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Foot Notes

Posts for tag: bunion

By Clark Podiatry Center
September 11, 2019
Category: toe injuries
Tags: turf toe   Fall sports   bunion   orthotic   podiatrist   athlete   pain  

With school starting, our children will be competing in a variety of fall sports. One issue that will unfortunately pop up will be something called turf toe. What is turf toe? Turf toe is when the main joint of the big toe is sprained. While a relatively recent injury, it usually occurs when an athlete plants their foot on artificial turf and overextends his big toe. Because turf increases traction, the surface is less forgiving than regular grass. Many schools have substituted artificial turf to increase athlete speed and save on maintenance costs.

Symptoms of turf toe include:

  • Inflammation – area around the big toe will swell
  • Bruising – big toe will be bruised
  • Pain – Turf toe is painful as it is a strain of the joint and can include damage to cartilage
  • Inability to bend toe forward – over extended toe losses some of its strength
  • Loose toe joint – destabilizes foot

Your podiatrist will use an X-ray and MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan to identify the extent of the injury. Turf toe is categorized by Grades – Grade 1 – Strain of the big toe joint, Grade 2 – partial tear of the area around the joint and Grade 3 – a complete tear of the toe joint. Each grade has to be treated differently.

  • Grade 1 – requires RICE or Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The affected athlete can still participate in sports, but will probably have to wear a rigid orthotic.
  • Grade 2 - requires a boot or caste for up to a week. After, the foot will need to be taped for stability. Apply RICE.
  • Grade 3 – will require a boot or caste to be worn for several weeks with the toe bent downward.

When healed sufficiently, physical therapy will likely be recommended.

Surgery can be a treatment but is used for specific circumstances including:

  • Severe tear – must be stabilized to heal.
  • Instability of the big toe joint – same as above. Will severely impact walk if not attended to.
  • Bone chips – must be removed.
  • Damage to the cartilage – needs repair.
  • Development of a bunion – can be aggravated by turf toe.

Turf toe is usually treated successfully if acted on early enough.   

Do you have turf toe or any other questions regarding your feet, schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues making sure that you not only choose the right shoes, but also keep your feet healthy. Come see us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
May 15, 2019
Category: Bunions
Tags: Orthotics   Proper Footwear   arthritis   bunion   callus   corn   podiatrist  

One of the many problems that a person can have is developing a bunion. What is a bunion? A bunion is a painful bone deformity, or bump, at the base of the big toe.

Symptoms of a bunion can include:

  • A large or growing bump on the inside of your big toe’s joint.
  • Pain and swelling
  • A callus or corn on the bump
  • A hardening of the skin on the big toe
  • Difficulty walking on the inflamed foot

There are several causes of a bunion which can include:

  • Poor fitting shoes – shoes that are too narrow. Proper footwear is crucial to healthy feet.
  • Heredity – genetic traits passed down from previous relatives.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis – an inflammatory condition in your joints which helps distort the toe.
  • Polio – Rare but possible condition that weakens muscles.

Bunions can be treated surgically and non-surgically.

Non-surgical treatments include:

  • Good fitting footwear – choosing footwear that allow greater space near the toes will allow them to stretch and move in a more natural position.
  • Orthotics – using a type of specific padding. While you can purchase an orthotic at your local drug store, seeing your podiatrist to determine which type of orthotic is your best choice.
  • Ice – applying ice to the swollen area will usually reduce pain and swelling.
  • Medications – using non-steroid, anti-inflammatory medicine can reduce the pain and swelling.

If the above treatments do not help or help enough, surgery may be needed. Surgery is not recommended for children, however, as their feet are still growing. Less invasive treatments will probably be best. During surgery your podiatrist will realign the bones and ligaments to return the foot to a more natural and comfortable position. This should relieve the pain and swelling and reduce the bump. While usually very effective, taking the proper time to recover is very important.  Surgery is usually completed in one day.

 If you believe you have or are developing a bunion or have any other foot concerns, please make an appointment with us. Dr. Brandon A. Macy, who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute, will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.

