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Foot Notes

Posts for: April, 2014

Maintain Healthy Weight to Prevent Foot Problems

By Brandon Macy, D.P.M

April 22, 2014

Category: Foot Care

Tags: Weightloss Foot Care

Weightloss may help with foot problems With our feet bearing the weight of our entire body, it’s no surprise that carrying excess weight may increase the chance of developing foot problems. In fact, recent studies have shown that overweight people experience more heel pain, tendonitis, arthritis, ball-of-foot pain, fractures and sprains in their feet and ankles than individuals at a normal, healthy weight.

Extra weight doesn’t have to be substantial to have an impact on your feet and ankles. As little as 10 or 20 pounds can trigger pain in the lower extremities. Being overweight changes the way your foot functions, and the force on the feet intensifies.

The most common foot problems from being overweight include:

Plantar Fasciitis: Excess weight adds strain to the plantar fascia, overusing and weakening it. This causes it to become inflamed and irritated. Heel pain is one of the most common problems caused by weight gain.
Tendonitis: When the feet endure extra weight, it eventually causes the tendons/ligaments to be overused, which leads to injury and inflammation.
Fallen Arches: An increase in body weight and pressure causes the supporting structures in your feet (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) to become stretched and weakened, breaking down over time. This can weaken the muscle which gives the foot its arch, causing over-pronation and leading to other problems such as knee and hip pain.
Other effects from carrying extra weight include changes in posture, changes in gait (steps become shorter) and stress fractures.

Losing extra pounds can help ease the pain and reduce problems caused by carrying excess body weight. Unfortunately, it's tough to lose weight when your feet hurt. To combat foot problems triggered by weight gain, ease into a low-impact activity that doesn’t require you to place pressure on your foot, such as water aerobics. Always start any new workout routine slowly and work with your regular physician and podiatrist Brandon Macy, D.P.M to find healthy ways to modify your diet and select the best, supportive footwear for your feet.

Foot pain is never normal, regardless of weight, as it indicates some type of stress or injury. You should always consult an experienced podiatrist at our Clark office if you are experiencing any pain in your foot.

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Seek Treatment for Dry, Cracked Heels

By Brandon Macy, D.P.M

April 22, 2014

Category: Foot Care

Tags: cracked heels

Dry, cracked heels are not only unsightly, but they can also be a source of pain and embarrassment. When the fissures in your heel become so dry and cracked that bleeding or pain when walking occurs, it may be time to seek professional care from your podiatrist Brandon Macy, D.P.M. Left untreated, heel fissures can become so deep and painful that it leads to an infection.

Cracked heels are most commonly caused by splitting of the skin as a result of severe dryness or thickening of a callus on your heel. Severe cases of dry, cracked heels can occur for numerous reasons, including:

Cold winter weather or dry climates
Dehydration
Having diabetes
Scrubbing feet too harshly
Soaking in a hot bath or shower for too long or too frequently
Not moisturizing the feet
Increased weight
Walking barefoot or wearing open-backed sandals or shoes
Prolonged standing at work or home
Chronic skin problems, such as eczema or psoriasis

Here are a few tips for keeping heels from cracking:

Moisturize the feet daily
Avoid walking barefoot or wearing open-backed shoes
Opt for mild soaps that won’t dry out your heels
Increase your water intake to keep your body hydrated
Limit time in the shower as hot water dries out the skin
Use a pumice stone or file as directed by your doctor to gently decrease the thick layer of skin

When to Visit Brandon Macy, D.P.M

What may begin as an annoyance or simple cosmetic issue, cracked heels can lead to pain and serious infection if not managed properly. Most cases of dry, cracked heels will get better with a little foot pampering or over-the-counter foot cream.

When heels are severely cracked or painful and conservative treatments aren’t effective, visit our Clark office. People with diabetes are at an especially high risk for health problems and should not wait to have dry feet cared for. Severely cracked heels need moisture to avoid pain, bleeding and infection. A podiatrist can work with you to relieve your cracked heels with conservative treatment options.

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New, Painless Treatment for Painful Calluses and Warts

By Brandon Macy, D.P.M.

April 13, 2014

Category: Foot Pain

Tags: calluses warts Porokeratosis IPK Intractable Plantar Keratosis

Do you feel like you are walking on rocks? Many patients have calluses on their feet that are like small pebbles—but feel like they are boulders or knives stabbing you in the foot. There are some that have deep-seated cores that can feel like they go all the way down to the bone. We label such lesion as an intractable plantar keratosis (IPK) or porokeratosis. (PK)

Many folks have this common problem, have the calluses scraped down, but the relief lasts only for a couple of weeks before that nagging pain comes back. Changing or adjusting shoes doesn’t seem to help much. Over the counter medications do even less. Surgery is an option, but not a pleasant one.

It can seem to be a never ending cycle, but there IS hope for you! A PAINLESS way of providing relief for those rock-hard calluses. We now employ a treatment called TransDerm which can give you major, long-term relief. And yes, it is totally painless, no need for blistering acid applications or injections.

What is involved? Two brief office visits. At the first, the offending callus is pared down, then a series of two medications is applied with an applicator, then covered with a large band aid that is saturated with a third solution. At a followup visit in 2 days, the band aid is removed and any remaining callus tissue is cleaned up. That’s it!

The photos below show an example of a PK lesion on a patient's right foot before treatment, after paring the PK down, then 48 hours later following the TransDerm treatment. A dramatic difference and the patient is excited about the relief she feels! Patients have marveled at how much better they feel than after any of the visits they’ve had in the past for their regular care—the best their feet have felt in ages!

Quick, painless and effective. You can’t ask for more than that!

Contact Us for more information or call at 732-382-3470 to schedule an appointment. You do not have to suffer from those rock-hard, painful calluses any longer!