Check Your Feet! You May Be Standing On Skin Cancer

At the corporation where I provide healthcare (massage) services to the employees, they have wellness weeks several times a year. One of the things they offer is free skin cancer screenings. However, they are not thorough enough to be confident you are in the clear.

A proper body check done by a dermatologist in the privacy of the office should include EVERYWHERE. This includes the scalp, the bottoms of the feet and between the toes and also your private areas.

Feet

What I want to bring to your attention in this article is your feet. More specifically, the bottoms of your feet.

Check Your Feet! You May Be Standing On Skin Cancer

What would normally look like an ordinary mole (smaller than 6mm, even color and shape, flat) on another part of the body like your arm, face, or torso, can be something like melanoma if on the soul of your foot.

I've recently had three clients in the last week have possible melanomas on their feet. One client did have them. In fact, she was the one who brought this to my attention. Here I am, a healthcare professional and in 11 years, this is something I just learned. And believe me, I've seen a lot of feet in those 11 years. Needless to say, I went and checked the bottoms of my feet that day.

Remember, I am not saying that a mole or freckle on the bottom of your foot is cancer, but it's not normal for them to be there (verified by my dermatologist) so if you have any, I would HIGHLY recommend getting it checked out very soon by a dermatologist. Melanomas are the fast growing kind of skin cancer you DON'T want to get as they spread quickly and can be fatal.

Check Your Feet! You May Be Standing On Skin Cancer

Ty P Carter is an internet marketing entrepreneur, musician, artist, inventor and lifelong learner. Embracing a wide variety of interests with a focus on excellence and self-discovery, he shares his passion with others in the pursuit of discovering our true nature about ourselves and living with passion and gratitude. [http://www.TheInnerCircleMasters.com]

Swollen Feet

When swelling occurs in the body it is called an 'edema', and it essentially means that a build-up of fluid has occurred; when this build-up occurs in the legs, ankles or feet it is referred to as a 'peripheral edema'.

Although swollen feet are primarily characterized by excessive fluid in the foot, there may be secondary symptoms as well, such as numbness, redness, tenderness, warmth, stiffness, tingling, or the feeling of a 'burning' sensation. Depending on the cause of the swelling there may be bleeding, bruising, or difficulty moving the foot or putting weight on it.

Feet

There are several potential causes of swelling feet and several factors need to be taken in consideration including the length of the time the swelling has occurred, the severity of the swelling, and any known underlying conditions (such as diabetes or injury) that may be contributing to the swelling. Additional factors that may be causing the feet to swell are very important as there are so many potential causes to this condition.

Swollen Feet

Common causes of swollen feet include pregnancy, weight issues, overconsumption of salt, advanced age, menstruation, injury or trauma to the foot, and standing or sitting for too long of a time.

Common injuries that may cause the feet to swell include tendon rupture (notably the Achilles heel), sprained ankle, broken bones in the foot or toe, dislocation of bones in foot or toe, insect bites, burns, and sports injuries.

Inflammatory causes that may be underlying swollen feet include abscesses, inflammation of the blood vessels, plantar warts, bursitis, nail infections, skin ulcers, tendonitis, cellulitis, plantar fasciitis and infection of the bone.

Medication such as diabetic pill, some anti-depressants, high-estrogen birth control pills, calcium channel blockers, certain antidepressants, and steroids have also been noted as common causes as well.

Emergency situations requiring immediate medical intervention may cause edema of the feet. These emergencies may be caused by heart, kidney or liver failure or blood clots. If swelling of the feet is accompanied by sudden chest pains, arrhythmia, fever, or unconsciousness emergency intervention is absolutely required.

If swelling in the feet is not reduced over time this can have serious consequences such as decreased blood circulation, increased pain, difficulty walking, risk of infection and scarring of the tissues of the feet. Proper treatment is very important even in non-emergency situations, and if you are certain there are no serious underlying conditions that need to be looked at by a professional you can try treating yourself.

