Items filtered by date: March 2022
See Your Podiatrist Regularly If You Work On Your Feet
Do you work on your feet all day and find your feet in pain? Don't go to work in pain each day. Your foot pain can be treated, and we can help.
The Danger of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Some diabetic patients, roughly 15 percent, develop what is known as foot ulcers. The main cause is that their feet become numb, and they may not notice sores or open wounds on the bottom of their feet. When these sores fail to heal properly or become infected, they can lead to severe consequences, including amputation. Risk factors include smoking, insulin dependence, weight problems, ill-fitting footwear, high cholesterol and poor hygiene. Symptoms of diabetic foot ulcers are discoloration of toes and toenails, pain and redness, blisters, sores, calluses, pus or fluid discharge, and foul odor emanating from the feet. If diabetic foot ulcers have developed on your feet, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as possible for an examination and ongoing treatment plan.
Diabetic foot care is important in preventing foot ailments such as ulcers. If you are suffering from diabetes or have any other concerns about your feet, contact Ramin Nadjafi, DPM from Advanced Podiatry Group. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes affects millions of people every year. The condition can damage blood vessels in many parts of the body, especially the feet. Because of this, taking care of your feet is essential if you have diabetes, and having a podiatrist help monitor your foot health is highly recommended.
The Importance of Caring for Your Feet
- Routinely inspect your feet for bruises or sores.
- Wear socks that fit your feet comfortably.
- Wear comfortable shoes that provide adequate support.
Patients with diabetes should have their doctor monitor their blood levels, as blood sugar levels play such a huge role in diabetic care. Monitoring these levels on a regular basis is highly advised.
It is always best to inform your healthcare professional of any concerns you may have regarding your feet, especially for diabetic patients. Early treatment and routine foot examinations are keys to maintaining proper health, especially because severe complications can arise if proper treatment is not applied.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Orlando, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Why Do I Have Nighttime Pain In My Feet?
There are several conditions that cause foot pain that worsens in the evening or interrupts sleep. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing musculoskeletal pain, burning, tenderness, and tightness which often occurs in the feet. These symptoms can be worse in the evening due to decreased levels of cortisol. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the tibial nerve in your ankle becomes compressed, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or a pins and needles sensation in your feet that may flare up at night. Bony bunions that get irritated rubbing against shoes during the day are often sore at night and throb. Peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves outside of the central nervous system) can cause painful sensations such as tingling, burning or sharp pains, which tend to intensify due to cooler nighttime temperatures. If you are experiencing any type of nighttime pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles, it is suggested that you get your condition diagnosed and treated by a podiatrist.
Foot Pain
Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Ramin Nadjafi, DPM from Advanced Podiatry Group. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Causes
Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Bone Spurs
- Corns
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Ingrown Toenails
- Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
- Flat Feet
- Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
- And more
Diagnosis
To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Orlando, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Can I Run After Foot or Ankle Surgery?
Runners, especially those who run long distances regularly, often get injured. Serious injuries can lead to surgery, either on the foot or the ankle. The question of when you can safely resume running depends on the type of injury and the site of the surgery. For anyone who has had a total ankle joint replacement, for instance, running will most likely be prohibited. As for other injuries, you may not be able to reach the previous levels or length or frequency of running you once enjoyed. As a rule, it takes about one year to fully recover from major foot surgery, because of swelling, gait asymmetry, and reduced muscle strength. Eventually, you may be able to ease back into activity, if you run only on soft surfaces and wear shoes that adequately cushion your feet. To be on the safe side, it is a good idea to check in frequently with a podiatrist who can evaluate your healing progress and guide you on how far and how often you can safely run again.
Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Ramin Nadjafi, DPM of Advanced Podiatry Group. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.
How to Prevent Running Injuries
Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.
What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.
Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Orlando, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Read more about How to Prevent Running InjuriesWhat Is Wound Debridement?
A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a type of wound that can develop on the lower limbs of people with diabetes. These wounds typically heal slowly and poorly and are at an increased risk of becoming infected. Sometimes debridement is necessary to treat a DFU. Debridement is the process of removing dead or damaged skin, tissue, and debris from a wound to help it heal. During debridement, the podiatrist will clean and disinfect the wound, then probe it with a metal instrument to check how deep the wound is and if there are any foreign objects in it. The podiatrist will then cut away dead tissues and wash out the DFU. This is generally done under local or general anesthesia. Not all debridement involves cutting away dead tissues. Depending on the needs of the patient, it may also be possible to debride the wound with special enzymes, dressings, and more. If you have DFUs, it is suggested that you are under the care of a podiatrist.
Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with Ramin Nadjafi, DPM from Advanced Podiatry Group. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
What Is Wound Care?
Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic.
What Is the Importance of Wound Care?
While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.
How to Care for Wounds
The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Orlando, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
