The doctor and staff at the FootHealth, P.C. welcome you to our newsletter
in order to provide you with an easy way to interact with our practice and
help you obtain the most information for your
foot and ankle
problems. On this site, you will find
patient
information forms,
biographies
about the doctors,
specialties of our practice and links to sites that will provide you
with
valuable patient information.
For your convenience; we have added an on-line
link on our web site for foot and ankle products. Click on the "our
doctor's store" icon. This site features many competitively priced
products that can be shipped conveniently to your home.
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Click on the "OurDoctorStore'
icon. This site features many competitively priced products that can be
shipped conveniently to your home.
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| You can avoid the 'shoe blues' |
Do your feet hurt more since summertime has ended? You're not alone. We
see a lot of patients like you each fall. When it comes time to put the
sandals away, these patients get the shoe blues.
In summer, sandals provide the freedom that allows your feet to feel
comfortable. If you start wearing closed shoes again in autumn, the shoes
can rub against bunions and hammertoes and cause you pain. Sometimes the
friction of shoe against skin can cause painful corns and calluses to
build up.
Your first line of defense is to wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes.
Pick footwear with a toe box wide enough so that your toes aren't crowded
together. If you wear shoes with heels, keep the heel height to two inches
or less to avoid putting pressure on bunions.
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Wear socks to reduce the friction of the shoes against your feet. You
may also want to take your shoes to a shoe repair shop and get them
stretched in the areas that are bothering you. Using pads to shield the
corns may help, but avoid medicated pads, which contain acid that can be
harmful.
If you try these tips to no avail, contact our office. There are several things we can do, including:
- Trimming corns and calluses professionally. Don't attempt this
yourself because you run the risk of injury and infection.
- Providing custom shoe inserts.
- Injecting corticosteroids, which ease pain and inflammation, or
prescribing pain medication.
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If conservative measures like these don't give you results, surgery may be an option.
Don't let painful toes keep you from enjoying all that fall has to offer.
Make an appointment with our office to get them checked out.
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| Arthritis needn't slow down boomers |
Baby boomers aren't ready to slow down, even if their bodies are. If you're a member of the "Me Generation," seek care if you develop joint pain in your toes, feet or ankles.
While there is no fountain of youth for a degenerative condition like arthritis, there are more medical options available than ever before. The earlier your arthritis is diagnosed, the more options are available for treatment.
The big toe joint is one of the most common parts of the foot to develop osteoarthritis. For Boomers with early stage arthritis in this joint, modern surgical procedures may provide more pain relief and increased joint movement, allowing
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continued activity.
Boomers with advanced and severe arthritis may need
to have the joint fused or replaced. Stronger screws
and hardware are helping fusions last longer, while
slashing recovery times. A new generation of big toe joint
replacements also shows promise.
Ankles are another prime spot for arthritis. Innovative
new surgical techniques allow foot and ankle surgeons to
transplant small plugs of cartilage from one part of the ankle
to another in some patients, slowing joint deterioration.
Ankle replacements, however, are not as durable as hip and
knee replacements. The ankle is a more challenging joint to
replace. It's smaller and moves in multiple directions. But
better, more promising ankle implants are hitting the market.
If you're not ready to give up the running shoes or hiking
boots, ask our office for more information on osteoarthritis of
the foot and ankle.
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| Protect Your Feet from Indoor
Sports Injuries |
Autumn brings lots of tasty temptations
like Halloween candy, Thanksgiving
pumpkin pie and holiday cookies. It
also marks National Diabetes Month in
November, a good reminder for those
with diabetes to watch what they eat
and keep their blood sugar under
control.
People with diabetes also need to
check their feet on a daily basis. Small
problems, if left untreated, can turn
into big problems that require major
medical interventions. To prevent this,
it's a good idea for diabetics to get
regular checkups at our office.
If you have diabetes and feel leg pain
at night, or after exercise or walking,
that could indicate a blocked artery.
Get medical attention right away.
To protect your feet, wear socks that
aren't tight or constricting. Always
wear shoes or slippers, and shake
them out before you put them on.
People with diabetes may have nerve
damage and may not be able to
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feel sharp objects, which could cut
them. Because diabetes causes poor
circulation, it reduces the body's ability
to heal from even a tiny cut.
You can also support a family member
who has diabetes by encouraging
them to do the following checks, or
offering to help with them:
- Inspect diabetic feet daily for cuts, redness and drainage. Watch
to see if toe nails have become deformed, discolored or are not
growing.
- Look for toes which appear pink, red or purplish, which may be a
sign of poor circulation.
- Notice any corns or calluses caused by shoe friction, but don't
trim these due to the risk of injury or infection. Make an appointment
with our office instead.
Call our office if you notice any signs of trouble, and, if you have
diabetes, remember to keep a healthy eating
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plan in mind when you smell that
pumpkin pie.
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