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Posts for tag: Podiatrist

By Foot & Ankle Centers, PC
April 30, 2015
Category: Ingrown Toenails

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.

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By Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville
April 23, 2015
Category: Heel Pain

Is your first step out of bed painful? Do your heels hurt after you've been sitting for a while? If so, the likely cause of your heel pain is a condition known as plantar fascitis. This condition is caused by an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the strip of strong body tissue extending from the bottom of the heel bone to the ball of the foot. It's job is to hold the foot bones and joints in place. When it becomes stressed, the heels hurt during your first few steps in the morning, after any periods of rest, or long intervals of standing. Plantar fascitis can result in heel spurs, which are small pieces of bone that can grow on the bottom of your heel. The cause of plantar fascitis is not always known but common causes can be changes in activity or recent weight gain.

Some of the common treatments to relieve heel pain may include steroid injections, strapping, stretching exercises, and custom made orthotics. Your feet aren't supposed to hurt and there are ways to alleviate your discomfort. Please call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville for an appointment.

P.S. Causes of heel pain other than plantar fascitis could include stress fractures, entrapped nerves, bruises, bursitis, arthritis, deterioration of the heel's fat pad, improper shoes, and weight gain.

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By Foot & Ankle Centers, PC
December 29, 2014
Category: Foot Care
Maintaining healthy feet and legs is a must-have for anyone, but especially for athletes.
 
Whether you’re an avid runner or your child plays high school football, being active is a wonderful way to stay fit and healthy. While sports have its obvious advantages, there are also some cons to these otherwise fun activities. Sometimes injuries occur during the heat of the game and you need someone to turn to who can help treat your foot, ankle or leg problems. That’s where your Nashville sports podiatrist comes in.
 

What kinds of problems do you treat?

We offer a full range of podiatric treatments in Nashville, so we treat everything from Achilles tendonitis and sprains to Athlete’s foot, bunions and fractures. When you come in with a sports-related injury, the first thing we will do is run certain physical tests to check your lower limb function and to see where your pain originates. We will check your posture and alignment and determine if there are any structural imbalances. We will also obtain proper imaging to assist in diagnosing your problem (i.e. x-rays, MRI, CT Scan). From there we will provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan.
 

How do you treat sports-related injuries?

Since there are some many different diagnoses, it’s difficult to tell you exactly what treatment would work best for you and your foot problems; however, here are some of the standard rules of treatment that we tend to follow:
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Orthotics
  • Physical therapy
  • Alternative therapies
  • Surgery

Here is some advice we recommend athlete’s take seriously if they want to stay in the game and off the bench:

Check your shoes: make sure your athletic shoes have good support and fit properly. If you’re involved in high-impact sports, you want a shoe that can really provide sturdy protection for your ankles and feet so they don’t take a beating.
 
A good rule of thumb for runners: most athletic tennis shoes begin to break down around the 300 to 400-mile mark. For other athletes, examine the outsoles of your shoes. If they are starting to smooth over, they are losing their tread. That means it’s time to get a new pair!
 
Condition your body: Even if your sport isn’t in season, it’s important to still keep your body strong and flexible. This means participating in pre-season conditioning so that you don’t risk injury the next time you start playing again.
 
Always warm-up: You should always warm up for about 5 to 10 minutes before getting on the field. This includes a low level of cardiovascular exercise that mimics the movements of your chosen sport.
 
Use proper equipment: Besides shoes, it’s important that you have the proper protective gear for your sport. This includes helmets, padding and face masks. Make sure these items aren’t worn, cracked or broken. They should be in pristine condition if you expect them to provide the best protection.
 

Call Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville Today!

If you’re an athlete worried about aches and pains, then give our Nashville office a call. We know what to do to get you back on your feet and back in the game.
 
Are you a patient of Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences below!
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