What To Do About Navicular Pain

By Mattie Knight


There is bone in both the wrist and the ankle that has the shape of a boat. This is called a navicular bone. Approximately two to 15 percent of the general population have an extra one of these bones; it is called an accessory bone. It may also be present in horses, where it can cause lameness. While the accessory bone generally does not produce symptoms in humans, when there is something wrong with it, it can cause navicular pain. Apart from pain, the accessory bone may cause plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and bunions.

Foot specialists in the medical world are known as podiatrists. Older practitioners may call themselves chiropodists. In European countries where English is not the first language, doctors who specialize in problems with the foot are called podologists or podologos. Down Under, in Australia, they are known as podiatric physicians or podiatric surgeons.

In addition to feet and ankles, the wheelhouse of the podiatrist includes structures of the leg. Training for the profession includes more than a dozen topics. These include anatomy, physiology, embryology, histology, microbiology, physical rehabilitation, sports medicine, genetics and more.

One of the most common foot problems is a broken toe. This painful condition may be the result of having a heavy object dropped on it, by repetitive stress or in some sports. The latter instance is referred to as a stress fracture. How do you know when you have fractured a pedal digit? Well, it hurts. It may also be swollen, stiff, bruised and make it hard to walk.

Typically, a broken toe will mend within a few weeks. Immediate first aid procedures are to raise the foot, pack it with ice and instruct the patient to sit and rest. Being waited on like a prince or princess is small compensation for pain and loss of mobility.

There are less dramatic foot conditions, but they are no less painful or disabling. These include things like gout, athlete's foot, ingrown toenails and corns. When it comes to foot conditions, we are often our own worst enemy. Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus that thrives where groups of people walk around together in shallow, tepid water, like shower rooms and swimming pools. Ingrown toenails, which may sometimes need surgery, are the result of wearing shoes that are too tight a fit in the toe area.

For some reason, many of us take our feet for granted and don't give them the proper care and attention that they deserve. This may be because of embarrassment. At the other extreme are foot fetishists, who are lovingly obsessed with feet.

Pain in the foot shows up in the face, no matter what we do. Many of the facial expressions on people in paintings by Toulouse Latrec look like they belong to people with painful fet. It is the kind of pain that cannot be masked by makeup. For a happy face, make sure you have happy feet!




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