April marks Foot Health Awareness Month, a great time to reflect on the important role our feet play in our daily lives. Did you know that the average person runs more than 100,000 miles in their lifetime? The human foot is a wonderful and complex structure with 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles. And while foot problems can occur at any age, they often increase with age as blood flow to the feet can be compromised due to underlying health problems like diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
In many diabetics, a lack of blood flow to the lower limbs can trigger the development of chronic wounds, which, if left untreated, can lead to amputation. In fact, 85 percent of the 73,000 lower limb amputations performed each year in the United States started with a diabetic ulcer.
To add to the problem, diabetics can develop peripheral neuropathy that causes loss of sensation in the lower limbs and feet. A simple cut or scratch can go undetected and quickly develop into a severely infected wound that penetrates tissue, muscles, or tendons.
“Chronic foot ulcer is one of the most common conditions we treat and it is often due to poorly controlled diabetes,” said Dr. Jennifer James, Wound Healing and Positive Pressure Center at Southwestern Medical Center. “It is not uncommon for a patient to see blood after removing a sock without knowing why. It’s important to be proactive about checking your feet daily and getting treatment if a sore develops. “
With special treatment, most chronic wounds can be healed within a month. Here are five tips for wound prevention and treatment:
• Check your feet daily for cuts, wounds, blisters or red spots – and don’t forget your buttocks!
• Wash your feet every day in lukewarm water and dry them well between your toes. This is an easy way to reduce bacterial and fungal loads and prevent infections.
• Moisten your feet with a thin layer of lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly every day. Avoid using it between your toes.
• Always wear shoes when you go outside. Diabetic neuropathy can keep you from feeling very hot on the sidewalk or other objects that could injure your feet. Make sure you are wearing properly fitting shoes and socks that “breathe”.
• Watch your blood sugar. The best way to prevent foot problems is to keep glucose levels under control. It also helps wounds heal faster.
If you have a non-healing wound or problems with your feet, it is important to schedule an exam as soon as possible. It can save your foot.
The Wound Healing and Positive Pressure Center specializes in the healing of chronic wounds and has a multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses specially trained to treat wounds that have resisted healing after weeks or months of traditional treatment.