers with fallen archesor flat feet, according to the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association. Doctorprescribed exercises, physical therapy and the right kind of shoes helps flatfeet sufferers regain some shape to their feet. Of the remaining 94 percentthat have slight arches to high arches, the need for exercise is equallyimportant. With the help of some household items, you can train and exerciseyour feet and your arches without spending money for equipment or classes atthe gym. Combine lightly mashed strawberries with olive oil and salt. Don't over blend or mixture will become runny. Rub over feet to smooth rough calluses and rinse.

Foot Problems That People Experience

Ingrown toenails are the foot condition that occurs when a piece of the nail breaks the skin - which can happen if you don't cut your nails properly. Ingrown toenails are very common in the large toes. A doctor can remove the part of the nail that is cutting into the skin. This allows the area to heal. Ingrown toenails can often be avoided by cutting the toenail straight across and level with the top of the toe. As aforementioned, one of the prime reasons for foot corns is wearing tight fitting shoes. So, select shoes that fit properly, and avoid rubbing of toes to inner side of shoes. There is a wide variation in quality between brands of inversion tables. Many are produced by contract manufacturers in low cost countries that are purchased by importers focused on minimum cost. Others do not have well thought out designs or do not undergo testing to any outside recognized standards. A brand you can trust, Teeter Hangups inversion tables have been manufactured for years and are tested to UL standards. Most consumers would not purchase a toaster without the UL mark, this should be a minimum standard for a product such as an inversion table that is expected to support your weight. Podiatry is a not so common branch of medical science that discusses about the healing process of different foot and ankle disorders. It deals about the diagnosis, prevention, and other possible medical treatments of disorders of foot and ankle. Podiatrists are those people who are specially trained to diagnosis all biomechanical foot and leg issues and can treat different foot conditions. Short Description A bunion is a painful bump on the side of the foot. While treatment for this condition often requires surgery, this article explores other treatment that is necessary to prevent the bunion from coming back. Rugs can make or break a room. You walk in and if they look clean and fresh, you pretty much assume that everything else will be in line. When you walk into a home or business and they are dirty, you start to look for everything else that could be wrong. If something so obvious is dirty, you can only imagine what the behind the scene things look like. Wall cladding is a decorative, architectural material applied to the outside of a building or inside walls of a home or office. Often a consumer or builder chooses wall cladding for the practical nature, the added style element or both. Gout is a type of arthritis characterized by sudden, rapid stiffness and pain appearing in one or more joints in the body. While a traditional gout diet involves restricting foods with high levels of purines, you may also be able to alleviate your gout through a regimen of supplements intended to reduce inflammation and provide abundant doses of critical vitamins and minerals. Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden pain, redness and swelling in the large joint of the big toe or in other joints. Gout attacks often occur at night, and the pain can cause a patient to wake up. There are several effective treatments for gout. There is a wide range of over-the-counter foot corn removal products. They include medicated as well as non-medicated products, like pads, wraps, plasters and ointments. Non-medicated pads are useful for reducing pressure on the corn, as they provide a cushion-like effect. However, it is said that certain types of corn pads exert more pressure on the corns. So horseshoe-shaped or donut-shaped corn-pads are usually recommended, to avoid direct pressure. If the corns are in between the toes, use toe-spacers to avoid pressure and friction. You may also use a soft insole for relieving pressure on the corn. The first thing you need to do to start an organic garden is select a location. While sunshine is seldom a problem in the desert, you do need to make sure that your plot will have a minimum of six hours of sunlight that will not be interrupted by a shadow from a tree or your house. You will also want to choose an area that is big enough to hold the plants you intend to place in the ground. Remove the weeds, and fence it in by using aviary wire, in order to keep out rodents. Emotional eating is not always "just" emotional eating. Sometimes, it is a full-fledged addiction with obvious-and very serious-consequences. Acknowledging this addiction is the first step. Just ask yourself how many people you know who have endangered their health through eating! The fact is, once food is "installed" in an individual's mental computer as a way to deal with problems or stress, it can become so deeply embedded in his or her mind and so important that he or she would literally die to keep it. Are you addicted to food? read more

