Festive Footwear: Making sure that your Feet have a Happy Holiday

The holiday season are approaching once again and you can be sure of what that means: many events at which to dress up and celebrate the season in style! However, for too many holiday-celebrators, especially women, this can mean having to wear footwear that's as painful as it is pretty. But while fashion comes at a price, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to look great while your foot health suffers. Wearing an small, crammed pair of shoes can worsen serious foot conditions such as bunions, hammertoe, and Morton’s neuroma. High heels can even cause degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis. But there's good news: you no longer need to sacrifice comfort when it comes to style while deciding on shoes. If you think that you're among the countles ladies who would rather focus on family and friends than on her shoes this holiday season, follow these footwear when planning your winter wardrobe.

Smart Shopping:

In an article, podiatrist Elizabeth Kurtz advises readers to go shopping for shoes later in the day. Our feet can swell throughout the day, so your feet are usually their largest later in the day. Kurtz also recommends shopping at a major department store or extended-service footwear store. She remarks “They tend to have an excellent selection of footwear in various sizes and widths". A bit of internet perusing could make your trip even more profitable.

Treat yourself to some riding boots.

If you’re anticipating a holiday get-together where the dress code is “dressy-casual,” this is the perfect opportunity to sport one of the season's most sophisticated looks: riding boots. Riding boots have little to no heel, meaning they make for excellent comfort wear. These shoes pair effortlessly with anything from a casual jeans/sweater outfit to your fanciest evening attire and pea coat.

Narrow your search, not your toes.

If you have a pair of heels with super-pointy toes, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that they can facilitate the development of hammertoes and bunions. The reason is that shoes with a narrow toe (as well as many with square or oval toes) force the foot into an unorthodox position. Variations with round toes are usually the most comfortable and least harmful to the feet. For a cool take on round-toed shoes, get a pair of Oxfords or ballet flats (both of which can be found with extra arch support).

More Modest Heels.

If you can't go without, opt for ones with less than a three-inch heel. The reason? According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Three inch heels can put 7 times more pressure on the balls of your feet than flats.. With over-wear, your heels can cause you to experience, Achilles tendinitis and even Morton's neuroma. To avoid these conditions, limit your heel wearing to only a few hours on special occasions and be sure to sufficiently massage your feet and calves after you take the shoes off.

Carpal Tunnel: Facts v. Reality

Even though carpal tunnel syndrome is an incredibly common hand condition, not all discomfort is necessarily a sign of the condition. People often experience momentary discomfort or prickling sensations in their hands and fingers, and immediately attribute these feelings to carpal tunnel. Yes, these sensations can certainly be symptoms of carpal tunnel disease, but they are not quite a definite diagnosis of the problem. There is no lack of misunderstandings concerning the condition, and these carpal tunnel myths sometimes cause patients hastily agreeing to more serious treatment approaches than they really require. Below are just a few of the most pervasive C.T.S. misconceptions that patients often have about the affliction

Hand Pain Is From CT

Discomfort in the wrist region isn’t necessarily a definite way to detect the condition. Despite the fact that patients who are experiencing the disease will probably experience a large amount of pain in the wrist, it is hardly a telltale sign of the disorder. In reality, pain in the wrists could point to any of a number of hand conditions, including arthritis or tendonitis – both of which should be treated by a hand doctor. In order to find out if your wrist discomfort is a CTS indicator, your surgeon will review at your medical history before conducting physical examinations to diagnose your disorder. Some doctors can even use electric impulse testing to identify where your pain is, and what exactly causing it

Keyboard use is Responsible for causing Carpal Tunnel

Undoubtedly, the time that we spend at the computer – clicking a mouse and typing – has increased profoundly over the past several years, which makes many people suggest that computer use is the main culprit for CTS; However, these people are confusing correlation with causation. Although patients who suffer from C.T.S. probably use computers often, that does not mean that increased technology use is the only cause of their disease. Being on the keyboard for hours on end can certainly be bad for you, but it's unlikely that computer use is the sole cause of your condition. Studies say that the disease has been linked more strongly to work movement that involves protracted use of the hands in stressful or unorthodox positions (e.g. mechanic work, maintenance, construction), and additional factors including injury, pregnancy and diabetes

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is More Common i

Since males are more heavily associated with the labor that has been linked to carpal tunnel, many assume that it is more common in the male demographic. Certainly, there are plenty of of cases of CTS in men, however, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), women are three times as likely to get the disorder than men. Consider that the the disease is a little area through which the arm’s tissue, nerves and tendons pass to get to your hand; females are generally smaller, therefore the woman's carpal tunnel region is understandably smaller. Because of the size the most subtle amount of swelling might bring on the signs associated with the condition like numbness and stinging in the fingers (all but the pinky), a burning in the arms/hands, or a weakened grip

Only Surgery can Fix the Disease|Carpal Tunnel Surgery is the Only Wa

Most tops the list of the most common surgeries ever. The surgery is the best way to mitigate the symptoms of carpal tunnel disease and ensure that the problem does not come back in the future. Nevertheless, carpal tunnel release is not necessarily the answer for each and every patient who is dealing with the worst hand pain. Physicians will always thoroughly consider conservative methods of treatment to treat your affliction before recommending that you undergo surgical treatment. Surgery is always reserved for the most severe cases, but there are plenty of techniques available for treating mild or newly-developing cases of carpal tunnel

The only way to completely understand and inform yourself about the condition is to talk to a hand surgery professional. Doctors are glad to answer any questions that you have about carpal tunnel, and send you to the best treatment for your condition

Numb Fingers: A Sign of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an incredibly common ailment that affects anywhere from 4 to 10 million Americans according to the American College of Rheumatology. That means that each of these individuals is in danger of losing sensation in their hands due to excess damage to the median nerve.

Numb Fingers: An Insidious Symptom

Since carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't necessarily produce a profoundly painful sensation, many people neglect to have their symptoms checked by a hand care professional. They shake off the discomfort and disregard unusual sensations of tingling as their hands being "asleep", and refuse to consult a physician about their condition. Of these symptoms that are dismissed as minor is numb fingers - something that results from constant and traumatic pressure imposed on the median nerve.

Carpal tunnel syndrome develops from pressure on the median nerve as the tissue within the wrist begins to swell; as the tissue begins to swell, the amount of room for the median nerve to rest comfortably begins to constrict, and the nerve experiences the pressure of a narrowing "carpal tunnel" - or the passage made up of the wrist (carpus) and surrounding tissue/bone. As this pressure increases, the sensation to the hands and fingers may be reduced, producing the characteristic pins and needles sensation of a limb falling asleep. However, the sensation in this case may be so severe that it can even keep a person up at night, and disrupt his or her natural sleep cycle.

Seek a Doctor's Opinion Today

It's important to seek a consultation from a hand care professional if you suspect that your numb fingers could be developing into something harmful. Carpal tunnel syndrome is not an uncommon condition, and it is integral that you allow a physician to inspect your hand immediately if you experience unusual numbness. Additionally, be sure that your doctor suggest conservative methods of hand pain management before referring you to a skilled surgeon. This allows doctors to thoroughly evaluate the severity of your condition, which can help them make the best decision, should they have to ultimately suggest surgery.