Some of the most effective methods of self treatment include elevating the foot, applying ice to the afflicted area, wearing compression stockings, stretching the foot and ankle to improve circulation, keeping mobile so that fluids don't pool in your lower limbs, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing salt intake and wearing non-constrictive footwear. Do not bind or otherwise constrict the feet as your circulation is already likely decreased and you do not want to make the situation worse.

If these steps do not provide relief over time, if you develop serious secondary symptoms, or if you have any reason to think the problem may be serious it's important that you seek immediate medical attention.

Swollen Feet

Suzy Pickhall, who has been a foot care expert over the past thirty years has written a viable guide on how to combat here heelpainrx.com, and a guide on How to manage plantar fasciitis.

Board Feet? How to Calculate

I want to give you a simple formula that you'll never forget.

Thickness (in inches) x Width (in inches) x Length (in feet) divided by 12.

Feet

Got it? Good! So what is a board foot anyways? Well, it's the standard unit of measure in the North American lumber industry. A board foot is the equivalent of a piece of wood 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot long. In other words, a board foot is 1 square foot of lumber, 1 inch thick. Any lumber item can be calculated in terms of board feet by using the formula above.

Board Feet? How to Calculate

So lets plug in a 2x4 that is 8 feet long okay? 2x4x8/12 = 5.333333 board feet (bf)

Now that you understand how to calculate one piece of wood, let's take it to the next level, because most people who need to calculate have a large volume of wood. So how do you calculate that? Now let's work using "fbm" which is "feet, board measure" and this is used for calculating a volume of wood measured in board feet.

Due to the large volume of lumber traded in a typical transaction, the most common unit of measure is a "thousand board feet". Does this look familiar... a seller faxes you information that says "I have 23 packages of 2x4x12' for sale at 5/M." So how do you calculate this?

The missing ingredient is the amount of pieces in the packages. Here's a tip for you to remember... in North America, the standard sizes of packages (for 2x4) is 294 pieces. So we now need to add two more variables to our equation.

The formula now looks like this. 2x4x12x23x294/12=54,096 fbm.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Board Feet? How to Calculate

Dean Ponak is the manager and sales officer at D&D Pallets Ltd. in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. Dean has been involved with the pallet and lumber industry since 1996 and mostly exports pallet components to the western states in the U.S.

Dean can be reached at 1-866-281-2195 or emailed at dean@danddpallets.com

5 Home Remedies for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is a medical condition which affects the feet. It will cause extreme pain and this pain is more pronounced during the morning when the ligaments and tendons in the feet are not yet warmed up. Many patients describe the pain they experience in the morning as being stabbed repeatedly in the feet. The onset of pain is largely due to long periods of immobility of the feet such as a long day of using the computer. As the activities around the leg increases, the pain will decrease. The most common treatment method is the use of anti-inflammatory medication as well as pain killers to provide pain relief. However, some home remedies can actually work wonders.

Ice

\"Pain Foot\"

Ice is probably the cheapest and one of the most effective home remedies. If you have an ice pack, use it. If not, you can even use frozen peas. Massage the painful area for around 15 minutes, 5 times a day. Ice can help to bring down swelling and reduce inflammation.

5 Home Remedies for Plantar Fasciitis

Protective arch support insoles

You should purchase insoles that provide arch support and place them in your shoes. It can help to reduce pain and divert away some of the impact to bring relief of pain when you move around. If possible, you should even wear them at home when you move around.

Stretching

Whenever possible during the day, you should perform stretching exercises targeted at your legs. Exercises that stretch the Achilles tendon and Plantar Fascia will help to increase flexibility and warm the area up, reducing pain.

Massages using creams or oils

If able, you should massage the painful area with pain relief creams or even medicated oils multiple times during the day. Massages with medicated oils will help increase the blood circulation level at the legs and bring pain relief and promote healing.

