Menopause and Foot conditions

By the time you enter your 40s and 50s, your feet have likely sustained considerable damage. Add in menopause, and the issues compound. Foot pain affects women more than men, and ranks among the top 20 reasons for doctor visits.

The Problem: Dry, Calloused Skin
Does the skin on your heels look like a cracked earth landscape? Welcome to menopause, where plummeting estrogen levels impact the body’s ability to retain moisture…resulting in parched skin, including on the feet. This dryness can have two effects: 1) Thickening skin around the heels “can lead to fissures, painful cracks that can bleed or get infected,” says Marlene Reid, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at Family Podiatry Center in Naperville, Illinois. And 2) Existing calluses—areas of hard, built-up skin—worsen. Per a recent study, calluses are one of the most frequent causes of foot pain in older adults.

The Fix for Dry, Calloused Skin
Moisturize your feet twice daily with a heavy cream or lotion containing cocoa butter or urea, says Dr. Reid. Reduce callouses by soaking your feet once a week in soapy lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes, then using a foot file to gently slough away built-up tissue. If you are diabetic or have circulation problems, you’ll need to see a podiatrist, who can safely reduce your calluses.

Your podiatrist may also recommend orthotics, inserts worn in your shoes that provide additional cushioning and support. Orthotics can be custom-made to offer strategic areas of support in order to alleviate existing calluses and discourage new ones from developing.

The Problem: Arch Pain
The average woman gains one and a half pounds per year in her 50s and 60s. Even a modest amount of added weight can affect the arches in your feet, as extra weight on top equals increased pressure below. Arches can weaken, start to flatten, or even collapse. Specifically, the tendon that holds up the arch, the posterior tibial tendon, can strain or tear. The technical term for this achy discomfort: plantar fasciitis.

The Fix for Arch Pain
Lifestyle changes that minimize weight gain will lighten your feet’s load, but you also want to address any arch pain immediately. “It’s way easier to solve before a tear happens and scar tissue develops,” Dr. Reid cautions. Orthotics are a go-to for controlling the forces that contribute to heel pain. Wearing shoes with a stiff heel when standing or walking can also take pressure off of the arch.

The Problem: Pain in the Balls of Your Feet
We also tend to lose fat in certain areas, including the face and the bottom of the feet. This new lack of shock absorption causes pain known as metatarsalgia, often felt in the balls of the feet—especially for those who’ve spent years wearing high heels. “Anything higher than three inches puts at least seven times the pressure on the balls of the feet, and that pressure displaces the fat pad,” Dr. Reid explains. Some patients say the pain feels like they’re walking on rocks or tiny, sharp stones.

The Fix for Pain in the Balls of Your Feet
Orthotics to the rescue, again! They help redistribute weight so you’re not putting as much pressure on the ball of your foot.

The Problem: Hallux Rigidus
Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the big toe joint. Symptoms include pain at the joint that joins the big toe to the foot (the pain intensifies as you take a step and push off); loss of flexibility in the joint; and inflammation. You can thank Father Time for this constellation of symptoms—the trouble tends to start between ages 30 and 60, as years of wear and tear cause the foot's protective cartilage to break down—although genetics and congenital deformities can hasten the process.

The Fix for Hallux Rigidus
Conservative treatments include ice, rest, orthotics, and OTC anti-inflammatories. If caught early enough (at a stage known as hallux limitus), surgery called a cheilectomy may improve motion, reduce pain, and save the joint.

The Problem: Bunions
70% of women will develop a bunion, that red, swollen knob at the base of the big toe is evidence of changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. It can be caused by having flat feet or a genetic inclination, and can be aggravated by years of wearing pointy or narrow shoes that squish the toes together, which applies to the menopausal cohort. Most people will experience varying degrees of swelling, redness, joint wear-and-tear, inflammation, and, eventually, arthritis.

The Fix for Bunions
Flat feet are more likely to pronate, or roll inwards, when you walk, and all that pressure on the big toe joint can push the big toe inwards, towards the other toes. As the big toe migrates over, Dr. Reid says, its joint starts to push out, creating the bunion’s characteristic bump. You can try an OTC bunion pad or splint—the latter temporarily straightens the big toe (so you’d need to use it in perpetuity). A podiatrist might recommend daily icing to calm inflammation, changes in footwear (kicks with a wide toe box, no high heels), and custom orthotics to give flatter arches a boost.

The Fix for Bunions With Bursitis
Some people with bunions also get diagnosed with a co-existing condition called bursitis, in which the fluid-filled sacs that cushion and surround the big toe joint become inflamed. Ask your doc about cortisone injections, which can be helpful for acute inflammation but are not recommended as an ongoing treatment, nor should they be injected directly into the joint.

When Those Bunion Fixes Don't Work
None of the methods we’ve talked about will actually banish your bunion. If they fail to bring relief, you may need a surgery called a bunionectomy, in which the bunion is removed. Traditionally, bunion surgery has a long recovery time—about six to eight weeks, including a few weeks in a surgical boot. Newer, minimally invasive procedures (such as MiniBunion and the Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction) can have you back on your feet in a matter of days, though it will be about four to six weeks for full recovery.

Credit 6 Ways Menopause Causes Foot Pain—Plus the Best Solutions (healthcentral.com)