86163282 Foot Injury First Aid, The Woman Checks The Baby's Foot

We believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you.

There is an ever-growing content of Foot Health Minutes about foot health topics of interest, along with some brief FAQ videos that answer many of the questions people have asked us over the years.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns or if you have an idea for another Foot Health Minute or FAQ!

Heel Pain FAQ

Why does my heel hurt first thing in the morning?

Why is my child having heel pain?

Is all heel pain plantar fasciitis?

Something that is often found in children in the 9-13 year old age range is a condition called Sever’s Disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis. It is an injury suffered to the growth plate in the heel bone. If treated properly and promptly, relief can be obtained fairly quickly with little or no time lost from activity.

Bunion FAQ

Do all bunions need surgery?

How do bunions develop?

Can bunions get worse?

Fungus Infections of Nail & Skin FAQ

Can laser treat fungal nail infections?

Can athlete’s foot creams be used on fungal nails?

In other than the most superficial fungal infections, it can take 5-6 months or longer.  Treatment by oral medication or laser doesn’t make the fungus “fade”, rather the fungus spores are destroyed, but the nail has to go through its normal growth cycle to push out the damaged nail.  At an average growth rate of 1 mm. per week, it can take many months for the clear nail to become noticeable.

Diabetes FAQ

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

It is the potential complications of diabetes that put these people at risk.  Diabetics are prone to worsening circulation over time and perhaps more dangerous is the possibility of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN).  In DPN, a patient may slowly and gradually lose sensation in their feet to the point where they might not feel pain at all.  For this reason some wounds, injuries, ingrown toenails and painful calluses might not be noticed, resulting in a delay in treatment and can potentially result in ulcerations and some very serious infections requiring hospitalization.  Having the feet checked out regularly helps monitor the the circulatory and neurological status. Diabetic should also examine their own feet daily for signs of problems and should contact the office at once if there are any problems.

Foot & Ankle Injury FAQ

Is it better to use ice or heat?

Is it true that nothing can be done for a broken toe? (Hint: it’s NOT true!)

Is it true that if I can walk on my foot that it means it is not broken? (Hint: it’s not true, either!)

Why should I visit a podiatrist for evaluation and treatment of a foot or ankle injury?

The short version is that unless the bone has broken through the skin (an open fracture), you can’t tell for sure one way or another without an x-ray examination. Significant pain, swelling and ecchymosis (black and blue/purple) are typical, but can also be a sign of a severe sprain.  Likewise, stress fractures may only exhibit mild-moderate pain, swelling and little or no discoloration. Click the links just above for the two brief videos about identifying and treating broken bones. FYI, we take x-rays rightin our office, with immediate results, so you don’t have to go to a radiology facility or endure the long wait in a hospital emergency room to be examined and treated.

Foot & Ankle Injury FAQ

Bunions are a foot deformity that develops over time (see the video FAQs above, or the link to the library about bunions). Gout is a metabolic arthritic disease. A bunion deformity occurs at the base of the big toe that can become progressively more painful on a gradual basis.  Gout comes in sudden-onset “attacks” which are severely painful with redness and swelling in the area.  Tradidtionally, gout attacks are most common at the same joint as a bunion but can occur at any joint in the foot. Gout attacks will also most commonly have a dietary trigg

Women’s bodies make a number of adjustments for carrying and delivering a baby, it’s Nature.  One of them is that there’s a ligament in the foot, the spring ligament, located deep under the arch which is made up in women of a special kind of fiber that is sensitive to the hormones of pregnancy.  During pregnancy, the ligament stretches out a bit extra to accommodate the extra weight that is carried. After the baby arrives, the ligament will usually snap back into shape. However, with excessive weight gain, multiple pregnancies and with the older the age of the mother, the spring ligament may not fully return to its original state.  With this, the feet will flatten out a bit more, seen as lower arches, and as a result the foot appears to lengthen even though the size of the bones doesn’t change.  Many women report a change of a full shoe size or more.  One woman I know claims to have grown 2 1/2 sizes, as she was 41 the last time she was pregnant.  All the more reason to remember to wear good, supportive shoes throughout your pregnancy!

All About Heel Pain

The Importance of Skin Biopsies
This information can save your life!

The Best Shoe Buying Advice You’ll Ever Receive!
This information can save your feet!

Shoe Selection Advice

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy 
Causes and treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

 Ingrown Toenail surgical procedure
(Graphic in Content!)

Barefoot running/Minimalist running shoes

KeryFlex Nail Restoration

 Demonstration video of KeryFlex Nail Restoration

All about Orthotics.
Why store-bought OTC orthotics aren’t worth the price of the packaging; how orthotics work; our superior OTC orthotics and why prescription orthotics work best to relieve your pain are often the best long-term value.

Children’s Foot Disorders
Heel pain in children, plus common problems in children  

 

Achilles Problems

Ankle Problems

Arch & Ball Problems

Deformities

Diabetes & Your Feet

Diseases of the Foot

Foot & Ankle Care

Foot & Ankle Injuries

Fungus Problems & Foot Odor

Heel Problems

Nail Problems

Orthotics

Skin Problems

Surgical Procedures

Toe Problems