Tips : PLANTAR FASCIITIS: Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of fibrous tissue supporting the sole of the foot, often associated with a heel spur. Symptoms: Often accompanies a heel spur; the discomfort is usually on the inside of the heel. Prevention: wear shoes that give maximum support, perhaps with an additional arch support; make sure shoes are not excessively worn; avoid stretching the heel cord, by not walking on hard surfaces. Self-care: aspirin and ice packs after a workout, or when the pain starts to surface. INGROWN TOENAILS: Did you know that your parents can actually give you ingrown nails? Many times they are hereditary, passed down from parent to child. If the ingrown nail is not hereditary, it may be caused by an injury, a tight shoe fit, or faulty nail trimming. Usually located on the big toe, an ingrown nail is a curved nail growing into the skin. It can be on both sides of the nail or just on one side-which is more common. You may see redness, swelling, and oozing, combined with some pain. Soak the feet in warm, not hot water. Sometimes, you may be able to place cotton under the nail to relieve some of the pressure. If this does not solve the problem, we need to see you at the foot clinic. DIABETIC FEET: HANDLE WITH CARE-Diabetics have many health concerns, not the least of which is paying close attention to their feet. Because the feet are at a greater distance from the heart, the poor circulation and nerve impairment that often accompany diabetes, can put the feet at risk. Poor circulation means that the feet have a harder time fighting infections and healing. The resulting complications can be as serious as foot ulcers, or in extreme cases, amputation. Numbness, tingling, "cold feet" or a bluish discoloration are symptoms of circulatory trouble. When nerves are impaired, the feet can be injured without a moment of pain. The diabetic doesn't notice because he can't feel the pain, due to nerve damage. In such cases, even a hot bath can be an occasion for a serious burn. A regular program of foot hygiene, some common sense, and regular podiatric medical examinations can keep diabetics on their feet and walking. Diabetics should visit us at least twice a year. Daily foot hygiene and regular inspection are also essential, along with avoiding activities or habits that can restrict circulation. Some of these include: sitting with crossed legs, exposing the feet to the cold, wearing restrictive clothing like garters or tight undergarments, and smoking can affect the circulation of diabetics. ACHILLES TENDINITIS: Achilles tendinitis is a slight soreness in the tendon that attaches the large calf muscle to the heel. Causes: overuse; aging, which reduces blood flow to the tendon, making it more prone to injury; shoes that are too loose, with heels that are too high or too low; an exercise program low on stretching. Prevention: stretch after every warm-up and at the end of every walk. Self-care: ice treatments for the first two to three days, followed by moist heat and gentle stretching; gentle massage may help by increasing the circulation, but avoid deep massage-it may aggravate inflammation. CRAMPS - Cramps are painful muscle spasms from a sudden increase in activity. Prevention: start out slowly and increase your workout gradually; take care to stretch regularly, especially during the first few weeks of a new walking program, when cramps are most likely; add extra cushioning or an arch support if that's where your foot cramps; if cramping or pain occurs after walking a short distance and if it is accompanied by swelling, pinpoint pain or redness, these could be symptoms of circulartory problems and should be treated as soon as possible. Self-care: if you cramp up while walking, stop and take your shoes and socks off; gently massage the cramp away; make sure you put your shoes back on; after you walk, soak your feet in warm, not hot, water, followed with some kind of cooling liniment. If this problem continues it's important we see you as this could indicate a much more serious problem. BUNIONS - Bunions are a hereditary malformation of the big toe. Symptoms: The big toe looks crooked, with a big bump on the outside of it and with redness, stiffness, swelling, and pain. Self-care: Wear shoes wide enough and long enough to accommodate the bunion; there is no cure, but this can reduce the aggravation. RUNNING SHOES - Running shoes should be both duarble and flexible, with at least half an inch of cushioning in the mid-sole area. The heel should be spacious to allow the foot to breathe. Nylon, not leather, sneakers are the best choice and one pair of cotton socks is sufficient to absorb perspiration and reduce friction. Remember, always wear broken-in ones for a race. According to statistics, as many as 60 per cent of running injuries are caused by wearing the wrong shoe. FUNGUS NAILS- Infections are caused by parasitic fungi in and around the nails. A fungus actually lives on nail tissue, thriving in this warm, dark, moist medium. If ignored, the fungus starts to destroy the nail, deforming it in the process and, if untreated, it will, like a true parasite, ultimately kill the host toenail. Symptoms of a fungal disease vary widely. Rarely painful like most infections, the presence of a fungus can be revealed by any, all or none of the following symptoms: discoloration; a general thickening or curving of the nail; dryness; ridges; white spots; brittleness; or white flakes underneath the nail during clipping. Early treatment is important. Over-the-counter medicines are not very effective but can be tried to see if they get rid of the fungus. It's best to have us examine your feet at the foot clinic to give you a plan to best treat the fungus infection. OSTEOARTHRITIS AND YOUR FEET: The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis. It affects about half of all arthritis sufferers. When it strikes the feet, it can be particularly distressing. Although there is little soft tissue swelling, joints often become enlarged, stiff, and painful. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed for the pain, and certain exercises can relieve some of the pressure by strengthening muscles around the joints. Walking and rolling a soft drink bottle under the foot are often useful techniques. We may also perform ultrasound or heat treatments. For more advanced, debilitating cases, surgery may be recommended to remove bony particles or replace the joint with an artificial implant. Don't let a painful condition in your feet interfere with your mobility. Seeking treatment as soon as you experience discomfort will help keep a condition from becoming disabling. Drugstore remedies should be viewed only as a temporary solution for foot ailments. Golden State Foot Clinic serves Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake, Cottonwood and all of Shasta County. We are dedicated to providing high quality foot and ankle treatment. As a podiatrist physician (foot doctor) we are board certified by The American Board of Podiatric Surgery . Podiatrist's (foot doctors) specialize in foot surgery and treatment for foot ailments including foot pain, foot injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, foot bunions (hallux valgus.) We offer treatment for Neuroma, hammertoes, diabetic foot ulcers, heel pain, toenail fungus, fungus nail toe problems, foot injuries, ankle pain, sprained ankles, arch pain, ingrown toenails, fungus infection of the feet. We also treat arthritis, cysts, painful joints, flat feet, bone spurs, warts and other foot and ankle problems. Foot and Ankle Surgery in many cases can be performed as a same day outpatient surgical center setting requiring no hospitalization. Our podiatrist office accepts most insurances including Medicare, Blue Shield and Blue Cross. | |
