How To Cure Corns

When I entered the foot profession as a student 35 years ago now, I remember challenging one of my lecturers that we weren’t being taught how to cure foot problems, but instead to palliate them. Once I qualified in 1990 with a Diploma in Podiatric Medicine, it was clear to me that this palliation approach was the norm in the foot profession with our skills as Chiropodists/Podiatrists being used to provide “cut and come again chiropody”. Basically, that means that someone with painful corn, for instance, has the corn professionally removed and is relieved of pain.

However, that relief is only temporary as the corn quickly comes back and continues to be painful. It just didn’t seem right to me that those with corns would have to spend their life in a cycle of recurrent pain:

Treating corns

So I embarked on learning how to cure corns (and many other foot problems, hence this series of articles). I honed that knowledge whilst working for the NHS, and brought that experience to my private practice against the advice of my peers who insisted that my “business would fail if I kept curing my patients”. Well, next year, I will have been in private practice for 30 years, having helped thousands of private patients to be pain-free by curing their foot problems. As corns are one of the most common foot problems, many of those patients will have been to see me for help to resolve their corns. So how do we do that?

Firstly, we have to identify the type of corn (there are several different types) and establish the causative & contributing factors to their formation. Then we look at how to remove those factors where possible. This can involve appropriate padding techniques, insoles/orthotics, silicone moulds, gel/foam protectors, dermal filler injections, and/or a change of footwear style/type. Finally, we embark on an intensive treatment programme with the help of the patient so that the corns are completely resolved within hopefully 2-3 treatments over a 4-6 week period. Further advice is then given to help prevent reoccurrence, and the patient goes off to enjoy permanently pain-free feet (unless they develop a different foot problem in the future!).

Take a look at some of our other blogs to learn more about foot care, and for more information on the cost of corns, take a look here.

And if you would like us to try to cure your corns, call us on 01926 811272 to book an appointment or use our easy online booking system.

Jonathan Small, Lead Podiatrist, Health First Foot & Gait Clinic, Southam, Warwickshire, 01926 811272

 

As always, don’t just take our word for it. This is one of the many 5 star reviews kindly left for us – this specifically by the patient who presented with the little toe corn shown above:

“I suffered from a persistent problem on both feet. Jonathan was very thorough not only with the diagnosis but also with the treatment. His attention to detail resulted in a permanent solution. My feet have never felt better, and I feel like a new man! Thank you.”      K.G., Kineton