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By Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville
January 21, 2016
Category: Heel Pain
Tags: Heel pain  

What Can I Do About My Heel Pain? Home remedies for heel pain and when to see your podiatrist.

Your heel has been hurting for days and now it’s so bad you can hardly walk. You have no idea what is causing the pain, not to mention how to feel better. It might be time to call in a professional like your podiatrist at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville, Tennessee, your experts on heel pain.

Heel pain can be caused from bruising your heel, but the most common cause is plantar fasciitis, a condition caused when the thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia, running across your heel, becomes inflamed and painful. Plantar fasciitis is very common among runners, but it can also be caused from lifestyle factors like standing for long periods or being overweight.

  • You can try some remedies at home to feel better such as:
  • Icing your heel 3 times per day for 15 minutes
  • Resting and avoiding putting weight on your feet
  • Doing arch stretches
  • Taking over-the-counter pain medications

Heel pain can limit your activities and become frustrating. You can help prevent heel pain by always wearing supportive shoes or heel supports in your existing shoes. If you have done everything you can to prevent heel pain and tried home remedies but still have annoying heel pain, you need to see a specialist.

You should call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville, Tennessee if you experience any of the following:

  • An injury to your heel
  • Numbness in your heel
  • Swelling around your heel
  • Continuous heel pain even while you are resting

Take care of your heel pain, so your feet can take care of you. Call the podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville, Tennessee and find out how they can help you deal with heel pain. Don’t suffer, call today!

December 19, 2015
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: Untagged
Ingrown toenails are a common problem seen in the feet. Although there is typically no great risk or concern unless infection sets in, they can be quite painful and cumbersome to manage. Nonetheless, if recognized, diagnosed, and treated early, they are rarely problematic. However, many patients find themselves unsure of how to proceed when suspecting an ingrown nail. Is it really ingrown? Is it infected? Can I cut it out myself? Can I take or apply medicine instead of cutting the nail out? All of these questions are fairly common, and reasonable.
 
An ingrown toenail, or onychocryptosis, is when one or both sides of the nail grow into the adjacent nail fold/skin. They are usually caused by ill-fitting shoe gear, heredity, trauma to the nail, or improper trimming of the nail. An ingrown nail is not always infected. In fact, many times the nail can be embedded in the skin without an associated bacterial infection. However, if left untreated, many ingrown toenails will develop some sort of localized infection, which usually presents with redness, pain, bloody drainage, or even pus. While an infection is an undesirable result for any patient, it is especially concerning for diabetics with decreased sensation, or other patients with any condition causing poor circulation to the feet. Such an infection, if left untreated could lead to spreading of the infection, development of a wound, or possible amputation of the digit. Thus, while there are many home remedies or methods of treating a possible ingrown nail, it’s always best to see your podiatrist for evaluation and treatment, particularly if you are an at-risk patient with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or some form of vascular disease.
November 23, 2015
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: Untagged
Diabetes and your Feet:
Diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease that is caused by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. This disease can cause a number/variety of complications, including numbness in the feet and an inability to fight off infections. This combination can lead to serious problems, sometimes life threatening, if not carefully monitored or identified.
 
Foot problems are the leading cause of hospitalizations for diabetics. The most common problems leading to these hospitalizations include ulcerations, soft tissue infections, bone infection, abscesses, and gangrene of the toes/foot. All of these problems usually come from one of (or a combination of) the following three health risks: peripheral neuropathy (numbness), peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation), or decreased ability to fight infections. The good news is, most of the aforementioned problems/causes of hospitalization are completely preventable with proper care and inspection during regular visits to your Podiatrist. Your podiatric physician will be able to evaluate your sensation, blood flow, identify and problems or risks, and treat them before a hospitalization or even amputation is needed.
 
Many diabetics wonder 'What can I do myself to help prevent these problems?" There are several measures diabetics can take on a regular/daily basis to ensure the health of their feet between visits to their Podiatrist...
 
1. You or a family member visually inspect your feet daily. Be sure to note any blisters, calluses, bleeding, redness, swelling, or other concerning/abnormal lesions.
2. Check the inside of your shoes prior to use for loose objects such as rocks or metallic fragments.
3. Avoid walking barefoot outside your home.
4. Do not soak the feet, and avoid extreme temperatures such as hot water soaks/heating pads.
5. Maintain a healthy blood glucose level and check daily.
6. Ensure you are wearing a shoe with adequate width, length, and depth to avoid excessive rubbing/friction.
7. Wash your feet daily with warm, soapy water and dry well, particularly between the toes.
8. Do not use acids, chemical corn removers, or attempt to perform "bathroom surgery."
9. Avoid smoking (or use of other tobacco products) and drinking.
10. Get regular examinations of the feet by your podiatrist, typically every couple months.

November is National Diabetes Month! All of us are affecting by this disease in one way or another. All month we will be posting helpful tips and links to support the community. To start here is a list of events for the local Nashville American Diabetes Chapter:
https://www.diabetes.org/…/local-offices/nashville-tennessee/

Check out our main page and/or our Facebook page for additional helpful tips.  If you are unsure about whether you are diabetic or not be sure and speak to your primary care physician.  The earlier you are diagnosed the better your chances are of keeping it under control to avoid complications.

This is a beautiful time of year in Nashville, filled with cool mornings and evenings, and warm afternoons... Perfect for all of you runners that have suffered through the summer heat! Many runners begin to clock more miles and road/trail time during this transition from summer to fall... And with that inevitably comes the occasional foot pain/discomfort. While there are a barrage of foot ailments that result from increase running/activity, one seems to be more prevalent/cumbersome than the others: Plantar Fasciitis.  At the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville, TN Dr. Timothy W. Bush see patients with heel pain several times a day every day.  This is a problem that is extremely common and many suffer needlessly.

 

The plantar fascia is a long, flat, and broad ligament on the bottom of the foot that spans from the heel bone (calcaneus) all the way down to the toes. It helps in supporting the arch of the foot. During activity/running, the plantar fascia is constantly and repeatedly strained, which can lead to localized swelling/inflammation, discomfort, and sometimes small tears within the fascia itself. Certain factors, such as the following, put one at a higher risk for plantar fasciitis: flat feet (pes planus), a high arched foot (pes cavus), excessive pronation, running/standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time, weight gain, improper fitting/supportive shoe gear, and a tight Achilles' tendon/calf muscle. 

 

Once plantar fasciitis begins to flare up, it can be difficult to arrest. However, there are a number of treatment options and tools to get you back on your feet and active/pain free. Dr. Timothy Bush and present their patients with several options which include, but are not limited to steroid injections, prefabricated or custom orthotics/arch supports, assistive stretching devices, stretching exercises, icing, and anti-inflammatory medications. Proper shoe gear and preparation/stretching before and after activity can also be quite beneficial, if done properly. So, if you find yourself with some nagging heel pain during this season, don't waste any time coming in to see Dr. Bush at the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville at Saint Thomas West Hospital (www.https://www.tnfootdoc.com/patients.html). We will get you back out there, on your feet, and enjoying this beautiful weather while it lasts!  Call us at 615.662.6676 or send us an online appointment request: https://www.tnfootdoc.com/appointment.html





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