Crazy Shoes: Are These For Real?
I thought you guys might get a laugh when looking at these absurd shoes.
Enjoy! Have a great day!
P.S. – These are not recommended to wear.
~Dr. Williams
New Foot Prosthetics
I found this link on WebMD showing some new innovations in prosthetic limbs.
Pretty cool.
~Dr. Williams
Click on the link to watch this video: Artifical Foot Prosthetic
Subungual Hematoma
Have you ever been cooking in the kitchen and dropped a can of vegetables on your toenail ? Have you ever ran for a long time and developed blood under a toenail. I am guessing at some point you have had blood under the nail plate whether due to direct trauma or repetitive microtrauma. The scientific name for blood under the nail plate is subungual hematoma.
Subungual hemoatomas develop because the arteries in the nailbed (the tissue between the nail plate and the bone) get damaged. There is a potential dead space or vacant space that can form between the nail plate and the nail bed, which can fill with blood.
The pressure from the blood under the nail can cause severe pain.
Most patients present with with a swollen toe and complaints of throbbing pain following injury. The 2 most common mechanisms are repetitive microtrauma from sports such as running or tennis or direct trauma from a crush-type injury.
When looking at the nail plate, if the blood takes up more than 25% of the nail plate, then a fracture of the bone underneath usually occurs.
Treatment involves draining of the blood to relieve the pressure. Hematomas involving less than 25% of the nail plate are usually drained by poking a hole through the nail plate with a heated paperclip, a needle, or a hand-held cautery tool. Once the nail plate is penetrated, the blood under the nail is expressed using slight pressure. The area should then be cleansed a dressed with a sterile dressing.
When the blood collection involves more than 25% of the nail plate, there is increased risk of nail bed laceration. Therefore, complete removal of the nail is required in order to properly evaluate the entire nailbed.
Decompression of a subungual hematoma is quick, easy and painless. Patients feel immediate relief and generally have no complications following prompt drainage. Usually the nail will come off on its own in approximately 6 weeks after the trauma, and a new nail is regrown by 6-9 months without being disfigured.
Brachymetatarsia
Brachymetatarsia is characterized by an abnormally short metatarsal bone. 
The condition usually runs in certain families. This condition usually affect the 4th metatarsal, but may affect multiple metatarsal bones.
The shortening of the bone is caused by the growth plate pre-maturely closing before growing out to full length. The cause why this happens is still mostly unknown.
Brachymetatarsia is related to following disorders and syndromes:
- Down’s Syndrome
- Turner’s syndrome
- Pseudohypoparathyroidism
- Psuedo-pseudohypoparathyroidism
- Albright’s syndrome
- Diastrophic dwarfism
Bracymetatarsia usually occurs in females and usually occurs in both feet. X-rays usually confirm the shortening of the metatarsal.
As a child, the deformity is usually asymptomatic. The primary complaint in the younger patient is often cosmetic, and many times these patients are self-conscious about their appearance. Older patients may experience symptoms of pain due to excessive pressure under adjacent metatarsal heads. Increased callus formation in the ball of the foot may be present. Skin, soft tissue, and tendon contractions lead to additional discomfort with the use of shoes.
Treatment of brachymetatarsia may include conservative care, such as an orthotic device to take pressure off the adjacent metatarsal heads. Shoe gear may be modified a possible hammertoe deformity or contracture of a toe.
Definitive treatment requires surgical correction to address the soft tissue contractions as well as the shortened metatarsal. Numerous surgical procedures exist to correct brachymetatarsia such as the following:
- Bone Grafts
- Metatarsal osteotomies
- Distraction of the metatarsal with an external fixator
- Tendon lengthening
- Skin modifications
At Advanced Foot & Ankle, Dr. Williams prefers the procedure in which lengthening of the metatarsal is performed with an external fixator. Below is a picture showing the external fixator on the 4th metatarsal bone allowing distraction of the bone.
Please come see Dr. Williams or Dr. Silvers if you have brachymetatarsia and we can discuss your treatment options.
