More than half the women in America have bunions, a common deformity often blamed on wearing tight, narrow shoes. Bunions cause the base of your big toe (Metatarsophalangeal Joint) to enlarge and protrude. The skin over it may be red and tender. Wearing any type of shoe may be painful. This joint flexes with every step you take. The bigger your bunion gets, the more it hurts to walk. Bursitis may set in. Your big toe may angle toward your second toe, or even move all the way under it. The skin on the bottom of your foot may becomethicker and painful.

Pressure from your big toe may force your second toe out of alignment, sometimes overlapping your third toe. If your bunion gets too severe, it may be difficult to walk. Your pain may become chronic and you may develop arthritis.

Most bunions can be treated without surgery by wearing protective pads to cushion the painful area, and of course, avoiding ill-fitting shoes in the first place.

Bunion surgery, or bunionectomy, realigns the bone, ligaments, tendons and nerves so your toe can be brought back to its correct position. Many bunion surgeries are performed on a same -day basis (no hospital stay) using an ankle-block anesthesia. A long recovery is common and many include persistent swelling and stiffness.

Proper foot wear is a very important step in preventing this form of foot deformity and many others. Give us a call at 912-355-4557 if you have questions or visit our website at atlanticfeet.com for more information.

Urate crystals form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. This usually happens when the body breaks down purines which are naturally found in your body and in certain foods such as red meats, fish, chicken, organ meat, and shell fish. Normally, uric acid will be dissolved in your blood and passes throughyour kidneys and excreted in the urine. But sometimes your body either produces too much uric acid or the kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint causing pain.

Anyone can suffer from this condition even though males are more likely to be affected than females. Gout can affect any joint in the body. This condition however is more commonly found in the distal joints especially in the big toe, ankle, and knee where the uric acid crystals will settle into the joint causing an intense inflammatory reaction.

If you have gout, don’t worry. It is a very treatable condition with medications and diet modifications to a low purine diet. If you had this condition or think you may be suffering from it, make an appointment with us today at Atlantic Foot & Ankle Specialists where our expert can evaluate, treat, and answer any questions you may have about gout.

Of all diabetes-related complications, a serious foot ulcer and subsequent amputation might be the most preventable with proper care and vigilance in checking the feet at least once a day for small cuts and other abrasions.

Even those with good control of their blood sugar can experience foot ulcers, especially if neuropathy, a frequent diabetes complication, has caused decreased feeling on the bottom of their feet.

Pain Response

Loss of sensation inhibits the body’s normal pain response. As a result, walking can apply receptive, unfelt pressure to a wound, making it larger and deeper. Left untreated, diabetic ulcers lead to serious infections, which may result in amputation.

Foot and ankle surgeons use a variety of surgical and non-surgical methods to heal diabetic ulcers, but stress early intervention yields the most favorable outcomes. If you have diabetes and see anything suspicious on your feet, consult a foot and ankle surgeon for diagnosis and treatment. Even a few days can make a difference in preventing serious foot problems from developing.

An estimated seven in 10 diabetic patients have nerve damage that impairs feeling in their feet. Fifteen percent eventually will develop a foot ulcer. Among those with ulcers, one in four will lose a foot.

Each year more than 86,000 amputations are performed as a direct result of diabetes, and studies show half of those who have one foot or leg amputated will lose the other within five years.

Proper diabetic foot care prevents foot loss. In some cases, amputation might be the preferred option. If vascular and podiatric surgeries can’t improve blood circulation and foot function,amputation may be the only solution that enables the patient to heal.

Today, advances in prosthetics make it possible for patients to return to an active lifestyle, a necessity for keeping diabetes under control.

Foot problems are not an inevitable consequence of diabetes. The risk can be lessened significantly by following a few simple precautions:

1. Keep your blood sugar under control to help minimize cardiovascular and blood circulation problems.

2. Lose weight, don’t smoke and adhere to prescribed dietary, medication and exercise regimine. At least once a day, examine your feet for cuts and other small wounds you may not feel.

3. Never walk barefoot, outdoors and indoors and indoors.

4. Cut nails carefully- straight across and not too short; never trim corns and calluses yourself.

5. Wash your feet everyday in lukewarm water; dry carefully.

6. Choose comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes.

7. Wear clean, dry, non-bulky socks; change daily.

8. Shake pebbles or bits of gravel out of your shoes before wearing.

9. Seek treatment from a foot and ankle surgeon if minor cuts and sore spots don’t seem to be healing.

Call us today if you would like to introduce our podiatrists to your diabetic prevention team. 912-355-4557

Invest in a pair of commuter shoes- wear them while doing your long, hard and intense walking and save the high heels for the right time and place.When you wear heels, make sure they are stable. Many practitioners tend to steer patients toward a chunkier heel. A 2001 study reported that wide-heeled shoes increased peak knee varus torque as much if not nore than narrow-heeled shoes. The wider the heel, the safer and better. Slides are not the best since the top of your skeleton having to hyperextend backward and your foot being loaded with a lot of weight in the front, your toes have the extra job of gripping the shoe so it doesn’t go flying off.