 

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By Clark Podiatry Center
January 07, 2019
Category: foot deformities

If you have toe deformities, chances are, your parents or their parents had them too. Many foot issues are inherited, and that includes digital deformities like bunions, hammertoes, mallet toes, claw toes, as well as overlapping and underlapping toes.

So, should you be worried about passing toe deformities on to your children?

While there’s a good chance that you might pass on your toe problems through your genes, the good news is that there are ways to treat them.

  • Bunion – A bunion is characterized by a bony growth from the side of the big toe joint, which, in turn, causes the big toe to point toward the other smaller toes. The bony spur can also develop on the outside of the pinky toe.  
  • Claw Toe – When you’ve got nerve damage in your toes, it can cause the joints in your toes to become weak. The joint at the base of the toe bends upward, while the rest of the toe slumps downward. It makes the toes look like it’s clawing the ground.
  • Hammertoes – When the middle toe joint bends upward, making the toe’s shape look like an upside-down “V” that is called a hammertoe. It occurs because there is an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or the ligaments of the feet.
  • Mallet Toes – An additional deformity due to an imbalance of the muscles, tendons, or the ligaments of the feet is characterized by the toe joint closest to the toenail bending upward called mallet toes.
  • Overlapping or underlapping toes – In some cases, the conditions exist from birth. The smaller toes are usually the ones affected. The muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones are misaligned.

In most cases, these toe deformities are treatable, especially when detected early. Some treatment options include:

  • Toe Exercises – For some mild cases of toe deformity issues, strengthening the soft tissues around toes can help the toes regain their form.
  • Taping – In the cases where the soft tissues just need a little help, taping the toes can help straighten them out.
  • Splinting – If the toes are in bad form, they may be interfering with certain activities. Splinting them can help them become stronger while keeping them in good shape.
  • Surgery – When non-invasive remedies don’t work, and the toe deformities are severe, it may be necessary to set the bones and/or loosen the tendons or ligaments that might be causing the toe deformity.

So if you’ve got toe deformities, don’t fret! Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your feet, and find the best treatment for your toe problems. Make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office so we can keep you walking.

 

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By Clark Podiatry Center
March 06, 2018
Category: Foot Care
Tags: Foot Odor   Athlete's Foot   Shoes   Foot Care   orthotic inserts   arch   heel   bunion   callus  

As the weather slowly levels out, you may get bitten by the springtime travel bug. If you haven’t really left the comfort and warmth of your home this winter season, it may be a good time to stretch your legs and explore some new areas of the world. This is especially true since it’s still off-peak travel season.

Already have plans for early spring travel? Great! As you pack your bags, don’t forget to take into consideration, items that you need for foot care. You might be wondering what we mean since you might not have thought about it before. Read on and check out the following tips for what you can pack for foot care while you travel:

  • Socks – Whether you are staying closer to home or going to a foreign country, you want to make sure you have enough socks. Otherwise, running out of clean pairs might mean wearing shoes without socks, which can lead to foot odor and irritated skin on the feet.
  • Comfortable shoes – In most cases, travel would probably include a lot of walking as you explore the area you are visiting. If your shoes are uncomfortable, you may miss out on seeing more of your travel destination since you may not want to walk around as much. Be sure to bring shoes that are supportive, including arch and heel support, as well as insoles with ample cushioning. If any of these supportive features are missing, you may want to try out some orthotic inserts.
  • Flip  Flops – Keeping your feet safe from infectious disease is as simple as using flip-flops in hotel rooms and bathrooms, communal showers, or any other public areas (e.g. swimming pools) where you might be barefoot. You never know how “clean” public areas are, and that can leave you prone to diseases like Athlete’s foot.
  • Bandages or other protective padding – For those who are prone to blisters or bunion pain, you should pack bandages, medical tape, or callus/bunion pads. This will, again, keep you more comfortable as you enjoy the food, culture, and sights of your travel destination.

If you have foot or ankle issues, or an injury that may prevent you from traveling, make an appointment to see our board-certified podiatrist, Brandon Macy, DPM at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your feet and give you options to make your travel plans possible. Come see him at our Clark, NJ office, which serves the surrounding Union County areas. 

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Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470