Foot splints

When you turn in for the day, you should use foot splints to brace the foot, ankle and lower leg. The main purpose of the splint is to provide gradual stretches of the plantar fascia throughout the night, reducing stress levels and reducing pain and inflammation. Since the stretching continues through the night, you will experience lesser pain when you first wake up in the morning.

Plantar Fasciitis is a troublesome and painful leg condition that will cause a lot of discomfort throughout the day and night. It is not good to depend on pain relief medication always and whenever possible, you should substitute the pain relief medication with some home remedies.

5 Home Remedies for Plantar Fasciitis

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Foot and Ankle Pain

Foot and ankle pain or stiffness of the joints, felt especially during old age, can be a symptom of arthritis. Managing the pain and disregarding the uncomfortable feeling often results in serious, severe arthritis that may eventually impair the patient's ability to walk even short distances. Serious arthritis can restrict mobility and limit the quality of one's life.

A joint inflammation, arthritis is best described as a condition concerning damage to the joints, the tissues that surround joints, and other connective tissue of the body. Arthritis is common in adults 65 and older, but it can strike and affect people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups. As arthritis commonly affects the feet, a person suffering from this illness can have difficulties walking and often feels foot and ankle pain even trying.

\"Pain Foot\"

The foot has 26 bones and over 30 joints while the ankle links the foot to the lower leg. Foot and ankle pain and joint deformity often suggest the diagnosis of foot and ankle arthritis. Once the joint is infected, it is most likely that cartilage cells will be affected and damaged in due time. Because cartilage cells cannot redevelop, the damage from an infection can be permanent. Less commonly, foot and ankle pain caused by arthritis can lead to irritation of the nerves surrounding the joint, causing numbness in the foot and ankle.

Foot and Ankle Pain

In preventing foot and ankle pain caused by arthritis, one should always begin with simple steps such as having proper footwear, or trying some shoe modifications if already suffering the condition. Occasionally, a foot care specialist examines the shoes that the patient wears to find evidence of deformity, wear and alignment. This independent shoe exam helps define the cause of foot and ankle pain, and even knee and hip pains. Lifestyle is another big factor and you must check if your current lifestyle is adequate for having healthy feet. Arthritis patients should try to limit impact activities that can affect fast treatment and management of the condition. In some more serious cases, a brace may be fabricated to help hold the affected joint in position. These braces will support the joints and prevent excessive motion.

Another decease of feet is Mycosis which is can be caused by fungus. Onychomycosis is also a kind of infection of the toenail. Fungi or disfigure nail can cause fungal toenail infections. There are many kind of fungal toenail infections. Depending on the infection nail may change into different colors such as yellow, brown, gray or black.

Generally, whether the patient has arthritis or not, foot and ankle pain usually stems from, or is exacerbated by, ill-fitting shoes. Hammertoes, painful toenails, bunion pain and neuroma are conditions that occur when the foot begins to change to the shape of the shoe. Wearing comfortable, adequate footwear can help free you of foot and ankle pain without the cost and time spent on surgery and other treatment. Proper, well-fitting shoes are very important and helpful in improving mobility of patients suffering from arthritis.

Another key to pain-free feet and ankles is regular exercise. To minimize stiffness and pain, stretching out the Achilles tendon (the cord at the back of the heel) and the tendons inside the balls of your feet appears to be effective. Foot and ankle massage is also considered helpful in preventing abnormal stress from immobility and to ease foot and ankle pain over time.

Full care and attention of the feet and ankles to avoid discomfort is worth spending time and money on and makes life a pain-free, happy and relaxed experience.

Foot and Ankle Pain

Foot Joint Pain

There is no other body organ that has the most complex bone structure like the leg. You will find over 30 joints and 26 bones in total. Foot joint pain is experienced by most people occasionally. The pain will come together with swelling and stiffness. There are very many things that will trigger the problem. Trauma and arthritis are some of the most common triggers.

