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Posts for: July, 2020
While tight, cramped shoes and those towering high heels may not immediately show you the damage that’s being done to your feet, over time you will certainly notice changes in the structure and function of your feet. Along with bunions, a common foot deformity, hammertoes are another deformity that causes the toes to bend downward at the middle joint. If the problem isn’t corrected, this simple and rather uncomfortable deformity can become severe. Here’s how to determine whether you may have hammertoes and what you can do about it now to prevent it from getting worse.Wear Appropriate Footwear
You need to make sure that any shoes you wear properly fit your feet. While this might sound silly, many people are guilty of wearing shoes that are too narrow and put too much pressure on the toes. Look for shoes with a wide toe box that allows your feet enough room to wiggle freely. If your toes are bunched up in any of the shoes you have (particularly high heels or shoes with pointed toes) then you will want to avoid these types of shoes whenever possible.
Consider Shoe Inserts
While it’s important to find shoes that cushion and support your foot structure, sometimes people with hammertoes, bunions, and other foot problems that can cause pain can benefit from prescription shoe inserts (also known as orthotics). Orthotics can be crafted to fit the shape of your feet and also to address the issues you’re having (aka alleviating pressure on the toes when standing or walking).
Apply Protective Padding
A hammertoe causes the toe to bend down like a claw. This means that the toe’s joint is sticking out. As you may already know, this causes shoes to rub against the joint, causing a callus to develop. One way to prevent this from happening is to apply a non-medicated pad over the toe joint before putting on shoes.
Practice Pain Management
If your hammertoe starts to ache or hurt, you may want to apply ice to the area throughout the day to help alleviate pain and swelling. If the pain is intense or persistent then you may want to consider taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, which can help with both pain and swelling; however, if your symptoms are severe, you must see a podiatrist about your hammertoe.
Do I need surgery for a hammertoe?
If the hammertoe is flexible (meaning that you can straighten the toe out) then you won’t need surgery; however, if the hammertoe becomes rigid and causes pain and problems with mobility then surgery is recommended.
If you are dealing with hammertoes or other foot problems, you must have a podiatrist that you can turn to for regular and immediate care.
If you’re dealing with a bunion then you know that this pain is no joke. If you’re dealing with a throbbing, aching pain at the base of your big toe then you could very well be dealing with a bunion. This problem, a common complaint among women, usually develops gradually over many years so many people don’t even realize that they have a bunion until symptoms start to appear. While a bunion will not go away without surgery, the good news is that a podiatrist is usually all you need to manage your symptoms without resorting to surgery. Here are some ways to effectively manage your bunions:- Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to help with pain and swelling
- Ice the bunion for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day to also alleviate pain and swelling (conversely, you may choose to soak your bunion in warm water to ease symptoms)
- Consider getting prescription orthotics (shoe inserts) to place within your shoes to take the pressure off the deformed joint and to reduce pain with walking or standing
- Wear a night splint, which will straighten out the big toe while you sleep to reduce morning pain and stiffness
- Only wear shoes that have a wide toe box that doesn’t put pressure on the bunion. Avoid high heels and shoes with pointed toes.
- Perform stretching exercises every day to alleviate stiffness and to improve mobility and range of motion within the feet
- Apply a non-medicated pad over the bunion before putting on shoes to prevent friction and the formation of a callus
Conservative treatment is typically the first course of action when treating a bunion. A patient will go through this home care plan to see if it alleviates their symptoms; however, if symptoms persist or get worse then it’s time to see your podiatrist. Your podiatrist will be able to examine the bunion to determine the severity and to create a treatment plan that will help you manage your pain.
Should I consider bunion surgery?
Most patients won’t require bunion surgery to manage their symptoms; however, if your bunion pain is severe, the deformity is large, or if conservative and nonsurgical care isn’t helping you manage your symptoms then it may be time to talk with your podiatrist about whether or not you should get bunion surgery.
Worried that you might be dealing with a bunion? Experiencing regular bunion pain? If so, a foot and ankle professional can assess the problem and provide you with a customized treatment plan to help you get your bunion pain under control.
By South Jersey Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC
July 07, 2020
Category:
Foot Care
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Plantar Fasciitis
The majority of individuals who suffer from plantar fasciitis completely recover in a couple of months using conservative at-home remedies, which includes resting, stretching, icing, and taking OTC pain medications. All these can help relieve inflammation and pain from plantar fasciitis. To further reduce your symptoms, you can likewise consider:
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Opting for low-impact exercises or sports.
- Wearing supportive shoes and replacing them when needed.
If these conservative treatments fail to ease your pain, you can consult with Dr. Jeffrey Belancio, our Vineland NJ Foot Doctor here at South Jersey Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC in Vineland, NJ, for expert treatment.
Basic Therapies for Plantar Fasciitis
Exercises that strengthen and stretch the plantar fascia, or those that utilize special tools, can help alleviate your pain. These include:
- Night Splint: This is worn for stretching the affected foot arch and calf during sleep. It functions by holding your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in an elongated position to promote safe stretching.
- Physical Therapy: Your physical therapist could show you proper exercises for stretching your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia and strengthen the muscles in your lower leg.
- Orthotic Devices: Your Vineland NJ Foot Doctor may prescribe custom-made orthotics or arch supports to help allocate the pressure to your affected foot more evenly.
Surgery and Other Procedures for Plantar Fasciitis
If conservative therapies fail to work after several months of treatment, your Vineland NJ Foot Doctor may recommend the following:
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment: During the procedure, sound waves will be directed at the site of your pain to promote healing. This is typically utilized for treating chronic plantar fasciitis.
- Injections: Steroid medications offer temporary relief from pain. Likewise, with the use of ultrasound imaging, PRP, or platelet-rich plasma sourced from your blood is injected to stimulate tissue healing.
- Surgery: Some people might require surgery to separate their heel bone from their plantar fascia. This is usually recommended for cases that don’t respond to other therapies.
- Ultrasonic Tissue Repair: This procedure utilizes ultrasound imaging for guiding an ultra-thin probe into your damaged tissues. The tip of this probe will vibrate quickly, breaking up the tissue that is then suctioned out.
Need Relief from Plantar Fascia, Talk to Us
Schedule your visit with your Vineland NJ Foot Doctor here in South Jersey Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC in Vineland, NJ, Dr. Jeffrey Belancio, by dialing (856) 839-0579.