The address to our facility is as follows:
McKinney Office Location
4501 Medical Center Drive: Suite 300
McKinney, TX 75069
To schedule an apppointment, please call : 972-542-2155
Prosper Office Location
140 N. Preston Road: Suite 30
Prosper, TX 75078
To schedule an appointment, please call: 972-542-2155
Gangrene
Description
Gangrene of the skin is associated with the loss of blood supply of a particular area. In some instances, it is caused by bacterial infection of an open sore or ulceration. The most common form of gangrene develops in the feet of people with diabetes who also have associated loss of circulation in the feet and toes. Any person with poor circulation can develop gangrene. A sudden onset of pain in the feet or legs associated with a decrease in skin temperature, and color changes to the skin of the feet is a strong indication that there has been a sudden blockage of blood flow to the legs. This condition needs immediate medical attention. People who have diabetes may not experience pain associated with such an event because of a condition called diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet and legs causing a diminished ability to perceive pain, excessive heat, cold, vibration, or excessive pressure. This condition places people who have diabetes at greater risk of injury from any source without their being aware of it. For instance, a patient with diabetes can develop an ingrown toenail, and if they also have diabetic neuropathy, they may not experience the same level of pain as someone without the neuropathy. As a consequence the ingrown toenail can worsen, and become infected without providing the warning signs of pain. If the person with diabetes also has poor circulation, the infection can lead to gangrene of the toe. This situation can ultimately lead to the amputation of the toe, foot, or leg, depending upon how bad the circulation is in the leg.
Treatment
Treatment consists of surgical removal of the gangrene, surgery to improve the circulation (by-pass surgery), hyperbaric oxygen treatment and IV antibiotics.
Severe infections can also cause gangrene. The flesh-eating bacterium called Hemolytic Streptococcus is a rapidly spreading infection. Intense local heat, redness, swelling, fever, and weakness characterize this rapidly developing infection. The infection can start with a small abrasion or injury. This condition requires immediate medical treatment. It can result in amputation and/or death. Treatment consists of surgical removal of the infected tissue and IV antibiotics and supportive care as needed for any failing body functions.
If you have gangrene and are unsure what to do, please come see Dr. Williams and Dr. Silvers for our medical advice and guidance.
Neuremedy for Peripheral Neuropathy
Do You Have Neuropathy? You Need Neuremedy!
Information about a new supplement that can help neuropathy sufferers…now available at Healthy Steps!
What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a medical condition in which the nerves that travel from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body function improperly. People who suffer from peripheral neuropathy commonly experience burning, tingling, numbness and/or shooting pains to their feet and legs. Their symptoms are usually worse at night. There are over 100 known causes of peripheral neuropathy. A partial list of these causes includes diabetes, thiamine deficiency, alcoholism, trauma, exposure to toxins, autoimmune diseases, and infections. Sometimes no cause can be determined.
Can Peripheral Neuropathy be Successfully Treated?
Yes, some forms of peripheral neuropathy may be successfully treated. For example, people suffering from a peripheral neuropathy caused by thiamine deficiency may experience significant relief by increasing their thiamine intake.
What is Neuremedy and How Does It Work?
Neuremedy is a medical food that nourishes dysfunctional nerves allowing them to conduct impulses more normally. The specialized formulation in Neuremedy contains benfotiamine. Benfotiamine has been used since the early 1960′s to successfully treat tens of thousands of patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy in Asia and Europe. It has been extensively studied in the scientific literature and has been shown to be safe and effective. Realm Laboratories has recently made Neuremedy available in the U.S.A.
Adequate blood levels of the micro-nutrient thiamine (Vitamin B1) are essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Recent studies have shown that many people suffering from peripheral neuropathy have low plasma levels of this essential micro-nutrient. They are unable to maintain adequate plasma thiamine levels through normal dietary means. They need a more bioactive form of thiamine for their nerves to function properly. This population includes, but is not limited to, the elderly, people with diabetes, and patients on certain medications. For these people, Neuremedy alleviates the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy by delivering a highly bioactive form of the micro-nutrient thiamine to where it is needed, the nerve cells. Neuremedy works by nourishing the nerves.
What about safety and drug interactions?
The active ingredient in Neuremedy, benfotiamine, has been used since the early 1960′s to successfully treat tens of thousands of people suffering from peripheral neuropathy in Asia and Europe. It has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective. It does not have any known significant adverse effects and can be safely taken with medicines and supplements
How long does it take for Neuremedy to work?
Some people experience dramatic relief from their symptoms within a few days of taking Neuremedy. Some need to take Neuremedy for as long as two months in order to start to experience relief from their symptoms. Patients who stop taking Neuremedy often have a return of their original symptoms. Unfortunately, Neuremedy does not reduce the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for everyone. Ask your doctor if Neuremedy is right for you.
What is the proper way to take Neuremedy?
The proper dosage of Neuremedy is one capsule twice a day with or without meals as directed by Dr. Williams and Dr. Silvers.
