Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that causes discomfort in your heel. It’s most evident in the morning, and it can interfere with routine activity. You’ve heard people complain about plantar fasciitis and heel pain — are you at risk?
It may not surprise you to hear, but complications from diabetes are the top cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the US.
As podiatrists, we often hear the general complaint of “heel pain” or a pain underneath the foot that is sharp when first standing and walking, but as time goes on the pain will dissipate.
Have you ever felt like there was a pebble in your shoe, or that your sock keeps bunching up under your foot? You may be experiencing the early stages of a neuroma.
Stress fractures, sometimes referred to as hairline fractures, are a common injury that podiatrists see regularly in their offices. Usually a patient will present with symptoms like tenderness in the area of the fracture, as well as swelling.
We’ve all heard the Greek myth of Achilles, hero of the Trojan wars and subject of Homer’s The Iliad. Legend says that the infant Achilles was dipped into the river Styx by his mother Thetis in an attempt to make her son immortal.
Summer is the most active season for adults and children alike. It is also the most active season for foot and ankle injuries. From the beach to the mountains summertime is a time to be outside and having fun, and nothing stops that fun faster than...
Summer and it’s sweltering heat is finally upon us. With summertime comes a bevy of different shoe choices and from podiatrists point of view these selections are very important for foot health.
Gout is a rheumatic disease, it causes inflammation and pain in the joints and muscles, most frequently the joints of the foot. Gout is the result of too much uric acid build up in the blood and surrounding tissues.
Did you know that the majority of runners have suffered a running injury in the past 12 months? Running is of course a great way to stay active and keep fit, but there’s several factors that can contribute to injuries while running.
It never gets very cold in Georgia compared to other parts of the country, but even by our standards it’s been a warm winter.
While your podiatrist sees a vast array of different types of patients every day there are certain universal truths. What follows are the most basic tips that every foot doctor wants their patients to know.
We’ve all heard myths about our feet. Maybe they’ve grown from an old adage, or something that grandma used to swear by, but what’s the truth behind these myths?
It’s springtime and with the beautiful weather everyone is outside and getting active. Frequently in spring we see and increase in the number of patients coming in with heel pain, most frequently plantar fasciitis.
Every year in America millions of elderly citizens suffer from falls. Studies conclude that annually 1 in 4 elderly Americans will suffer a fall, and only half of those will report the fall to their doctor.
It’s actually a question we get all the time, what should I do for my pain, hot or cold? Well the answer depends on several different factors, so let’s take a look at both hot and cold therapy and what they treat best, as well as when to avoid them.
It’s probably no surprise that active people are in general healthier than those who do not get enough exercise. Your doctor has said it time and again, get out there and do something, anything.
As podiatrists we see all sorts of problems and love helping people find the solutions that help them live a healthy and happy life. That being said, we have a confession.
As podiatrists we see a large number of diabetics on a daily basis. Podiatrists serve as an integral part of a diabetics health care team, which includes the primary care doctor, endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) and eye doctor.
We sometimes see children who point their toes toward each other, commonly referred to as “pigeon toed” or intoeing. These are both terms for what a podiatrist calls metatarsus adductus.
As we age our bodies immune systems weaken, leaving our bodies naturally more prone to conditions that affect parts of the body that are normally healthy and take care of themselves.
If you’ve got feet than the odds are at one point you are going to have a foot problem. Studies show that 7 out of 10 Americans will experience foot pain in their lifetime.
“I didn’t know you could get skin cancer on your feet” it is a sentence podiatrists hear all too often. Most people will walk around all day in sandals without ever applying sunscreen to their feet.
We’ve all heard the horror stories of what can happen to a diabetics feet. Too many of us know a friend or relative who has lost a toe, or even an entire foot, to the effects of diabetes.
As podiatrists we see the effects of bad habits on patients feet all the time. Maybe it is a habit you picked up from family, or even friends.
Has this ever happened to you? You finally manage to get a great 8 hours of sleep, you wake up rested and ready to tackle the new day. Then, with your very first step out of bed, you experience a sudden sharp pain in your heel. How?!
It’s 2019 and with a new year comes resolutions. Many Americans will make a resolution to get healthy, eat better, and start working out more. Unfortunately, studies show us that only about 10% of Americans keep their New Year's resolutions all year long.
Studies tell us that 7 out of 10 people will deal with foot problems in their lifetime. It may not surprise you to hear that men often let foot and ankle pain go untreated, sometimes for years, with potentially dangerous consequences.