In a study, overweight and flat feet women where shown to be more prone than others to stress fractures, neuromas, bunions, bone spurs and toe injuries. Patients should do exercises to relieve symptoms. Try placing an object such as a towel on the floor and picking it up with your toes and hold for 10 seconds.Try this with both feet. This will strengthen the foot’s small intrinsic muscles that do not get as much exercise due to shoe wear, but is an important stabilizer.

Please call us if you have an issues at 912-355-4557.

Wash feet daily.

Using mild soap and lukewarm water, wash your feet in the mornings or before bed each evening. dry carefully with a soft towel, especially between the toes, and dust your feet with talcum powder to wick away moisture. if the skin is dry, use a good moisturizing cream daily, but avoid getting it between the toes.

Inspect feet and toes daily.

Check your feet every day for cuts, bruises, sores or changes to the toenails, such as thickening or discoloration. If age or other factors hamper self-inspection, ask someone to help you, or use a mirror.

Lose weight.

People with diabetes are commonly overweight, which nearly doubles the risk of complications.

Wear thick soft socks.

Socks made of an acrylic blend are well suited, but avoid mended socks or those with seams, which could rub to cause blisters or other skin injuries.

Stop smoking.

Tobacco can contribute to circulatory problems, which can be especially troublesome in patients with diabetes.

Cut toe nails straight across.

Never cut into the corners, or taper, which could trigger an ingrown toenail. use an emery board to gently file away sharp corners or snags. if your nails are hard to trim, ask your podiatrist for assistance.

Exercise.

As a means to keep weight down and improve circulation, walking is one of the best all-around exercises for the diabetic patient. walking is also an excellent conditioner for your feet. be sure to wear appropriate athletic shoes when exercising. ask your podiatric physician what’s best for you.

See your podiatric physician.

Regular checkups by your podiatric physician—at least annually—are the best way to ensure that your feet remain healthy.

Be properly measured and fitted every time you buy new shoes.

Shoes are of supreme importance to diabetes sufferers because poorly fitted shoes are involved in as many as half of the problems that lead to amputations. because foot size and shape may change over time, everyone should have their feet measured by an experienced shoe fitter whenever they buy a new pair of shoes.

New shoes should be comfortable at the time they’re purchased and should not require a “break-in” period, though it’s a good idea to wear them for short periods of time at first. Shoes should have leather or canvas uppers, fit both the length and width of the foot, leave room for toes to wiggle freely, and be cushioned and sturdy.

Don’t go barefoot.

Not even in your own home. barefoot walking outside is particularly dangerous because of the possibility of cuts, falls, and infection. When at home, wear slippers. Never go barefoot.

Don’t wear high heels, sandals, and shoes with pointed toes.

These types of footwear can put undue pressure on parts of the foot and contribute to bone and joint disorders, as well as diabetic ulcers. in addition, open toed shoes and sandals with straps between the first two toes should also be avoided.

Don’t drink in excess.

Alcohol can contribute to neuropathy (nerve damage) which is one of the consequences of diabetes. Drinking can speed up the damage associated with the disease, deaden more nerves, and increase the possibility of overlooking a seemingly minor cut or injury.

Don’t wear anything that is too tight around the legs.

Panty hose, panty girdles, thigh-highs or knee-highs can constrict circulation to your legs and feet. So can men’s dress socks if the elastic is too tight.

Never try to remove calluses, corns or warts by yourself.

Commercial, over-the-counter preparations that remove warts or corns should be avoided because they can burn the skin and cause irreplaceable damage to the foot of a diabetic sufferer. Never try to cut calluses with a razor blade or any other instrument because the risk of cutting yourself is too high, and such wounds can often lead to more serious ulcers and lacerations. Call Atlantic Foot & Ankle Specialists at 912-355-4557, for assistance in these cases.

The three-year study, funded by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), is currently investigating the success rate of foot orthotics in the treatment of patients suffering from plantar heel pain—an ailment that many podiatrists are able to treat successfully with prescription orthotics. The study, which will focus on a total of 300 patients, ages 18-75, is also comparing prescription orthotics to over-the-counter, prefabricated insoles—another common recommendation for managing heel pain.

