The picture says it all -- Charcot foot, a rare diabetes foot complication, is a serious deformity not to be ignored. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), as the rate of diabetes has increased, so have cases of Charcot foot.

Neuropathy is a common diabetic foot complication. Severe neuropathy can cause the foot's bones to suddenly soften, resulting in Charcot foot. Bones can be weak enough to fracture, and with neuropathy masking pain, continued walking can lead to joint loss, collapse of the arch, deformity, ulcers, amputation and possibly death. Symptoms to watch out for include warm and red skin, swelling and pain. Sometimes doctors mistakenly attribute Charcot's swelling to infection and prescribe antibiotics. This only buys more time for Charcot's destruction to continue -- the bottom of the foot can eventually become convex and bulge outward.

Well-informed people with diabetes know about Charcot foot, but ACFAS remains concerned many patients and health care providers are unaware of the condition or its warning signs. Spread the word to people with diabetes as Charcot's progressive destruction can be halted if caught early. Picture from www.footphysicians.com.

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During puberty, my feet grew so fast my toes were often jammed into tight shoes. The painful result was an ingrown toenail -- where a sharp corner of the toe digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. That puffy, sore toe eventually healed thanks to properly-sized shoes.

Soccer moms and dads need to watch for ingrown toenails in their little soccer stars. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), ingrown toenails in youth are a common malady during soccer season. Oftentimes, cleats don't fit right as used gear is handed down sibling to sibling. Older kids prefer snug cleats to achieve a better sense of the ball and turf. Kicking with squeezed toes can lead to ingrown toenails.

If infection results, a 10-minute surgical procedure offers a permanent cure. The toe is numbed and the ingrown nail removed. Even part of the root can be removed to prevent regrowth. Your junior kicker will be scoring goals the next day. Although I suspect the numbing injection is no fun.

Visit ACFAS for more information on ingrown toenails. Several home treatment myths are debunked, including the one recommending you clip a V-notch in the nail -- a total waste of time.

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