It’s a new year, and with new years come new resolutions. Many resolutions focus on eating healthier, getting more exercise, or just treating your body better overall. A big part of taking care of your body is taking care of your feet.
It’s common knowledge that the human body operates best when properly hydrated. Your doctor will tell you that most folks aren’t getting enough water every day, and its effects can be far-reaching. Least thought about is probably your feet.
Doctors will tell you that most injuries they see in their patients over the age of 65 are caused by falls. Common knowledge says that exercise is one of the best way to reduce the risk of falls in seniors, knowledge which is now supported by research...
The holiday season is upon us and with all of the hustle and bustle it’s easy to forget about taking care of your feet. Whether they are for you or someone you love these gifts will help to keep feet happy and healthy all year long.
Diabetics are at an increased chance of ulcers and infections on their feet so diabetic socks are constructed differently from regular socks to help protect diabetic feet. Diabetic socks are seamless inside, so they don’t cause rubbing.l
“There’s a knot in my foot” or “it feels like I’m walking on a golf ball”. It’s a common complaint for podiatrists to hear, the description of a hard lump in the arch of the foot. The most common cause of this problem is a fibrous knot.
Winter can be a very tough season on feet, even winters in the South. Even though we don’t have to deal with the snow and ice that the rest of the US trudges through, winter can still have a devastating effect on your feet and ankles.
In observance of National Diabetes Awareness Month we will be focusing on the problems facing our diabetic patients. While diabetic patients experience complications with their feet, it is also common for diabetics to ask their doctors about...
For our next entry in our series on running injuries we have picked a problem that while it certainly does affect runners is also quite common for non-runners as well, ankle sprains. Over 3 million Americans are affected by ankle sprains annually...
In the United States November is “Diabetes Awareness Month” to coincide with World Diabetes Day (WDD) which is celebrated worldwide on November 14th. As podiatrists we frequently see diabetic patients for routine foot care to help ensure they have...
It may not surprise you to hear that diabetics have issues with their skin. Diabetes reduces blood flow to the extremities, which can diminish the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the feet. In our second entry to our series on diabetes and its...
Bunions are perhaps one of the most infamous of foot problems. Television and movies have made bunions the butt of many a joke, but to people suffering from bunion pain it’s no joking matter.
As podiatrists it is common to see patients coming in and telling us something along the lines of “I’ve had this problem for a couple months and I finally decided to do something about it”. It seems a common problem among all sorts of patients.
As podiatrists we see certain home remedies for foot problems time and again. Some of these home remedies have some real facts at their base and can actually affect positive change on your feet, and some don’t have any ground to stand on.
In our next blog entry about diabetes and its effects on feet we will discuss 2 problems that affect non-diabetics regularly as well, nail fungus and ingrown nails.
Podiatrists see the effects of diabetes on feet first hand every day. Diabetes affects the glucose (sugar) levels in the body, and high levels of glucose can cause major damage to the body over long periods of time. Diabetes can affect the body in many...
Podiatrists see a lot of running injuries, especially from patients who are new to the sport. Whether you’re running for fitness or fun getting an injury can stop a running routine in its tracks. In this series of blog posts we will outline the most...
The final entry in our five part series address a problem that is less painful than the other entries, but certainly no less common. Runners toe is a condition that affects runners, especially long distance runners. The condition causes the toenail...
As podiatrists we see runners as patients all the time. It makes sense, they are on their feet more than the average patient, and they can sometimes push their running routines past the point of what's safe for them, resulting in an injury...
t probably won’t surprise you to hear that podiatrists see a lot of patients with injuries from running. While running can be a great way to stay healthy it can produce some painful problems as well. In this series of blog entries (for the first...
Hammertoe is a condition which we see the toes pulling back towards the foot, making the toes unable to lie flat. This can cause pressure on the toe that can lead to painful corns and calluses.
With summer in full swing we want to spend time outdoors with friends and family. Whether it be a picnic in the town square or a hike through a beautiful national park running into a fire ant nest can be a painful lesson. Let’s talk about what you can...
It’s something we often hear as podiatrists “my feet hurt all the time because I have flat feet”. While flat feet can certainly be painful there are several things that you can do to help keep your flat feet pain free.
Who among us can say that they have never experienced smelly feet? While most of us have experienced smelly feet from time to time a smaller number of people struggle with smelly feet everyday. But do not despair, we have some simple tips to follow that..
“My feet have gone numb” is something we hear often from our diabetic patients. As diabetics they are at an increased risk of developing a condition called Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is a nerve condition which affects..
