These painful lesions are a direct result of pressure and friction. A callous is a thickening of the skin due to pressure. It is nature's way of protecting an area being traumatised. Corns usually form over a bony area of the foot. Generally speaking they form over the toes, between the toes or on the sole of the feet. A hard centre places pressure on the nerves which results in pain. Corns do not have roots. They form, they do not grow. Causes can be poorly fitted footwear, mechanical problems affecting the feet, clawing toes etc. Don't take the risk of infection using self treatment. We can remove corns with little discomfort. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT NOW! Plantar warts / Papilloma / Verruca These are various names used to describe the same problem. A wart is a growth on the foot caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. This virus is easily passed on from one family member to another. Some warts spontaneously disappear as the body builds up its own immune defences. However, most warts remain and may even spread to other areas of the foot. They can be painful particularly if they are on a weight bearing area of the foot. There are many forms of treatment ranging from simple home remedies to more extensive therapies. Treatment does take time, but results show a high rate of success. Don't become complacent about warts on your feet. They often multiply and spread making them more difficult to treat. PHONE NOW AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! Bunions are a disfiguring and painful deformity affecting the big toe which presses against the second toe. This causes the big toe joint to open up on one side and in some instances to dislocate. The body may try to compensate for the movement in bone position. Often arthritis is associated within the later stages of the deformity. Bunions often make walking difficult, and simple tasks such as purchasing shoes can be a real problem. As podiatrists we may help relieve the pain by holding the foot in its correct alignment with orthotics If we are able to treat the bunion early in the process it is often possible to slow down, or even stop further progression of this problem. Bunions don't only affect the feet of older people. We treat juvenile bunions in children. Don't wait any longer. Get treatment started now to prevent further joint deterioration. A painful condition affecting one or both feet whereby the nerves passing through the foot become irritated. This irritation may be attributed to several different factors: abnormal foot shape, flat feet or simple overuse. Nerve irritation over a prolonged period initiates reactions within the nerve, such as swelling and thickening. This thickening within the nerve is called a Morton's Neuroma. Pain may vary from a mild discomfort to a sharp shooting pain often described as a 'lightning bolt' shooting into the toes. These symptoms are usually exacerbated by bearing weight or even wearing shoes that are tight. A common place for neuroma development is within the ball of the foot near the 3rd and 4th toes although other toes can be involved. Through the application of specific treatment modalities we have managed to achieve a high level of success. Don't allow this problem to progress into the chronic phase. PHONE THE SURGERY AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT NOW! If you suffer from headaches, it's possible that your feet are the cause. Every day, we walk on pavements, hard floors and unyielding roads. And we're usually wearing hard-soled shoes while pounding the concrete. Our feet were designed for walking on soft ground, which may be why our feet feel so relaxed after a day on a sandy beach. Our "natural" method of walking is designed to keep our feet and ankles healthy, and retain our natural foot posture. However, all those hard surfaces and hard shoes-as well as some sporting activities, prolonged standing and excess weight-sometimes force our feet and ankles into an unnatural angle. This sometimes results in the feet rolling inwards, flattening the arches. About 50 percent of Australians suffer from this problem, which is known as excess pronation. As our feet, ankles and legs try to compensate for the imbalance our body feels as a result of excess pronation. A chain-reaction of aches and pains may travel round the body, triggering headaches. And it's not only our heads that can be affected. Other symptoms may include lower back pain; tired, aching legs; weak ankles; knee pain; heel spurs; poor posture; and bunions and corns. Of course, it's easy to take an aspirin to try and make a headache or any of the other aches and pains go away, that's not really the answer in the long-term. Basically, it's best to treat the cause, not just the symptoms. To do this, you should consult a podiatrist, who may suggest that you use orthotics. Orthotics are specially-designed shoe inserts that are custom-made to help restore your natural balance, correct excess pronation and protect your feet from hard, flat surfaces. So if your feet are causing problems in your head, back or elsewhere, talk to us, we will be able to diagnose your problem and provide a solution