Posts for tag: Coastal Podiatry Associates
“Color me happy,” “Cajun Shrimp,” “Italian Love Affair” all of these are nail polish colors. Fantastic names! Oh, so alluring and adorable. However, what if they were named “Fungus Among Us” or “Love that Bacteria” or “Shades of Virus?” Nail salons are toted in some literature to give an infection to seventy percent of people that visit them. That means that more than most leave with pretty toes and a bacterial, fungal or viral infection. There are several places that an infection can be transferred, so you can minimize your risk and enjoy your pedicure. First, make sure the place itself looks clean. Is the floor clean? Are the stations well-maintained? Make sure the foot bath stations are cleaned after each person and if there is dirt or debris in the bath, insist it be cleaned. Take your own instruments and nail polish as this will prevent you from getting or spreading an infection…it’s important that we all take measures to prevent infection. Keep in mind that it is illegal to use sharps or debride (remove) skin in these places, so speak up if a razor blade, scalpel or scraping instruments are being used to remove callus or rough skin. Unfortunately, the proper way to trim toenails is different than the way to trim fingernails and consequently the nail can become ingrown. This begins the cycle of getting an ingrown and getting another pedicure to treat it. Usually, once the nail has started to become ingrown, eventually it will result in pain and/or pain and infection. This should be treated immediately by your podiatrist and not by the nail salon personnel. If you see changes in your toenail including discoloration, thickening or lifting you should at minimum remove all nail polish and stop getting pedicures for a month or so. Then, perhaps a different place should be sought. Some discoloration may be from chronic nail polish or nail polish that contains formaldehyde. Allow your nails some time to return to normal and then seek your podiatrist’s help in determining if you have an infection of the nail or have had trauma to the nail that will affect its appearance. You can now get nail polish without formaldehyde and with antifungal in it at our clinic. An arrangement of gorgeous, cleverly named colors are available for purchase without an appointment. So stop by on your way to your next pedicure!
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.
Have you ever dropped a heavy box on the top of your foot? Have you ever stepped into a small hole, falling, and twisting your foot? These two common accidents can result in midfoot or Lisfranc fracture-dislocation. Lisfranc injuries (named from the French doctor that first described the injury) occur at the midfoot. This area is a cluster of bones and joints that form an arch on the top of the foot between the ankles and toes. In total, five long bones extend to the base of the toes meet four bones projecting towards the rear of the foot. These bones are held into position by ligaments that stretch across and down the foot. The bone extending to the second toe is extremely important as it acts as a stabilizing force in the area but lacks ligaments to secure it to the first long bone. These two long bones may shift, break, or dislocate in a twisting fall.
Lisfranc fracture-dislocations are often mistaken for sprains. The top of the foot may be swollen and painful with some bruising. If the injury is severe, you may not be able to place any weight on the foot. Lisfranc injuries are often difficult to see on X-ray and can have serious complications if left untreated. It is important to see a podiatrist if rest, ice, and elevation do not reduce the pain and swelling within a day or two. At the doctor’s office, a podiatrist will evaluate the foot through a detailed physical exam and image study. If initial x-rays do not show an injury, a CTor MRI may be needed.
Treatment for a Lisfranc injury depends on the severity of the injury. If the bones have are still in alignment, a cast is typically used in addition to not placing any weight on the foot for six weeks. Unfortunately, surgery is often needed to stabilize the bones and hold them in place after they have become dislocated. Pins, wires, or screws may be used to restore normal position. After surgery, a cast and non weight bearing to the foot for six to eight weeks is typical. In both situations, arch support and a rigid soled shoe are commonly used until all symptoms have disappeared.
It is important to seek appropriate medical advice when rest, ice, and elevation do not resolve pain. It is equally important to follow doctor’s orders and refrain from activities until instructed. The podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates are trained in Lisfranc fractures and will help their patients return to normal activity as quickly as possible.
Well, summertime is here again. Time for vacation! It’s the time of year when we trade our Uggs and clogs for sandals and flip-flops. Although sandals offer less friction and less constriction of the feet, there can be problems caused by increased activity in these stylish summer kicks. I am referring to the Disney toenail. It never fails; I get several patients a week with the common problem of “a black toenail.” I refer to this as the Disney toenail, because it seems like when I ask where the vacation took place…it’s always from a long day walking at Disney. When you wear sandals for long periods you subconsciously use your toes to hold on a flip-flop or thong type sandal. This grasping motion occurs so many times a day, constantly pushing the toe into the nail and eliciting pressure that eventually a blood vessel breaks under the nail. This bleeds under the nail and causes the nail to turn black. It can be painful if the blood gets trapped under the nail and doesn’t cause lifting. Otherwise, the nail itself usually lifts off the nail bed and the pressure is released. Unfortunately, the nail will likely fall off or need to be removed if it is loose. This is usually not painful and can be done in the office, with the use of local anesthetic if necessary. The nail will grow back, although not by the end of the summer. But, despite having one less nail for the summer, it can be a reminder of a great Disney vacation! So, if you find yourself walking around Disney this summer and you end up with a black or lifting nail, you can consider yourself a mousketeer with an official Disney toenail.
Every mile you walk places a tremendous amount of stress on your feet. The good news is your feet can handle a heavy load, but, too much stress may push them past their limit. The shoes you wear or surfaces you walk on can increase the stress level. Heel pain is one of the first signs that too much stress is being placed on your feet. A sore heel will usually get better on its own with adequate rest. The problem is that many people try to ignore the early signs of heel pain and continue the activities that caused it.
It is important to see the podiatrists at Coastal Podiatry Associates right away to determine why there is foot pain and determine the proper treatment. The doctors will begin by asking where exactly the pain is located and when it began. Next, they will examine your foot, looking and feeling for signs of tenderness, swelling, and bruising. The doctors may ask you to walk, stand on one foot, or other physical tests that help determine the pain’s cause. Conditions that cause heel pain generally fall into two main categories: pain beneath the heel and pain behind the heel.
If the pain is greatest under you heel, you may have a condition causing inflammation in that area. A stone bruise occurs after stepping on a hard object such as a rock or stone. The object can bruise the fat pad on the underside of the heel and pain gradually reduces with rest. Plantar fasciitis typically occurs after too much running, jumping, or stretching of the tissue band that connects the heel bone and the base of the toes. The pain is centered under the heel and is most intense with taking your first steps after resting. A heel spur is another cause of pain and can form from long standing plantar fasciitis. An x-ray may be used to visualize the boney projection from the heel.
Pain behind the heel is generally due to the Achilles tendon. This condition is called retrocalcaneal bursitis and is an inflammation of the insertion of the Achilles tendon into the heel bone. People often develop this by running too much or wearing shoes that rub or cut into the back of the heel. This irritation can cause a slow increase in skin thickness, redness, or swelling. A bump that is tender and warm to touch may also develop. Pain is most severe with first activity after resting. It is not uncommon for the pain to be so severe that normal shoes cannot be worn. After taking x-rays, a podiatrist will prescribe stretching exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, and icing.