Swelling, reddened flesh, shooting pain, and pus are just some of the incredibly uncomfortable symptoms of having an ingrown toenail. Although this condition can sometimes be successfully treated through home remedies, ingrown toenails often progress to the point of infection, a point that then requires professional treatment. Read on to learn what causes this problem, when it’s right to seek medical help, and how our podiatrists can help get your foot back to a healthy state!

The Causes and Symptoms

Before we cover how to treat ingrown toenails, let’s first review the core causes and symptoms that hallmark this condition…

Ingrown toenails initially develop due to a few different factors, including:

• Cutting the toenail too short
• Rounding the toenail during grooming
• Wearing improperly fitting shoes
• Experiencing toe trauma

If the flesh on the side of the toe has become red, swollen, and tender, you likely have an ingrown toenail. If you have caught this problem while it’s still in its early stages, you can try implementing some of the home remedies listed in the next section. However, if your toe is exhibiting some of the following signs of infection, you should seek professional podiatric help:

• Pervasive shooting or throbbing toe pain
• Regular bleeding
• The presence of a pus-filled blister
• The skin has started growing over the nail

Home Remedies

As mentioned above, if an ingrown toenail is caught before infection sets in, there are a few different methods that you can practice at home in order to clear up the issue. Some of these include:

• Around 3 to 4 times a day, submerge your foot into warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Regularly doing this should reduce swelling and provide pain relief.
• Following each soaking, use cotton to separate the ingrown toenail from the flesh that it is starting to grow under. This should allow the nail to grow above the skin again.
• Avoid snug or constraining shoes.

If these actions fail to clear up the problem in 2 to 3 days, you should pursue professional treatment.

Professional Treatments

In the case of a severe or recurring infection, there are a few different procedures that your podiatrist can perform to make your toe healthy again. Depending on the specifics of your ingrown toenail, one of the following treatments may be recommended:

• Partial Nail Removal: In the case of a severe ingrown toenail, your doctor can numb your toe before physically removing the ingrown portion of the nail.
• Nail and Tissue Removal: If the same toe is repeatedly experiencing the same ingrown toenail problem, this procedure can be performed to prevent future recurrences. It entails your podiatrist removing a portion of the underlying nail bed, thus preventing the nail from become ingrown again.

Concerned About Your Toe? Give Us a Call!

If your ingrown toenail needs medical attention, call our podiatric office today!

Heel pain is one of the most common complaints a podiatrist hears about from patients. If you are dealing with heel pain above the heel bone then you could be dealing with Achilles Tendonitis, a result of overuse. The Achilles tendon is the longest tendon in the body and it serves to connect the muscles of the calf with the lower leg and heel bone.

While Achilles Tendonitis tends to occur most often in runners, this condition can still occur in athletes that play certain sports such as soccer or tennis. Unfortunately, this tendon does weaken as we get older, which makes at an increased risk for developing this overuse injury as we age.

What are the symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis?

The most obvious symptom of Achilles Tendonitis is pain above the heel bone. When the pain first appears it’s usually pretty mild and you may only notice it after running; however, over time you may notice that the pain gets worse after certain exercises. Along with pain you may also experience stiffness or tenderness in the heel, especially in the morning or after long periods of sitting.

When should I see a podiatrist?

If this is the first time that you’ve ever experienced heel pain then it’s a good idea to turn to a foot doctor who can determine whether Achilles Tendonitis is causing your symptoms or whether it’s something else. If you’re experiencing chronic heel pain around the Achilles tendon it’s also a good time to see a doctor. If the pain is severe or you are unable to put weight on your foot it’s possible that you might be dealing with a ruptured tendon, which requires immediate attention.

How do you treat Achilles Tendonitis?

In most cases, Achilles Tendonitis can be treated with simple self-care options. Unless symptoms are severe you may be able to treat your heel pain by:

• Taking over-the-counter pain medications
• Avoiding high-impact activities or activities that exacerbate symptoms
• Elevating the foot to reduce swelling
• Performing stretching exercises or undergoing physical therapy
• Icing the heel
• Wearing custom orthotics
• Replacing worn-out shoes, especially running shoes

Surgery is only necessary if your symptoms aren’t responding to any other nonsurgical treatment options after several months or if the tendon is torn.

If you think your heel pain could be the result of Achilles Tendonitis then it’s time to turn to a podiatrist as soon as possible. A podiatrist can provide you with a variety of treatment options, from simple lifestyle modifications to custom orthotics.

Find out when your heel pain may require additional treatment from a medical expert.

