Posts for tag: Arthritis
The most common cause for a persistently painful ankle is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. Other conditions that can lead to chronic ankle pain include an injury to the nerves that pass along the ankle joint, a torn or inflamed tendon,arthritis of the ankle joint, a fracture of bones around the ankle, inflammation of the ankle joint lining, or scar tissue buildup. These conditions can cause symptoms of pain on the outer side of the ankle, difficulty walking on uneven ground, difficulty walking in high heels, ankle instability,swelling, stiffness, tenderness, and repeated ankle sprains.
The first thing a doctor will evaluate is the history of your chronic ankle pain. This will help them determine the cause, as there are so many potential reasons for chronic ankle pain. Your doctor will also feel for tender areas and look for signs of swelling. They may have you move your foot and ankle to assess range of motion and flexibility. To test the sensation of the nerves, your doctor may administer a shot of local anesthesia. Your doctor may order x-rays of the ankle joint and foot to help view the bony alignment.
The podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates will tailor your treatment plan to your needs. Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, braces, local steroid injections, and casts. If conservative treatment doesn’t bring relief, surgery may be needed. Most procedures are done on an outpatient setting with six to ten weeks of post-op rehabilitation. Surgical options include removing loose tendon fragments, cleaning the joint or joint surface, and ligament repair or reconstruction.
Coming soon.
Septic arthritis is an extremely painful infection of a joint where germs infiltrate a joint and cause damage that leads to severe pain, warmth, and swelling. Bacteria and other microorganisms are the cause of septic arthritis and commonly target the knee, hip, or ankle. In the United States, 20,000 cases are reported each year in mostly young children and older adults. Septic arthritis is considered a medical emergency, as the microorganisms can destroy the joint in a few short days or can spread to other areas of the body.
There are four main causes of septic arthritis. The first is called contiguous spread. This occurs when a preexisting bone infection travels down the bone and reaches a joint. Direct implantation of bacteria can occur when a puncture or stab wound occurs in the joint. Heamtogenous source of septic arthritis develops when an infection enters the bloodstream from another area of the body and reaches a joint. The last cause takes place after joint surgery and is due to contamination.
Septic arthritis typically causes extreme discomfort and difficulty using the affected joint. Signs and symptoms can include fever, severe pain especially when moving the joint, swelling, joint warmness, and redness. Medications for other types of arthritis may mask the pain and fever. It is important to seek a doctor if these signs develop. It is especially important if signs and symptoms of infection such as fever and chills occur, as this may indicate a severe infection. To diagnosis septic arthritis, a doctor will consider the clinical presentation, vital signs, x-rays, and blood labs. Generally, septic arthritis is treated with joint aspiration, removal of infected tissue, and antibiotics.
Feet are just like anything else, as they are used and time passes, change is inevitable. The average person takes approximately 10,000 steps per day, which can add up to more than 3 million steps a year. Each of these steps can place a force on your feet equal to two or three times your body weight. It is easy to see that with time, this extensive repetitive use can lead to several changes related to growing older.
Normal aging is associated with gradual stretching of the ligaments that support your foot’s anatomical shape. It is normal to notice your feet becoming wider and longer. This is generally combined with a mild settling of the foot’s arch more often noticed as a flattening of the foot. Another normal change is thinning of the skin on the bottom of the heel. This is from a reduction of a fat pad as the body loses its ability to retain water. Again, normal aging is the corporate. An increase in the stiffness of joints and a loss of joint range of motion may occur. Think back to the facts of taking 10,000 steps where 2-3 times your body weight is placed on your feet, this workload on your joints will cause a natural amount of arthritis that can lead to stiffness.
Some common foot changes are abnormal or pathological. These conditions tend to occur in association with prolonged use of ill-fitting shoes and extreme stress placed on the foot. They are most commonly noticed when people are in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. These problems do not occur naturally and can be slowed or prevented with the use of proper shoes and inserts. A bunion is the most common problem and is a large bump on the inside of the big toe. Another condition is a hammer digit, which occurs when the toe becomes curled or constantly bent. Bunionette is a term used to describe a large bump found on the outside of the smallest toe in addition to the toe pointing toward the rest of the foot. Calluses or corns can occur on the toes or foot in areas of high pressure points. If you notice these changes, it is important to get your feet checked by a doctor. Podiatrists are specially trained to treat these conditions and reduce the associated discomfort or pain.
Adult-acquired flat foot is a condition that results in a fallen arch and the foot pointed outward. This condition is most common in women over the age of 40. A variety of foot problems can lead to adult- acquired flat foot deformity, but the most common cause is a gradual stretching out of a tendon near the ankle bone, known as the posterior tibial tendon. This tendon is the main stabilizer of the foot arch. While the cause of the stretching is not fully understood, many doctors believe that wearing high heels and standing or walking for long periods may add to the problem. Other risk factors include obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
People with flat foot experience different symptoms depending on the cause. Pain and swelling may be felt on the inside of the foot and ankle. This pain points to involvement of the posterior tibial tendon. The pain may increase with activity and high intensity activities such as running can be very difficult. As the condition worsens, the arch can collapse causing the heel bone to move placing pressure on the outside of the ankle. This can cause outside ankle pain and arthritis of the ankle joint.
The posterior tibial tendon is one of the most important tendons of the leg. It starts at a muscle in the calf and travels down the inside of the ankle and attaches to bones on the inside of the foot. The main function of this tendon is to support the arch. If the tendon becomes inflamed or torn, the arch will slowly collapse. Inflammatory arthritis can attach the ligaments, as well as, the cartilage in joints. Arthritis can cause pain and changes to the shape of the foot. Injury to the ligaments can cause joints to fall out of alignment and cause flat foot. The last major cause of adult-acquired flat foot is diabetes. People with diabetes or with nerve loss can have arch collapse.
Adult-acquired flat foot is a very common problem affecting the foot and ankle. The good news is orthotics and braces can help most people. Those who have tried orthotics and braces without any relief, surgery can be an effective way to reduce pain and deformity. Your podiatrist is specially trained in treating flat foot and will create a custom treatment plan.
What is Coastal Podiatry Associates?
For most people their feet are the furthest things from their minds, both physically and mentally. They continually place their feet into shoes with the expectation that their feet will hurt at the day’s end. The foot’s design allows it to withstand the constant demands ofwalking, running, and for the most part whatever stress we place on them. It is for this reason that constant foot pain is especially concerning. Often times, your foot’s health is an indicator of your overall health. Signs of arthritis, diabetes, nerve, and circulatory disorders can all be detected in the foot. This is where the doctors at Coastal Podiatry Associates are specially trained to help. Podiatrists are highly trained physicians and surgeons focusing on the foot and ankleand should be an important part of your healthcare team.
The doctors at Coastal Podiatry Associates, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Menn,Dr. Werter, and Dr. Bakerhave each completed years of rigorous foot and ankle training in a podiatric medical school. This education is an additional four years after receiving an undergraduate degree. Their schooling and training make them the most qualified doctors to care for your feet. These doctors have been taught and specialize in wound care, surgery, biomechanics (how the foot moves), geriatrics, pediatrics, diabetic care and dermatology.
Coastal Podiatry Associates has locations in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach and Little River, South Carolina. It is important to visit one of these locations if you are experiencing or have diabetes, flat feet, bowed legs, high arches, recent or recurring foot, ankle, or lower leg injuries, sores or infections, circulation problems, or lasting foot pain of any kind. The foot is a complex combination of bones, ligaments, and muscles. It is an all-in-one stabilizer, shock absorber, and the initiating force during walking making it essential to overall health and wellbeing. Feet require expert care, like that given at Coastal Podiatry Associates.