Footcare room at On the Ball Orthotics in Barrie ON

Five Reasons to see a Footcare Nurse

How do you know when to get professional help taking care of your feet? Toenail cutting for seniors is common for a footcare nurse, but there are many other reasons why a footcare nurse may be helpful. Here are five reasons to see a footcare nurse.

1. Can’t reach toes

There typically comes a time when it is difficult to reach your own toes. When this happens, it becomes difficult to trim toe nails. This can be a risk because the chances of cutting yourself increase.

When it’s difficult to reach your toes, you may not be able to see your feet up close and notice small injuries or conditions forming in the feet. Regular footcare treatments ensure there is a professional looking at your feet on a regular basis to catch any of these issues developing. When necessary, they know what type of professional is the best to deal with the situation, and/or provide at home tips to treat and/or control these injuries or conditions.

2. Diabetic

A diabetic is at higher risk of developing foot issues that could lead to something worse. Diabetics don’t heal as quickly, and may not have the proper sensation in the feet. A cut/injury may develop in a diabetic without their knowledge. This is because when sensation is compromised, a diabetic may not feel the injury. If an injury goes untreated, it can quickly grow and become infected. This is when an ulcer develops on the feet. Long nails in a diabetic can also be a problem. They can lead to trauma, such as nails lifting or bruising. Once trauma has occurred, a diabetic won’t be able to heal as quickly.

Because diabetics don’t heal as quickly, a small injury can get out of control quickly. Once that ulcer has formed, the healing journey can be a long process.

There are many concerning statistics on diabetics with ulcers, amputation and mortality. Diabetes Canada states that “one-third of amputations in 2011-2012 were performed on people reporting a diabetic foot wound” (2020) and diabetics were “almost 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for a non- traumatic lower limb amputation compared to the general population” (2020). This helps drive the point home that diabetic foot care is very important.

3. Thick calluses

Thick calluses can be painful or just annoying. A callus forms when there is excessive pressure. This pressure can develop from factors like your shoes, the way you walk or the type of activities you do. A footcare nurse can help to file down the calluses. In some cases, one visit may be enough but in most cases, the callus continues to return if the pressure is not removed. When the callus continually returns, regular footcare is recommended to keep the calluses at a manageable level.

4. Ingrown toe nails

Ingrown toe nails can develop due to pressure or because of how the nail was cut previously. If the nails are not cut properly, it can create an ingrown toe nail. A footcare nurse can cut the ingrown toe nail out. In many cases, only one treatment is necessary. In other cases, an ingrown can continually return. Regular footcare treatments help to prevent the nail from becoming ingrown.

5. Thick and/or Fungal nails

If you’ve ever had fungal nails, you may have noticed how thick they can get. These thick nails can make it hard to cut, which is where a footcare nurse can help. When cutting your own thick nails, you are more at risk for injuring yourself. This is especially concerning for a diabetic as a small cut can turn into something more severe very quickly.

It can take months for a fungal nail to completely resolve, as the nails need to completely grow out. Typically, creams are used to treat fungal nails. As the healthy nail grows back in, the fungal nail is slowly removed from the end.

Not all thick nails are fungal. Trauma to the nail can lead to a thick nail as well.

Your footcare nurse can help to cut the thick nails and provide education on your nails and feet.

Conclusion

Although toenail cutting for seniors is common for a footcare nurse, there are many different reasons for seeing a footcare nurse.