Hammertoe, Claw Toe, & Mallet Toe

It is also important for one who has hammer toes to remember that he must not try to treat or remove corns by himself. If open cuts result from attempts at removing these, infection can become possible. People who suffer from diabetes or conditions that lead to poor circulation in the areas of the feet should be especially cautious. Hammer Toes Surgery The procedure to correct a hammer toe or mallet toe can be done in the office or in an outpatient center using local anesthetic. Through a small incision, the bone deformity is reduced and the tendons are rebalanced around the contracted joint. About four sutures are required. Taylormade has recently been known for making drivers more than they have putters. With their new Ghost Tour Series putters, they have developed a great looking putter, combined with a good feel and sound that will have players rolling putts with confidence. The softer feel of the grooves in the 'Pure Roll' face do an excellent job of starting the ball on it's intended line, producing a nice smooth roll off of the putter's face. Giving the ball good forward spin that all golfers are looking for to keep their putts smooth and on line. Hammertoe, claw toe, and mallet toe develop slowly over years, and are most often caused by wearing tight footwear or high heels. Shoes that force the toes to stay in a bent position for too long cause the muscles to tighten and the tendons to contract. Eventually, the toe muscles cannot straighten the toe, even with shoes off. These toe deformities may also be inherited, or occur due to complications from other conditions, such as nerve damage from diabetes or spinal cord injuries. Symptoms Tendon imbalance. When the foot cannot function normally, the tendons may stretch or tighten to compensate and lead to toe deformities. Improperly healed breaks can also be the cause of an overlap. The complications include blistering and pain in the toe that is taking the increased pressure. A toe can be re-broken and reset to correct severe cases. But, orthotics and non-surgical approaches are the common recommendation. Remember that the discomfort is due to friction. Anything that causes increased friction will worsen the discomfort. Anything that reduces the friction will reduce the pain and other complications caused by overlapping toes. There are always solutions. Sometimes, you just need to know where to look. There was one innovative idea the designer came up with, though. Everyone applauded the architects' novel idea of placing an actual roadside billboard way up on the roof, ten stories high. This could be rented out to local businesses for a fee. The accountant pounced on the concept of reducing the costly overhead by advertising overhead. Unfortunately, little thought was given as to what could be advertised so nobody thought anything was askew when Virgil walked in with a toilet seat tucked under his arm. Virgil's Tip-Top Toilets rented the sign to promote his award-winning, cutting edge toilet seat. No one had ever seen or sat on one before. As discussed above, hammertoe surgery healing takes place over the course of a month or so. Pain following surgery is usually moderate, and well controlled by pain medication or anti-inflammatory medication. The skin heals within two weeks, although toe swelling can take several months to go down. Most people see long-lasting correction, although a small number can have a partial return of the contracture if the forces acting on the toe are too strong. This can be prevented by using a prescription orthotic shoe insert following surgery to control the foot structure and the forces that cause toe deformity over the long term. Treatment can simply include padding to protect the toe from the shoe or other toes, as well as regular trimming of the corns. Padding comes in all shapes and sizes, but the most effective type seems to be elastic sleeves with gel on the underside. These pads simply slip on over the toes, and act like a sock or sleeve to cover and pad the skin. Trimming of the corns can be done at home with an emery board or pumice stone only. If the corn is thick enough to require a knife, let a podiatrist do the work to avoid a serious injury to the skin. Several different types of arthritis can affect the feet and toes and cause toe joint pain and stiffness, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical damage to the joints over time; it does not usually cause joint pain and stiffness symmetrically in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is caused by an autoimmune disease; the joints of the feet and ankles are usually affected symmetrically, and the smaller joints of the fingers and toes are usually affected before the larger joints of the body.