Posts for tag: podiatrist
Excessive sweating from the soles of the feet, known as palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, can affect both children and adults. This condition occurs when the eccrine (sweat) glands of the soles secrete inappropriately large amounts of sweat. It typically occurs due to unknown reasons, begins in childhood, and commonly runs in families.
Eccrine glands are found on almost all parts of the body but are most dense in the palms and soles. The glands have developed and work normal in patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, they just work more than needed. These glands produce sweat in response to emotion and stress. This is the reason people do not notice sweaty feet as they sleep.
Diagnosis is obvious because the sweating is easily noticed. Various treatment options are available but each has limitations. Creams and sprays are a great way to limit the severity of sweat but do not cure the condition. These are time-consuming therapies because the cream must be applied nightly. Iontophoresis is the passage of an electrical current onto to the skin, and has long been used to treat hyperhidrosis. Iontophoresis consists of 30 min sessions for ten consecutive days followed by one or two maintenance sessions per week. Oral pills will achieve desired results but must be taken for long periods of time and have numerous side effects. Surgical treatment is an option to treat hyperhidrosis. Sympathectomy involves the surgical destruction of nerves in the soles. Although the procedure is effective, it is permanent and should be considered only after all other therapeutic options have been explored. It is important to visit a podiatrist for treatment of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, as there are many treatment methods. Coastal Podiatry Associates can help determine which treatment method is best to restore normal function of the sweat glands.
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.
Arthritis is a frequent finding in more than 100 different diseases. It is an inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the body’s joints that is typically occurs with an increase in the fluid found in joints. This is a disabling disease affecting almost 40 million Americans. Causes of arthritis include heredity, injury, joint infection, prescription and illegal drug use, autoimmune disease, and bowel disorders (colitis and ileitis). Symptoms are limited to joints and include swelling, recurring pain or tenderness, redness or heat, limitation in motion, and early morning stiffness. The foot has 33 different joints that can be affected by arthritis and tremendous pain may develop due to the weight-bearing load the feet must withstand.
Because arthritis is commonly felt first in the foot, a podiatrist is often the first physician to encounter some of the complaints. Diagnosis of arthritis is reached after evaluating lab tests and clinical presentation. Early diagnosis is important to effective treatment as destruction of cartilage is not reversible. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, preserve joint function, and curing the disease if possible. A vast array of medication have been developed to treat the causes of arthritis but aspirin is still the drug of choice for many forms.
Three of the more frequent forms of arthritis found in the foot include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Its onset is generally gradual as aging brings on a breakdown in cartilage and pain slowly increases. The progression of this condition leads it to be called degenerative joint disease or wear and tear arthritis. It is also characterized by throbbing nighttime pain and muscle weakness or deterioration. Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex chronic inflammatory system disease affecting more than a dozen small joints in the foot and hand. Its symptoms include morning stiffness, fatigue, weight loss, and may affect other parts of the body. Rheumatoid has a much faster onset than other forms and is distinguished by periods of remission. Gouty arthritis is caused by a buildup of uric acid (a normal product of the diet) in joints. It typically affects a big toe. Men are much more likely to be affected than women especially when they consume a diet with lots of red meat, sauces, shellfish, and brandy.
By Dr. Jordanna Baker of Coastal Podiatry Associates, Myrtle Beach SC.
The numbers concerning diabetes are staggering. Almost 8% of the US population has diabetes. Of the 24 million Americans with this disease, about 6 million do not know it. Men and women are equally affected by the disease and a little over half of those with the disease are 60 years of age or older. Breaking down the 6 million that do not know they have diabetes, 4 million men and 2 million women over the age of 20 are unaware. On average non-Hispanic blacks are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of the same age. Mexican-Americans are almost two times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. Diabetes affects non-Hispanic black and Hispanic/Latino American women 2-4 times more often than non-Hispanic white women.
Realizing that diabetes is a disease and taking, the steps to control the disease can save your life. 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage. Severe forms of diabetic nerve damage can lead to foot and leg amputations. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than that for people without the disease. After an amputation, the chance of another amputation with 3-5 years is almost 50%.
A podiatrist plays a crucial role in a diabetes management team. They are uniquely qualified to treat the foot and ankle, which is where diabetic nerve and blood flow problems first occur. If you have diabetes or are at risk, it is important to have a podiatrist check your feet at least once a year for symptoms, such as loss of sensation, burning, or tingling. Since diabetes affects your entire body it is important to have other doctors involved in your treatment team. A primary care physician or internist plays the important role of coordinator. They can make referrals to other specialists and conduct general care. Endocrinologist is a specialist used for people having difficulty controlling the disease. People with diabetes are at an increased risk for gum disease and infections in the mouth due to the elevated blood sugar. This makes it important to maintain regular dentist appointments. An ophthalmologist should be a part of the diabetes management team as well. They are specially trained to detect blood flow problems to the eye along with vision difficulties. Diabetics should include a trip to the eye doctor for exam once a year as part of their treatment.
By Dr. Joseph Menn of Coastal Podiatry Associates, Myrtle Beach SC.
*All statistics and numbers are from the American Podiatric Medical Association*
A common cause of weakness and an inability to stand on one’s toes is due to Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD). The posterior tibial tendon is one of the most important tendons in the lower leg. This tendon starts in the calf, extends behind the inside of the ankle, and attaches to multiple bones in the middle of the foot. This muscle and tendon combo help lift the inside part of the foot as well as plantarflex the foot. Plantarflexion is a movement that increases the angle between the foot and the shin like pushing down on a car’s gas pedal.
The posterior tibial tendon is constantly used. It helps hold up the arch of the foot and during walking it provides support when stepping off the toes. If this tendon becomes inflamed, over stretched, or torn many things can happen. First pain and swelling is typically noticed on the inside of the ankle. Soreness over the arch can occur, especially with activity. This soreness can increase leading to a loss of the foot’s arch. General weakness and an inability to stand on the toes can also occur. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction occurs most often in women over 50 years of age but can also be brought on by obesity, diabetes, previous surgery or trauma, local steroid injections, or an inflammatory disease.
A podiatrist will reach the conclusion of PTTD through a history and physical examination. During the physical exam it is common to have the patient stand on their bare feet facing away from the physician. This allows the physician to notice how the foot functions. From behind, it will look as though you have too many toes showing. A podiatrist may also ask the patient to stand on their toes or do a single heel raise. During a single heel raise, the heel will normally rotate inward. The absence of this sign indicates PTTD. The treatment a podiatrist recommends will depend on how far the condition has progressed. The ultimate goal is to return the tendon to normal functioning and to prevent permanent flatfoot. In the early stages, PTTD is treated with ibuprofen, shoe inserts, or immobilization of the foot. If early treatments do not work surgery may be needed.
By Dr. Joseph Menn of Coastal Podiatry Associates, Myrtle Beach SC.