Items filtered by date: April 2021

People with diabetes often have high blood glucose levels, which can lead to nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system—which is responsible for movement and sensation in your limbs. When the damaged peripheral nerves do not function properly, cuts, sores or blisters on the feet may not be noticeable—which may lead to ulcers, infection, or in worst cases, amputation. While high glucose levels due to diabetes is a leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, high blood pressure, excess weight, and high triglycerides can also elevate your risk. Contact a podiatrist if your feet or toes feel numb or are insensitive to heat or cold—or if they are tingling, burning, or throbbing. With a proper diagnosis and professional care, you will be better positioned to manage peripheral neuropathy and prevent further damage to your nerves.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with Mark Hupart, DPM  from Southside Podiatry . Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

• Numbness
• Sensation loss
• Prickling and tingling sensations
• Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
• Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

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

Ingrown toenails are often relatively harmless and heal on their own. Conservative treatment methods such as wearing roomier shoes and soaking the feet in warm water is usually enough to relieve pain and heal the nail. However, some ingrown toenails can be severe, become infected, or can frequently recur. In these cases, surgery may be suggested. Acute inflammation or infection may be treated by surgically removing a small portion of the ingrown nail. In very severe cases, where the toenail has become very deformed or severely infected, the entire nail may need to be removed. If you are prone to ingrown toenails, or have an ingrown nail that you suspect is infected, please consult with a podiatrist to find the right treatment for you. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Mark Hupart, DPM of Southside Podiatry . Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

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

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells in the joints, causing joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and degeneration. While RA can affect any part of the body, it frequently affects the small joints of the feet and ankles. During RA flare ups, symptoms of this disease can worsen and impact your ability to participate in activities of daily living. During a flare up, it is suggested that you rest more, if possible, to reduce pain. Doing gentle exercises, such as simple stretches, water exercises, and walking, can help prevent joint stiffness. Applying a hot or cold pack to your joints may help decrease pain and swelling. If you have RA that affects your feet, a podiatrist can assist you in managing this condition.

Because RA affects more than just your joints, including the joints in your feet and ankles, it is important to seek early diagnosis from your podiatrist if you feel like the pain in your feet might be caused by RA. For more information, contact Mark Hupart, DPM of Southside Podiatry . Our doctor will assist you with all of your podiatric concerns.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks the membranes surrounding the joints. Inflammation of the lining and eventually the destruction of the joint’s cartilage and bone occur, causing severe pain and immobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Feet

Although RA usually attacks multiple bones and joints throughout the entire body, almost 90 percent of cases result in pain in the foot or ankle area.

Symptoms

• Swelling and pain in the feet
• Stiffness in the feet
• Pain on the ball or sole of feet
• Joint shift and deformation

Diagnosis

Quick diagnosis of RA in the feet is important so that the podiatrist can treat the area effectively. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, occupation, and lifestyle to determine the origin of the condition. Rheumatoid Factor tests help to determine if someone is affected by the disease.

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

Plantar warts are small growths that develop on parts of the feet that bear weight. They're typically found on the bottom of the foot. Don't live with plantar warts, and call us today!

Doing exercises that strengthen your feet is an important part of good foot care, especially if you are an athlete. Weaker feet are more prone to injuries such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, neuromas, and stress fractures. Fortunately, incorporating foot strengthening exercises into your daily routine can be fairly easy. One simple exercise that you can do is the toe lift. To do this, stand with your feet flat on the floor. Slowly raise the big toe of one foot while keeping the other toes on the floor. Then switch, raising your little toes while keeping your big toe on the floor. Repeat on the opposite foot. This exercise helps strengthen the muscles that stabilize your foot and maintain and support your arches. To learn more about foot exercises, please speak with a podiatrist.  

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries and build strength. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Mark Hupart, DPM from Southside Podiatry . Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Exercise for Your Feet

Exercise for your feet can help you gain strength, mobility and flexibility in your feet. They say that strengthening your feet can be just as rewarding as strengthening another part of the body. Your feet are very important, and we often forget about them in our daily tasks. But it is because of our feet that are we able to get going and do what we need to. For those of us fortunate enough to not have any foot problems, it is an important gesture to take care of them to ensure good health in the long run.

Some foot health exercises can include ankle pumps, tip-toeing, toe rises, lifting off the floor doing reps and sets, and flexing the toes. It is best to speak with Our doctor to determine an appropriate regimen for your needs. Everyone’s needs and bodies are different, and the activities required to maintain strength in the feet vary from individual to individual. 

Once you get into a routine of doing regular exercise, you may notice a difference in your feet and how strong they may become.

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