Items filtered by date: January 2021

Friday, 29 January 2021 00:00

Gout Pain Can Be Managed

Gout is a painful, inflammatory form of arthritis. Those affected will typically feel an intense stiffness in the joints of their feet, particularly in the big toe. Schedule a visit to learn about how gout can be managed and treated.

A hammertoe is a deformity of the smaller toes that cause them to bend downwards at the middle joint. The deformed joint may make it painful to move the affected toes, and the odd shape of the toes can cause them to rub against the inside of your shoes, leading to the development of corns and calluses. Nonsurgical treatments, such as wearing shoes with a wider toe box, using orthotic devices, padding corns and calluses, and taking anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain, can be very helpful. However, in more severe cases, surgery may be necessary. There are two main types of hammertoe surgery. During an arthroplasty, the surgeon removes small parts of the bones on either side of the toe’s middle joint, which helps straighten the toe. During an arthrodesis, the surgeon fuses the small joint in the affected toe. This will straighten the toe, but you will not be able to bend the toe again. For more information about hammertoes, and to find the right treatment for you, please consult with a podiatrist.

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact Gary J. Kaiserman, DPM of Achilles Footcare Center. Our doctor will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. It can be caused by the type of shoes you wear, your foot structure, trauma, and certain disease processes.

Symptoms

  • Painful and/or difficult toe movement
  • Swelling
  • Joint stiffness
  • Calluses/Corns
  • Physical deformity

Risk Factors

  • Age – The risk of hammertoe increases with age
  • Sex – Women are more likely to have hammertoe compared to men
  • Toe Length – You are more likely to develop hammertoe if your second toe is longer than your big toe
  • Certain Diseases – Arthritis and diabetes may make you more likely to develop hammertoe

Treatment

If you have hammertoe, you should change into a more comfortable shoe that provides enough room for your toes. Exercises such as picking up marbles may strengthen and stretch your toe muscles. Nevertheless, it is important to seek assistance from a podiatrist in order to determine the severity of your hammertoe and see which treatment option will work best for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Forest Lane and West Kiest Boulevard Dallas, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about What Are Hammertoes?
Monday, 18 January 2021 00:00

Recovering From a Broken Toe

Broken toes occur as a result of trauma to the affected toe from situations such as stubbing the toe, dropping something heavy on it, or injuring it while playing a sport. The first step to recovering from a broken toe is recognition.  Unlike other toe injuries, a broken toe will typically cause immediate, severe pain that does not go away for a prolonged period of time. You may also sometimes hear the bone break at the time of injury. Other symptoms of a broken toe include throbbing pain, swelling, bruising, stiffness, difficulty bearing weight, or the toe sticking out in an unnatural position. If you have any of these symptoms, a podiatrist can examine your toe and order an X-ray, which is used to diagnose the broken toe bone. Treatment options for broken toes will vary based on the severity of the break, but may include stabilizing or immobilizing the broken toe, resting and icing it, wearing a cast, or surgery. 

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Gary J. Kaiserman, DPM from Achilles Footcare Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

  • Throbbing pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising on the skin and toenail
  • The inability to move the toe
  • Toe appears crooked or disfigured
  • Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Forest Lane and West Kiest Boulevard Dallas, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about What to Know About a Broken Toe
Monday, 11 January 2021 00:00

Why Might Someone Need Foot Surgery?

Foot surgery may be necessary for a variety of conditions when nonsurgical methods do not yield results or when the condition is severe. Depending on what is causing it and its severity, chronic foot pain may require surgery. A foot injury, such as a fracture or ruptured Achilles tendon may require surgery as well. Foot deformities, including bunions, hammertoes, and bone spurs may need to be surgically corrected if they cause significant symptoms and conservative treatment methods are ineffective. Other conditions that could warrant surgery include arthritis and neuromas. If you are experiencing foot pain, it is recommended that you consult with a podiatrist who can help find the right treatment for you.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact Gary J. Kaiserman, DPM of Achilles Footcare Center. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

  • Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
  • Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
  • Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

  • Bunionectomy for painful bunions
  • Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
  • Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Forest Lane and West Kiest Boulevard Dallas, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about Foot Surgery
Monday, 04 January 2021 00:00

The Three Types of Athlete's Foot

Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection of the skin of the feet. It can cause symptoms such as red, flaky, peeling or cracking skin on the feet, itching, blistering, and a red, scaly rash. There are three types of athlete’s foot. Interdigital athlete’s foot occurs between the toes, often affecting the area between the two smallest toes. Moccasin athlete’s foot starts on the sole of the foot and causes the skin there to thicken and crack before the infection spreads further up the foot. Vesicular athlete’s foot is characterized by the appearance of fluid-filled blisters on the sole of the foot. If you have athlete’s foot, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist for treatment.

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Gary J. Kaiserman, DPM from Achilles Footcare Center.  Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

  • Hydrate your feet by using lotion
  • Exfoliate
  • Buff off nails
  • Use of anti-fungal products
  • Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Forest Lane and West Kiest Boulevard Dallas, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about How to Deal with Athlete's Foot

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