Other causes of foot joint pain include structural deficiencies and even infections that may have occurred. Gout inflammation is another common cause of the problem. It will be accompanied by great discomfort and difficulty in walking. There are various remedies for the problem. The most common one that does not involve drugs is the use of ice cubes.

\"Pain Foot\"

Having a leg support will also help you rid pain. The most common drug that is used to relieve this problem is ibuprofen. This is an anti inflammatory drug that is normally prescribed for foot joint pain. It is always very vital to take note of what the trigger in your case might have been. This is very important in order to rule out other causes like chronic diseases.

Foot Joint Pain

Your pain could be caused by misalignment of the joints in the toes. If you have the habit of arching your feet in the wrong way, then you might have this problem constantly. The condition is relieved by reducing the pressure that has occurred due to the misalignment. It is always wise to go for the preventative measures. A toe shield will help as well as shoe protection. They will hold the toes in place and avert the problem.

Wearing the right shoes especially for ladies is quite helpful. Make sure you wear shoes for the right occasion. When you are suffering from gout, you will have foot joint pain as part of your symptom. This is because gout causes a lot of inflammation and stiffness. This is solely due to the accumulation of uric acid in the tissues. This is quite a serious and painful condition.

Anti inflammatory drugs will not help much when you are suffering from gout. The drugs are not designed to be used for a very long time. You need to find proper treatment for the condition. Some of the most common include acupuncture, message and even a proper diet. You should watch out for foods that have a high content of uric acid. This foods include spinach beans and even peas.

This foods will definitely trigger an attack of gout. It is very easy to cope with the pain that is caused by physical trauma. This is because the problem is temporary. Treatment will depend on how severe your condition is. It will be very helpful for you to begin with putting some ice on the affected area. It will be helpful to put up your feet and relax.

Never hesitate to seek medical attention. Some people have delayed just to find that they could have found a solution to the problem. Your might might go away for a while, then come back to cause more devastation. You need to keep an account of the the kind of pain you experience at various intervals.

Foot Joint Pain

Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Joint Pain. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here JOINT PAIN MANAGEMENT If You Enjoyed Reading This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED!

Foot Pain

On the whole, the feet are very small when compared to the rest of the body. During the day, most people spend about 12 to 14 hours on their feet. Because the feet are used so much during normal daily activity, the excessive loads that are placed on the feet mean approximately 75% of people worldwide will suffer foot pain at some stage in their lives. Foot pain can also reduce your mobility and independence, as is often seen in the elderly. When your feet hurt, it not only disturbs your body but it can prove to be distracting to your work and concentration.

Causes of foot pain

\"Pain Foot\"

Prolonged standing, over pronation and the pressures that this places on the joints, muscles and ligaments of the foot are major causes of foot pain. There are many occupations that require long periods of static standing such as the health, retail, fashion and construction industries. Standing for long periods of time causes the muscles of the lower limb to become fatigued and overworked. Blood pooling due to decreased venous return also increases discomfort in the lower limb. The overall result of this being tired aching legs.

Foot Pain

Ill fitted shoes and wearing high heels can also contribute to foot pain. High heels make women to look smart and taller, however they can become very uncomfortable if they wear these for long periods or during inappropriate activities. High heels increase the pressure on the ball of the foot and toe region above what the foot is designed to withstand. This overloads the structures of the forefoot leading to ball of foot pain and discomfort.

Aging, being overweight and many other systemic diseases such as diabetes, gout, arthritis all increase the likelihood of foot problems. Generally these systemic (whole body) diseases affect the function and structure (depending on the disease) of the foot. This changes the function of the foot and often leads to foot pain.

Certain age groups also suffer foot pain at different times of their lives. Children suffer from aches and pains during their growth and development. This was traditionally called growing pains, however today we know that there is treatment for these aches and pains. The two most common children's pains are, Severs disease (pain at the heel) and Osgoodschlatters Syndrome (pain at the knee). These are both growing related problems that are aggravated by over use and poor mechanics.

