What may increase your risk of a serious toe, foot, or ankle problem?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medications, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- Bone or foot-joint deformities from birth (congenital)
- A history of previous toe, foot, or ankle problems, injuries, or surgery
- Obesity
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Participating in sports or recreation that is hard on the feet, such as running or basketball
- Work or occupation that is hard on the feet, such as a job that requires standing on your feet all day
Medications
- Anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, or aspirin
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medications to prevent organ transplant rejection
Diseases
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Hemophilia
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteomyelitis
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Venous insufficiency
| Author: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA | Last Updated: February 8, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Gavin W.G. Chalmers, DPM - Podiatry and Podiatric Surgery | |
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