Items filtered by date: May 2022

Tuesday, 31 May 2022 00:00

Dealing With Heel Spurs

Many runners end up with heel spurs, often as the result of repetitive pounding on hard surfaces. A heel spur, also known as a calcaneal spur, is a bony protrusion on the underside of the calcaneus bone of the heel. Plantar fasciitis sometimes damages the membrane that covers the heel bone, making it more likely for heel spurs to form. Although heel spurs can become quite painful, many people develop them over time without knowing it. In general, it is not a heel spur itself, but damage to its surrounding tissue that causes the pain. Common causes of heel spurs include overstretching the plantar fascia, damage to foot muscles and ligaments, and wearing shoes that lack proper cushioning or arch support. Many nonsurgical treatments successfully reduce the pain, including cortisone injections, taping, custom orthotics, exercises, and replacing footwear. If your heel pain persists, it is a good idea to consult a podiatrist for an examination, a diagnosis, and an appropriate treatment. 

Heel spurs can be incredibly painful and sometimes may make you unable to participate in physical activities. To get medical care for your heel spurs, contact one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will do everything possible to treat your condition.

Heels Spurs

Heel spurs are formed by calcium deposits on the back of the foot where the heel is. This can also be caused by small fragments of bone breaking off one section of the foot, attaching onto the back of the foot. Heel spurs can also be bone growth on the back of the foot and may grow in the direction of the arch of the foot.

Older individuals usually suffer from heel spurs and pain sometimes intensifies with age. One of the main condition's spurs are related to is plantar fasciitis.

Pain

The pain associated with spurs is often because of weight placed on the feet. When someone is walking, their entire weight is concentrated on the feet. Bone spurs then have the tendency to affect other bones and tissues around the foot. As the pain continues, the feet will become tender and sensitive over time.

Treatments

There are many ways to treat heel spurs. If one is suffering from heel spurs in conjunction with pain, there are several methods for healing. Medication, surgery, and herbal care are some options.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in Oradell, NJ . We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technology to meet your needs.

Read more about Heel Spurs
Tuesday, 24 May 2022 00:00

Gout Is a Form of Arthritis

Gout is an extremely painful form of arthritis. The pain and discomfort that many gout patients experience are the result of uric acid crystals that are caught between the joints of the feet. The big toe is generally affected by gout, and the pain that is associated with this condition can be debilitating. Gout may develop from genetic factors, or from eating foods that contain high levels of purines. These types of foods and drinks include red meat, shellfish, excess alcohol, and drinks that are made with large amounts of sugar. It is important to eat foods that are healthy and to engage in a regular exercise regime that may help to prevent painful gout attacks. Additionally, when blood pressure and weight are kept at a normal range, gout attacks may be reduced. Relief also may be found when adequate rest is gotten daily and the weight of blankets and sheets is kept off of the affected foot. If you suffer from gout, please seek the counsel of a podiatrist who can effectively treat this condition.

Gout is a foot condition that requires certain treatment and care. If you are seeking treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. It often develops in the foot, especially the big toe area, although it can manifest in other parts of the body as well. Gout can make walking and standing very painful and is especially common in diabetics and the obese.

People typically get gout because of a poor diet. Genetic predisposition is also a factor. The children of parents who have had gout frequently have a chance of developing it themselves.

Gout can easily be identified by redness and inflammation of the big toe and the surrounding areas of the foot. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, joint pain, and running high fevers. Sometimes corticosteroid drugs can be prescribed to treat gout, but the best way to combat this disease is to get more exercise and eat a better diet.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Oradell, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about Everything You Need to Know About Gout

There are many people who have busy schedules which can make it difficult to practice adequate warm up and cool down stretches before running. It is important to make time to properly stretch before and after running, as this may help to prevent running injuries. Beneficial changes that can help to avoid injuries consist of improving form by maintaining good posture, and practicing correct training procedures. Research has shown it helps to gradually increase mileage and speed, and it is important to stay hydrated and to eat enough protein. Additionally, when one day per week is taken off from running, it can help to give the body adequate time to rest. If you have questions about how running injuries can affect the feet and how to avoid them, please consult with a podiatrist. 

All runners should take extra precaution when trying to avoid injury. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

There are a lot of mistakes a runner can make prior to a workout that can induce injury. A lot of athletes tend to overstretch before running, instead of saving those workouts for a post-run routine. Deep lunges and hand-to-toe hamstring pulls should be performed after a workout instead of during a warmup. Another common mistake is jumping into an intense routine before your body is physically prepared for it. You should try to ease your way into long-distance running instead of forcing yourself to rush into it.

