Items filtered by date: June 2023

Having a corn on the foot can become quite painful, but luckily is easy to prevent. A foot corn is a thickening of the skin on the toes or on the bottom of the foot. It is usually the result of excessive pressure on the skin, often caused by improperly fitting shoes. While a corn itself is not painful, when it rubs against a nerve or bone in the toe or foot, it can become irritated and inflamed. Besides wearing shoes that are too tight, other causes of corns are seams in the shoes, hammertoes, bunions, and gait abnormalities. The most effective way to prevent corns is to change the type of footwear you buy. Once a corn has developed, finding ways to ease the pressure while wearing shoes is paramount. Shoes with ample room for the toes to move in and wearing corn pads can be effective in accomplishing this. Patients who have foot deformities may wish to investigate the benefits of having custom orthotics made that may help to prevent the ongoing formation of corns. For more information on managing corns on the feet, it is suggested that you visit a podiatrist.

Corns can make walking very painful and should be treated immediately. If you have questions regarding your feet and ankles, contact Dr. David Ungar of Personal Foot Care. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? And How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns are thickened areas on the skin that can become painful. They are caused by excessive pressure and friction on the skin. Corns press into the deeper layers of the skin and are usually round in shape.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as:

• Wearing properly fitting shoes that have been measured by a professional
• Wearing shoes that are not sharply pointed or have high heels
• Wearing only shoes that offer support

Treating Corns

Although most corns slowly disappear when the friction or pressure stops, this isn’t always the case. Consult with your podiatrist to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

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

Peripheral artery disease is a cardiovascular condition that can seriously affect the health of your feet. When fatty deposits build up in the arteries that serve the legs, the flow of blood to the feet and toes can be restricted. Common symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or PAD, include hair loss and weakness in the legs and feet, brittle or slow-growing toenails, and numbness in the lower extremities. One of the more serious results of PAD is the increased inability of sores or cuts on the feet and ankles to heal normally. If these wounds are not noticed or left unattended, they can become ulcerous. This is a common side effect of diabetes as the result of high levels of blood sugar. Foot ulcers can become gangrenous and increase the danger of losing a limb. Eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and drinking, along with losing weight can all help to reduce the effects of peripheral artery disease. For help with this condition as it affects the feet, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist. 

Peripheral artery disease can pose a serious risk to your health. It can increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, consult with Dr. David Ungar from Personal Foot Care. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is when arteries are constricted due to plaque (fatty deposits) build-up. This results in less blood flow to the legs and other extremities. The main cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up in the arteries.

Symptoms

Symptoms of PAD include:

• Claudication (leg pain from walking)
• Numbness in legs
• Decrease in growth of leg hair and toenails
• Paleness of the skin
• Erectile dysfunction
• Sores and wounds on legs and feet that won’t heal
• Coldness in one leg

It is important to note that a majority of individuals never show any symptoms of PAD.

Diagnosis

While PAD occurs in the legs and arteries, Podiatrists can diagnose PAD. Podiatrists utilize a test called an ankle-brachial index (ABI). An ABI test compares blood pressure in your arm to you ankle to see if any abnormality occurs. Ultrasound and imaging devices may also be used.

Treatment

Fortunately, lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and quitting smoking, can all treat PAD. Medications that prevent clots from occurring can be prescribed. Finally, in some cases, surgery may be recommended.

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

The nerve found between the third and fourth toes can be affected by a foot condition known as Morton’s neuroma. This is an ailment that compresses or irritates the nerve and is considered to be benign. The majority of patients who develop Morton’s neuroma have severe pain and discomfort, and it can be difficult to walk. Morton's neuroma may be common in women who frequently wear high heels. These types of shoes have limited room in the toe area and this can cause the toes to shift toward each other, affecting the nerve. The pain is often felt in the ball of the foot and can be noticed while standing and walking. Additionally, a burning or tingling sensation can affect the toes, and it may feel like there is a small pebble in the shoe or sock. If you have pain in this area of your foot, it is suggested that you seek the counsel of a podiatrist who can perform a diagnosis and offer the proper treatment options.

Morton’s neuroma is a very uncomfortable condition to live with. If you think you have Morton’s neuroma, contact Dr. David Ungar of Personal Foot Care. Our doctor will attend to all of your foot care needs and answer any of your related questions.  

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful foot condition that commonly affects the areas between the second and third or third and fourth toe, although other areas of the foot are also susceptible. Morton’s neuroma is caused by an inflamed nerve in the foot that is being squeezed and aggravated by surrounding bones.

What Increases the Chances of Having Morton’s Neuroma?

• Ill-fitting high heels or shoes that add pressure to the toe or foot
• Jogging, running or any sport that involves constant impact to the foot
• Flat feet, bunions, and any other foot deformities

Morton’s neuroma is a very treatable condition. Orthotics and shoe inserts can often be used to alleviate the pain on the forefront of the feet. In more severe cases, corticosteroids can also be prescribed. In order to figure out the best treatment for your neuroma, it’s recommended to seek the care of a podiatrist who can diagnose your condition and provide different treatment options.

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

Any runner knows that preventing a running injury by looking after the health of the feet is an essential part of being a good runner. One way in which a runner can do this is by performing balance enhancing stretches. For example, to improve balance, a runner may consider performing a single leg balance stretch and squat. During this stretch, a runner stands on one leg while slowly and squatting repeatedly. By doing this stretch, a runner can essentially improve the extent to which they land evenly on each foot while running. If you are a runner looking to prevent the onset of running injuries, then it is suggested that you confer with a podiatrist today for advice and possible treatment.

All runners should take extra precaution when trying to avoid injury. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. David Ungar of Personal Foot Care. Our doctor 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 Farmington, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.