Author: Foot Doc
Date: 7/16/2007 7:10 pm PDT
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DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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A corn on the top of the joint of a toe is generally due to the shoe rubbing on a bony prominence of the toe, usually resultant from a contraction causing either a flexible or a fixed hammertoe. Anything which shields that area of the toe from shoe pressure will cause the corn to go away, but without some form of surgery to correct the contraction, that would mean either a permanent shield or the use of shoes which do not contact the top of the contracted toe or it will surely return. The form of treatment which you have been attempting is designed to eat away at the dead calloused tissue which is the corn, but it does not address the underlying cause of the problem. Thus, no matter how much of the corn is removed with the liquid corn medication, it will always come back as long as the intermittent pressure on the toe is not alleviated. Surgery for corns is generally targeted at the bony prominence by correcting the contracture and straightening the toe. This may or may not require bone removal, depending on the nature of the contraction, and in particular its flexibility. But I do not hear you speak of any complaint other than its appearance, and I don't think it generally wise to consider a surgical procedure on the toe for solely cosmetic reasons, as there are always risks to any surgery which must be weighed against potential benefits. The use of chemical corn "removers" of any kind is not without its dangers either. Inappropriate use can result in harm to the living tissue, ulceration and infection, and this sort of treatment should never be employed by a diabetic, or a patient whose sensation or vascular status is compromised, without the consent and strict supervision of a knowledgeable doctor. You would do yourself a major favor by seeing a podiatrist for first hand advice rather than attempting self-treatment. |
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