“We are trying to better understand how well custom foot orthotics prescribed by podiatric physicians compare with over-the-counter insoles and pre-fabricated insoles to reduce or eliminate heel pain, and improve a patient’s quality of life,” said Dr. James Wrobel, podiatrist and interim director of Scholl’s Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago.

Dr. Wrobel added that this research study is the first of its kind to measure how specific foot types, such as low and high arches, respond to certain specific treatments, including custom orthotics.

Prescription orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts that help to correct faulty foot function, or to remedy foot pain. Sometimes referred to as prescription “arch supports,” many podiatrists can measure a patient’s foot for an orthotic device in just minutes. The in-office process often includes either taking a cast mold of the patient’s foot or taking a digital image to obtain the patient’s distinct arch and heel pattern needed to fit the orthotics. After custom manufacturing, the finalized orthotic is fitted and dispensed to the patient with specific instructions for wear.

“Prescription foot orthotics are an important treatment that a podiatrist uses to help our patients recover from painful injuries and return to an active lifestyle,” said Dr. Ronald D. Jensen, APMA president. “Such as with many other prescribed medical treatments, it is vital that evidence-based, statistical data be gathered in a scientific environment to support the use of custom foot orthotics for patient care.”

Prescription foot orthotics, which often last several years before replacement is needed, customarily fall into three broad categories: those that primarily attempt to change foot function, those that are primarily protective in nature, and those that combine functional control and protection. They are often used as a conservative treatment by podiatrists before considering more intrusive means of correction, such as surgery.

Call 912-355-4557 today and ask how we can help with your feet.

Heel pain is a common condition. If you have ever experienced heel pain you know it hurts and is very painful. In fact it can even be debilitating. The fact is your feet day in and day out carry a heavy load. This heavy load when continually stressed can cause an irritation to the sensitive tissue of the foot and especially the heel. The worst mistake people make is that they ignore the pain at first and continue to resume their normal activities, which creates further injury and discomfort.

Diagnosis

Heel pain can be caused from a variety of conditions. It is important not to ignore your body. If it hurts see your doctor. Tell him or her where it hurts, when the pain started, what you were doing when the problem started, and how long it has been going on. The doctors at Atlantic Foot & Ankle Specialists have many different diagnostic tests that we can use to localize and diagnose the condition causing the heel pain.

Conditions Causing Heel Pain:
Localized bruise- Stepping on a sharp hard object like a rock can cause trauma to the fat pad under the heel. Usually this will resolve on its own after a few days.

Plantar fasciitis (subcalcaneal pain)- Over doing it during an exercise program or wearing improper shoe gear can inflame the tissue band (fascia) that connects the heel bone to the base of the toes. The pain is centered under your heel. You usually feel the pain especially after periods of rest.

Heel spur- When plantar fasciitis continues for a long time, a heel spur (calcium deposit) may develop. This is diagnosed with an x-ray.

Calcaneal apophysitis- In this condition, the center of the heel bone becomes irritated as a result of a new shoe or increased athletic activity. This pain occurs in the back of the heel, not the bottom. Calcaneal apophysitis is a common cause of heel pain in active, growing children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Bursitis- Bursitis means inflammation of a bursa, this is a sac that lines many joints and allows tendons and muscles to move easily when the joint is moving. In the heel, bursitis may cause pain at the underside or back of the heel.

Pump bump- This is an abnormal bony growth at the heel. It is especially common in young women, in whom it is often related to long-term bursitis caused by pressure from pump shoes.

Achilles tendonitis- In most cases, Achilles tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon) is triggered by overuse, especially by excessive jumping during sports. However, it also can be related to poorly fitting shoes if the upper back portion of the a shoe presses on the Achilles tendon right above the heel.

Trapped nerve- Compression of a small nerve ( a branch of the lateral plantar nerve) can cause pain, tingling, or numbness to the area of the heel.

IF YOU HAVE HEEL PAIN DON’T WORRY, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. DON’T ALLOW THE PAIN TO DEBILITATE YOU. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE EXPERTS HERE AT ATLANTIC FOOT & ANKLE SPECIALISTS SO WE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS AND PROVIDE THE CORRECT TREATMENT TO GET YOU BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN, PAIN FREE.

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF “The Answer To Your Heel Pain” at http://www.atlanticfeet.com/ or you can call: 1(888)398-9525

GET YOUR FREE BOOK TODAY! THE ANSWER TO YOUR HEEL PAIN. JUST VISIT WWW.ATLANTICFEET.COM OR CALL 1(888)398-9525.