AUBURN, Ill. — A group of seniors, many former farmers and farmers’ wives, heard Grant Gonzalez, DPM’s presentation about common foot problems; he is a new foot and ankle surgeon working with Dr. John Sigle of the Foot & Ankle Center of Illinois.

The presentation covered the basics about bunions, hammertoes, Morton’s Neuroma and toenail fungus, all issues farmers should be concerned with since they spend much of their working day on their feet. An article in the 2014 Farmers’ Almanac points out the feet "contain about one-fourth of all the bones in our bodies. Statistics tell us we spend two-thirds of our lives on our feet, logging 75,000 miles by the time we reach age 50."

According to Gonzalez, "Bunions are prominent at the big toe. Unsightly bunions can be painful and cause corns and calluses between the toes, as well as discomfort on the outside of the foot where the bone protrudes."

He explained simple solutions include wearing a wider-width shoe (D or E width shoes work well), or an orthotic spacer between the toes to reduce the pain. Making sure boots are wide enough is an important foot decision for farmers.

Over-the-counter or custom orthotics are also used to control foot function and to slow the progression of the deformity. Surgical options are also possible if these conservative measures do not work well.

Hammertoe is another common problem; this is a contracture of a toe or toes that can be painful. Gonzalez said, "There are three basic types of hammertoes, commonly referred to as a claw toe, mallet toe or curly toe; but they are all hammertoes.

"You can get pain at the ball of your foot or on the tip of the toe (where the bone hits the surface). When the tip of the toe hits the surface, calluses usually form, causing irritation and sores."

The easy fix is padding and strapping around the toe. He said, "There are a number of surgical procedures that can be considered. The simplest procedure is called a tenotomy. The long flexor and/or extensor tendon is released, allowing the toe to sit straight, leaving the short tendon intact to maintain the function of the digit.

"This is a simple procedure that can be done in the clinic in a few minutes. The patient will not require special shoe gear or have any restrictions."

Next was Morton’s Neuroma, a condition that occurs when the nerve that supplies the third and fourth digits is compressed between the metatarsal bones and ligament that runs between them. The American Podiatric Medical Assoc. says the principal symptom associated with a neuroma is pain between the toes while walking.

Gonzalez said, "A simple fix for a neuroma is to wear wider shoes, in particular running shoes, or to add an orthotic in the shoe to more effectively distribute the pressure of weight bearing. Shoe pads and anti-inflammatory medicine may help.

"If conservative measures do not relieve the problem, the nerve can be gradually ablated with a dilute injection of alcohol or surgical correction, if necessary."

Onychomcosis, more commonly called fungal infection of the toenail, is a common problem for seniors and farmers. "Toenail fungus causes the nails to become yellow or discolored. As the infection advances, nails can become thicker or brittle and often separate from the nail bed," he said.

"Toenail fungus is usually caused by fungi that starts from the outside and penetrates into the nail bed." According to Gonzalez, topical drugs are sometimes used to treat this, but they are less effective; oral drugs can be more effective but can present harmful side effects.

Sometimes, it is necessary to remove the toenail. Laser therapy is the most effective method of killing the fungus. According to Gonzalez, "laser treatments kill the fungus immediately and treatments are quick."

These are just a few of the issues common with feet. Questions can be directed to your doctor, or to the Foot & Ankle Center of Illinois by calling 217-787-2700. The Center also has a website at www.myfootandanklecenter.com