The elderly are another group that often suffer foot pain. This is largely due to over use from a life time of wear and tear. Although wear and tear are not reversible, there are still treatment options available for this group of patients, to make walking pain free.

What people do when they face the problem of foot pain?

In most of the cases when people suffer foot pain the first thing they do is to reduce their activity. This usually works quote well as it will rest the foot. They apply pain removing gel to the painful area or take anti-inflammatory medications. This approach masks the symptoms of their foot pain. The real underlying problem of most kinds of foot pain is a functional abnormality that will need to be corrected.

Over weight and unfit people who are trying to lose weight often walk for exercise. The extra weight and activity further strains the feet, making walking less enjoyable, making exercise and weight loss even less likely.

Some people have no option other than to continue activity. This patient group wither either has to work due to financial commitments or has to continue activity as they are part of a sporting team. This group usually tends to push through the pain barrier until it is impossible to go on any longer.

Some people chose to ignore their foot pain and continue to wear their fashion shoes (Fore example ladies wearing high heeled fashion shoes). Over time the strain on the foot compounds and eventually results in an overuse injury. When the foot injury gets to this stage it is often impossible to ignore.

The solution for foot pain

Overall the best solution to the above mentioned problems is to support the foot and help to limit excess wear and tear on the foot. This is best done with orthotic innersoles and appropriate footwear. Orthotic innerosles help to support the foot, prevent over pronation and limit wear and tear on the joints, ligaments and muscles of the foot. Orthotic innersoles align the foot in its most efficient functional position and help to reduce the wear and tear on your feet and ankles. The use of these orthotics results in a reduction in the pain in the feet.

It is important when selecting orthotic innersoles to select an orthotic that matches your activity level and also your shoe type. For example different orthotic innersoles are used for running as opposed to ladies fashion shoes.

Foot Pain

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Low Back Pain - Toe Dorsiflexion (Extension)

Patients with lower back pain due to irritation of the L5 nerve roots may have difficulty with dorsiflexion of the ankle and toes. Patients may also suffer from pain in the toes especially on pulling the toes upward. With such a movement, toe muscles may actually go into spasm with the toes in extension.

Weakness of toe extension will also produce difficulty in lifting the toes high off the floor when walking on the heels.

\"Pain Foot\"

Testing the strength of the extensor hallucis longus is commonly performed for detection of presence of L5 nerve root irritation. The examiner tries to press down on the interphalangeal joint of the great toe while the patient tries to resist this movement by pulling into dorsiflexion.

Low Back Pain - Toe Dorsiflexion (Extension)

Muscles which perform dorsiflexion of the toes are:

- extensor digitorum longus (deep peroneal nerve, L5, S1)

- extensor hallucis longus (deep peroneal nerve, L5, S1)

- extensor digitorum brevis. This muscle extends all the toes the metatarso- pharyngeal joints except that of the little toe. (deep peroneal nerve, L5, S1)

Low back pain| foot eversion

Patients with lower back pain secondary to nerve root irritation especially of the S1 nerve root can have pain on turning the foot and ankle outward away from the midline of the body (foot eversion). Foot eversion is always accompanied by plantarflexion also of the foot.

Tightness due to spasm in the muscles that perform foot eversion leads to pain during this movement. You can feel the tendons of the peroneus longus and brevis as they travel behind the lateral malleolus (this bone is easily felt at the outer aspect of the ankle).

Muscles which perform foot eversion are:

- peroneus longus (L5, S1 through the superficial peroneal nerve)

- peroneus brevis (L5, S1 through the superficial peroneal nerve)

- peroneus tertius (L5, S1 through the deep peroneal nerve)

Low Back Pain - Toe Dorsiflexion (Extension)

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Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch Relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points). The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches. This results in reduced muscle pain and discomfort in the areas that were stimulated. The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise and stretch effects.

eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center® specializes in diagnosis and treatment which ends muscle discomfort and pain.