A plantar callus on the foot must be treated once it starts causing pain when walking.
A plantar callus on the foot may not seem like a serious medical condition, but any problem that causes pain when walking can quickly limit a person's mobility. Several treatment options are available for plantar callus sufferers, some of which treat the symptoms and others that seek to eliminate the root cause of the problem.
Causes
A plantar callus can be caused by a couple of things. If one metatarsal bone on the foot is lower or longer than the others, it will make contact with the ground first and with more force than usual. Another cause is high heels and tight shoes that put more pressure on the ball of the foot. Both situations will sometimes cause a buildup of skin, called "hyperkeratotic tissue," on the ball of the foot. This becomes a hard callus and may feel like there is a stone in the shoe.
Reducing Tissue
To get quick relief from the pain and discomfort of a plantar callus, a doctor will do a sharp debridement to reduce the amount of extra skin on the foot. The doctor will use a blade to pare down the hyperkeratotic tissue. This will reduce the amount of friction over the area. If the plantar callus isn't painful, a doctor may advise soaking the foot in warm water and rubbing it with a pumice stone to flake off extra skin.
Pads
Using therapeutic pads also relieves some of the pain and pressure caused by a plantar callus. Silicone toe sleeves and foam pads offer protection and cushion the foot. These pads also release mineral oil to soften the callus. A foam toe spacer or a small piece of lamb's wool can also provide relief after debridement. Metatarsal pads are another option that reduce or eliminate calluses caused by weight-bearing stresses. The pads are made from felt and cut in a specific way to distribute weight away from the callus area.
Footwear
People suffering from a plantar callus must take a critical look at the shoe types they regularly wear. Low-heeled shoes with a roomy toe area and a soft upper portion are best for preventing more calluses. A poorly crafted shoe might be the cause of a plantar callus as well. Check to see if there are poorly positioned seams or stitching that may be causing irritation around the callus site.
Surgery
The last alternative if debridement, pads and a change in footwear does not work is surgery. This is especially true if the callus keeps returning after treatment. The procedure is called an "osteotomy." The problematic metatarsal bone is cut in a V shape and the end of the bone is pulled up and aligned with the other foot bones. Pins or screws are sometimes used to hold the bone in place. Also, sometimes a portion of the metatarsal bone is removed. It can take 3 to 5 weeks to heal from an osteotomy and the callus will eventually go away since the pressure point has disappeared.
Tags: plantar callus, metatarsal bone, ball foot, callus foot, doctor will, extra skin