Diabetes is a disease that primarily affects the circulatory system. Diabetics have abnormally high levels of blood glucose (sugar) because their pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin attaches to sugar cells and signals the body to absorb...
Bunions are bumps on the side of the foot near the big toe joints. They are common and often painful foot problems. Bunions tend to run in the family (so you can blame mom, dad, grandma or grandpa for that bump). They are caused from the first...
It’s a question we often hear from patients. If you have painful legs you may be suffering from a condition called Peripheral Arterial Disease, commonly referred to as P.A.D.
Did you know you have over 125,000 sweat glands in your feet? We have all had sweaty feet before, but what if your feet are excessively sweaty all the time? If you find that your feet are sweaty almost all the time you may suffer from a condition known...
As podiatrists you can probably imagine that our opinions on pedicures are not exactly stellar. This is because we tend to see a lot of what can happen when pedicures go wrong. It is common for us to treat ingrown toenails and fungal infections that have..
Athlete’s Foot is a skin condition in which fungus grows on the foot, most commonly between the toes. It’s easy to identify the symptoms of athlete’s foot, you will notice redness and itching and dry, sometimes scaly patches. A burning or tingling sensatio
Wearing good supportive shoes can be the difference between pleasure and pain for many patients. It’s important to remember that even if you do wear good supportive shoes they have a limited lifespan. Podiatrists agree that shoes should be replaced...
Summer is right around the corner and with it all sorts of fun summer activities. While summer can be a great time for lots of fun like hiking, going to the beach or a picnic in the park, summertime can present certain difficulties for your feet.
Podiatrists see a lot of wounds, especially on diabetic feet. We clean and dress the wound to give it the best chance of healing. We send the patient home with care instructions on how to keep the wound clean until their next visit. Something we see..
As we age our bodies go through natural changes, many of which affect our feet and ankles. While these changes are normal they can put our bodies at increased risk of injury, especially when it comes to the feet and ankles. Let’s take a look at...
Ingrown nails are one of the most common problems that a podiatrist sees. Not only is an ingrown toenail painful to deal with but it is not uncommon for ingrown nails to become a recurring problem. When it comes to ingrown toenails, prevention is the best.
Spring has sprung and with the warm weather a lot of people start a new exercise regimen to help burn off those excess holiday pounds. A common and low impact exercise program usually involves time walking. Just walking for 30 minutes a day can...
We don’t spend much time thinking about our shins until they hurt. Most frequently shin splints occur upon starting a new exercise routine, typically one that involves more running. Don’t let this problem stop your new commitment to living healthier!
One of the most common injuries we see are ankle sprains. More than 3 million Americans a year experience an ankle sprain. A sprained ankle can happen anytime that the ankle is stretched too far in any direction, damaging and sometimes even tearing the...
As we age our feet can change shape. The muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the arch start to get weaker with age, which is when we typically see patients suffering with fallen arches. Even those with large prominent arches can experience...
We’ve all been there, the end of a long day filled with walking and you’ve got a brand new blister to show for it. Whether you’ve been running a marathon or just a marathon of shopping at the mall we all know that painful feeling.
Dr. Howard Gale was recently elected President of The Georgia Podiatric Medical Association (GPMA). He will serve as president of the GPMA for his term of the next two years. The GPMA was first incorporated in 1933 for the purpose of providing social...
Recent decades has seen a rise in heel pain cases, typically the result of a problem called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, the tendon running from the heel to the forefoot becomes inflamed. The seven symptoms listed...
As podiatrists we see a large number of patients with diabetes. Diabetes affects the circulatory system causing damage to blood vessels and restricting blood flow. This reduction in blood flow leads to slower healing in wounds, especially those on the feet
When was the last time you had your feet measured? Not tried on a pair of shoes that you believe to be your size, but actually had a professional measure your feet? Too often when we ask this to our patients we get the answer of “I can’t remember”
Did you know that over 3 million Americans are diagnosed with toenail fungus every year? It's a common condition that may go unnoticed until it starts to cause pain. Toenail fungus can be identified by a discoloration and thickening of the toenail...
What was once science fiction is becoming science fact. Did you know we owe automatic doors to the crew of the original Star Trek show with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy? A stagehand was sick of opening the doors on the Enterprise when actors...
So you’ve just bought a brand new pair of supportive shoes, good for you. Now what can you do to make sure that your new pair of shoes can have a long and supportive life? We’ve put together some helpful tips to make sure your shoes stay supportive...
