Gout is a form of arthritis that causes intense joint pain, inflammation, and redness. The condition is caused by an accumulation of uric acid. Gout typically strikes the big toe joints, knees, ankles, and insteps. Should a gout attack occur, professional care can dramatically alleviate the agony of an attack. Some steps that can help avoid an attack include maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding foods like red meat, red wine, beer, shellfish, limiting alcohol intake, and drinking plenty of fluids.

Many medical conditions that affect the body's joints cause damage to your feet. Although as your podiatrist I do not treat the underlying medical condition, I do work closely with your primary care physician to provide care and catch problems early.

P.S. More than 2 million American suffer from gout.

An ingrown toenail develops when the nail’s edge grows into the skin of the toe. The skin surrounding the toenail can become infected and is often red, swollen, and very tender. Ingrown toenails can occur on any toe but usually affect the big toes. The tendency to get ingrown toenails is inherited but improperly trimmed nails or poorly fitting shoes can lead to ingrown toenails as well.

In chronic or more severe cases of ingrown toenails an in-office procedure can be performed to make it so that the ingrown portion of the nail will not grow back. Your toe will be numb for the 15-30 minute procedure and you will be able to resume most of your normal activities right away. Feel free to call for an appointment today if you are suffering with an ingrown toenail.

P.S. To prevent ingrown toenails, cut nails straight across without tapering the corners.