More Tips for Preventing Injury

  • Incorporate Strength Training into Workouts - This will help improve the body’s overall athleticism
  • Improve and Maintain Your Flexibility – Stretching everyday will help improve overall performance
  • “Warm Up” Before Running and “Cool Down” Afterward – A warm up of 5-10 minutes helps get rid of lactic acid in the muscles and prevents delayed muscle soreness
  • Cross-Training is Crucial
  • Wear Proper Running Shoes
  • Have a Formal Gait Analysis – Poor biomechanics can easily cause injury

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Oradell, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Preventing Running Injuries
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 00:00

Do You Suffer From Painful Feet?

Painful deformities, such as hammertoes, can be treated. Stop living with foot pain, and have beautiful feet again!

Diabetics are at risk for neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, which can create many foot problems including dry skin, cracks in the feet/heels, and foot ulcers. Since neuropathy involves loss of sensation in the feet, someone who is afflicted may not feel or notice problems developing on their feet. Foot ulcers can occur due to an increase in stress on the feet (stress from overuse or shoes that do not fit properly), impaired skin, limited joint mobility causing abnormal walking patterns, as well as injury to the foot. It is said that PAD can reduce blood flow to the skin, which may compromise its biomechanical properties, reduce its ability to heal wounds, damage its immune system, and possibly lead to severe infections. Foot sores that are left unnoticed can become infected, and in severe cases, this could lead to gangrene and amputation. It is important to see a podiatrist for regular foot care, especially if you notice sores on your feet or are diabetic. 

Limb salvage can be an effective way in preventing the need for limb amputation. If you have diabetes, cancer, or any other condition that could lead to foot amputation if left unchecked, consult with one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Limb Salvage?

Limb salvage is the attempt of saving a limb, such as the foot from amputation. Podiatrists also try to make sure that there is enough function in the foot after the salvage that it is still usable. Diabetes is the number one cause of non-traumatic amputations in the United States. Those with diabetes experience poor blood circulation, which prevents proper healing of an ulcer. If the ulcer is left uncheck, it could become infected, which could result in the need for amputation.

However, there are other causes as well, such as cancer and traumatic injury. Links between higher mortality rates and amputation have been found. This translates into higher healthcare costs, and a reduced quality of life and mobility for amputees. Podiatrists have attempted to increase the prevalence of limb salvage in an attempt to solve these issues.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Limb salvage teams have grown in recent years that utilize a number of different treatments to save the infected limb. This includes podiatrists that specialize in wound care, rehabilitation, orthotics, and surgery. Through a combination of these methods, limb salvage has been found to be an effective treatment for infected limbs, and as an alternative to amputation. Podiatrists will first evaluate the potential for limb salvage and determine if the limb can be saved or must be amputated. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Oradell, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Limb Salvage
Tuesday, 03 May 2022 00:00

Big Toe Arthritis Relief

Arthritis in the first metatarsal phalangeal (MTP) or big toe joint is common, particularly as one begins to age. We use our feet to get us through life and normal walking, other movements, and wearing high heeled or improperly fitting shoes can stress the main joint of the big toe. Osteoarthritis or Hallux Rigidus is the most common arthritic condition affecting this joint and it can be quite painful and limit movement. The big toe may also become stiff and swollen. The best treatment for this condition is a fusion of the joint. The procedure fuses or welds together the two bones that make up the aching joint. It does not make the toe less stiff or restore motion, but it relieves the pain. An alternative procedure is a joint replacement of the big toe, but it is not ideal because the use of metal and plastic has not been successful in this type of joint replacement. It is not predictable in relieving pain, and repeated force on the joint with each step makes it less long-lasting than bigger joints, like the knee and hip. Options for treatment of a failed replacement are limited and may be replaced with bone grafting and joint fusion. If you suffer from pain in the joints of the big toe, consult with a podiatrist for the best treatment plan for you.

In certain cases, in which the patient suffers from extreme pain or damage in a joint, joint replacement surgery may be deemed useful. If you have constant pain in a foot joint, consult with one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Joint Replacement Surgery?

Over time, joints wear down; this can be exacerbated by diseases and conditions. Joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is when a damaged joint is surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Prostheses, which can be made of ceramic, plastic, or metal, act as joints in lieu of an actual joint. One of the most prevalent causes for joint replacement is arthritis.

Arthritis in the Foot

Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, including in the feet. Common types of arthritis in the foot are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. The big toe is usually where arthritis occurs in the foot; this is known as hallux rigidus.

Joint Replacement Surgery in the Foot

The most common form of joint replacement in the foot is a first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint placement. MTP joint replacement surgery is designed to treat hallux rigidus. Surgery is not intensive, and recovery occurs within one to two months after the procedure has been done. Overall, joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective way to treat pain in the joint of the foot.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Oradell, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Joint Replacement Surgery

Connect With Us

Book Online