Calluses occur all over the body, usually on the hands and feet, but can occur wherever the body experiences repetitive friction. In this article we will focus on calluses on the bottom of the foot, called plantar calluses. These typically develop...
Did you know that 7 out of 10 Americans will suffer from foot pain in their lifetime? With that in mind, it may be time to make 2018 the year you visit your friendly neighborhood podiatrist. We’ve put together our top 3 reasons to see your podiatrist...
Do you have two or more toes that are joined? Congratulations, you have something in common with actor Ashton Kutcher! However, having webbed toes (also known as syndactyly) is an uncommon condition, affecting only about 1 in every 2000. Most commonly...
Do you know if you have weak ankles? There’s some signs that your ankles could use extra support that you can watch out for. Do you frequently get ankle sprains? Do your ankles ache at the end of a long day of standing or walking? If you answered yes...
We hear it all the time, “My mother had bunions because she used to spend all day in her high heels”. While the sentiment may be correct, and things certainly have changed, it’s probably not true that those high heels caused the bunions.
Have you noticed a bump on your foot? It may be a ganglion cyst! Ganglion cysts are fluid filled sacs that usually occur on joints or on the covering of a tendon. They are common with about 200,000 cases reported in the US annually.
One of the most common foot problems we see as podiatrists is plantar fasciitis, with 7 out of 10 Americans suffering from it within their lifetime, it’s not hard to find someone with a story of pain resulting from this problem. While the causes of...
As colder weather reaches us this time of year so does the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Long days of shopping and baking can take a toll on feet, especially if those feet belong to a diabetic patient. Let’s talk about some simple steps you...
One of the common complaints that podiatrists hear is the burning in the feet and ankles. While there are many possible reasons of this symptoms we’re going to explore a more rare one, tarsal tunnel syndrome.
One of the most persistent and harmful myths that we hear as podiatrists is that you cannot do anything for a broken toe. Not only is this statement flat out false, but can actually be harmful to patients suffering from this sort of injury.
With the colder months now upon us it’s time to make sure your feet aren’t going to feel the freeze. Follow these simple steps to make sure your feet don’t get left out in the cold this winter.
It’s a questions that podiatrists get often; “do you treat gout?” It’s easy to see why we hear it so much. Gout is a painful arthritis of the joints, particularly in the lower extremities, caused by an excess buildup of uric acid crystals. Uric acid is...
Something we see as podiatrists are patients best attempts at home treatment of all sorts of foot and ankle problems. Something that has gained popularity in recent years is the use of duct tape to cure plantar warts. Let’s briefly explore the cause...
For some patients picking a good supportive shoe can be a daunting process, especially if you don’t know what to look for. We’ve written this simple to follow guide to help you make sure that your next pair of shoes are the best ones you’ve ever had!
As podiatrists we see a lot of running injuries. With careful consideration and attention most of these injuries are entirely preventable. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a beginner we’ve put together some simple steps to follow to make sure you’re...
Podiatrists have heard of every home remedy for nail fungus. By the time the patient actually sees us they are usually sick and tired of trying absolutely everything under the sun to no avail. Let’s look at the most popular home remedy for nail fungus...
As podiatrist we see first hand the dangers of improper pedicures. Follow these simple steps whether getting pampered at the spa or taking care of your pedicure needs at home.
If there’s something we’ve heard enough of as podiatrists it’s myths about your feet that just aren’t true. We’ve compiled several below, along with the truth about what you need to know so you don’t make the wrong decisions.
In our last blog post we discussed how to choose your child's next pair of shoes. But what if your child is suffering from a foot or ankle problem? Sometimes it’s hard to tell when a child has a foot problem, but there are some signs to watch out for...
Back to school season is upon us and along with the notebooks, pens and backpacks to buy it’s probably time to purchase a new pair of shoes too. The following tips are great for helping you pick out your next pair of supportive shoes, whether you’re...
While the primary dangers of smoking are well known few people think of the danger that smoking presents to your feet. Smoking causes changes in the way your blood's hemoglobin carries oxygen through your body.
As podiatrists a large number of foot problems we see result from injuries, specifically soft tissue injuries such as ankle sprains. While a fast response to such injuries is key to starting the healing process sometimes these injuries happen far from...
With the warm weather of the summer your podiatrist usually sees a rise in plantar warts.
One of the most common problems we see as podiatrists is ingrown toenails, with over 3 million reported cases in the US annually. Ingrown toenails are caused when the corner or side of a toenail grows into the flesh on either one or both sides of the toe.