Is heel pain keeping you from lacing up your sneakers and taking your morning run? If so, you may be dealing with an inflammatory problem known as plantar fasciitis. This is a problem that plagues a lot of athletes, especially runners. If you are dealing with heel pain, find out when you should turn to our Prosper and McKinney, TX, podiatrists, Dr. Eric Silvers, Dr. Dustin Lloyd and Dr. Christopher Witt for care.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis refers to a condition that affects the plantar fascia, a thick grouping of tissue that runs the length of the feet from the toes to the heels. If the fascia has been overworked or overstretched, it can lead to irritation or inflammation, which in turn causes the heel pain you are now experiencing.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Often times, faulty biomechanics are to blame for plantar fasciitis, as those with very high arches or flat feet are more likely to develop the condition. Of course, if you wear worn-out shoes or shoes that don't offer enough support this can put extra strain and pressure on the plantar fascia, which can lead to heel pain. This is why it’s very important for athletes to replace their sneakers every few months or when the treads start to wear out.

How do I know that I have plantar fasciitis?

Since there are other conditions that can cause heel pain, if this is your first time experiencing the discomfort, it might be a good idea to visit our foot doctors in either Prosper or McKinney, TX, for a proper diagnosis. Common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include,

• Pain that starts at the base of the heel
• Pain in the arches of the foot
• Pain that is worse when getting up in the morning
• Pain that eases up as you move throughout the day
• Pain that is exacerbated by working out

The thing about plantar fasciitis-related heel pain is that the pain is often worse in the morning when first getting up, but may dissipate throughout the day as the tissues warm up. Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s safe for you to workout or go for a run. While the pain may not be present when running or working out, it will often return immediately after.

If you’ve dealt with heel pain before, you may be able to just handle the issue on your own with simple home treatments and rest; however, if you find that your heel pain is getting worse or isn’t responding to at-home care, then it’s time to call us to schedule an evaluation.

Give us a call!

Advanced Foot and Ankle Center has offices in both Prosper and McKinney, TX, to better serve you. If you are dealing with severe, persistent or stubborn heel pain then give us a call today at (972) 542-2155 to find out how we can help you.

What is Sesamoiditis?

Sesamoids are small bones that are only connected to tendons or surrounded in muscle. This only appears in a few places in the body, one of which is the foot. Two very tiny sesamoids are found in the underside of the foot near the big toe. One is on the outer side of the foot and the other bone is close to the middle of the foot. This structure provides a smooth surface for the tendons to slide over, which helps the tendons move muscles. They help with weight bearing and also help to elevate the bones of the big toe. So now that you know what sesamoids are, you might be wondering what sesamoiditis is and what its symptoms are.

Sesamoiditis

Just like any other bone, sesamoids can unfortunately fracture. The tendons surrounding the sesamoids may also become irritated or inflamed and this is what sesamoiditis is. Sesamoiditis is also a form of tendonitis and is a common condition among ballerinas, runners, and baseball catchers due to the pressure that is constantly placed on their feet.

Symptoms of Sesamoiditis

Symptoms of Sesamoiditis may include:

• Pain under the big toe or ball of the foot
• Swelling and/or bruising
• Difficulty in bending and straightening the big toe

Flat feet can be a painful and serious foot problem. Flat feet is when a person's entire sole touches the floor when standing. This can be problematic for many individuals, which is why your McKinney and Prosper, TX, podiatrists, Dr. Eric Silvers, Dr. Christopher Witt and Dr. Dustin Lloyd are here to help!

Flat Feet Symptoms

Flat feet are usually painful when someone is playing sports or doing any sort of walking activity. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, older individuals may develop flat feet with time, especially mild flat feet. However, even mild flat feet are dangerous, as they can collapse into severe flat feet.

Causes and Diagnoses of Flat Feet

Symptoms of flat feet manifest during late childhood. If a toddler or young child experiences foot pain, you may need to visit your McKinney and Prosper podiatrists.

There are several causes for flat feet. They may be congenital or acquired due to tissue breaking down. Tendons, ligaments, and worn out joints may also contribute to the problem, as well as tarsal coalition, which is a separation of the foot bones.

In order to get a proper diagnosis, podiatrists use several tools and tests to assess feet—a physical examination, x-rays, and an MRI examination may be needed.

There are several treatment options, some invasive and others less invasive. Here are a few:

• In-shoe orthotics
• Physical therapy
• Braces, if simple measures fail to provide relief
• Painful flat feet that don't respond to non-operative measures may require surgery
• Custom-molded arches in orthotics, usually made to relieve pain and provide support
• Shoe inserts to walk comfortably

Consultation

If you have any questions or concerns about flat feet, you should contact your McKinney and Prosper, TX, podiatrists, Dr. Eric Silvers, Dr. Christopher Witt and Dr. Dustin Lloyd at (972) 542-2155. They have the expertise to help figure out and treat your foot issue.