A 56-year-old female presented to our clinic 2 years ago with chronic pain, instability and difficulty with self-care and looking after her feet.
Sarah* had been struggling with hypermobility and Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which caused her to experience a range of foot problems including ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, and wounds. Due to her hypermobility in her hands she found in difficult to hold nail clippers and to reach her feet to safely trim her toenails. She also experienced difficulties with extreme ankle and foot joint dislocations and subluxations on a daily basis, which caused her a large amount of pain and fatigue. She reported her “pain related stress” was also quite high.
Our team of Podiatrists developed a comprehensive treatment plan for Sarah, which included both a ‘nail and skin’ action plan and a ‘musculoskeletal’ action plan.
Her nail and skin Podiatry plan included:
- Regular skin and nail care appointments at The Foot Studio
- Education on a home skin regime that was appropriate and tweaked to suit Sarah and what she could cope with. We worked with Sarah to develop a daily foot care routine that would help keep her feet healthy and pain-free.
- Education and fitting of appropriate anti-fungal socks at The Foot Studio
- Education, measuring and fitting of appropriate fitting footwear – we she happened to also LOVE the look of!
Her musculoskeletal Podiatry plan included:
- Custom foot orthoses to reduce the forces and strain on her ankles, feet and lower limbs. We carefully assessed her foot structure and gait pattern to create a custom orthotic that would provide her with the support she needed to walk comfortably and without pain.
- Ankle braces – flexible ankle braces were measured, specifically ordered in for her to wear at night time, a daily ankle brace was specifically customised, designed and made for her for walking and daily activities.
Thanks to this care, Sarah’s foot health improved significantly over the past two years. She now rarely experiences ankle and foot joint dislocations and subluxations, which has helped not only reduce her injuries but also improve her extreme fatigue. She no longer gets ingrown toenails, very rarely gets wounds on her toes now that she is in well-fitting shoes and gentle socks.
Thanks to the comprehensive care provided by our team of Podiatrists, Sarah’s foot health has improved significantly over the past two years. She no longer experiences the pain and discomfort that she once did, and her daily life has improved as a result.
At The Foot Studio, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality foot care, regardless of their abilities or challenges. If you or a loved one are facing foot problems due to a disability, we are here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.