Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail is a nail that is curved downward and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This “digging in” of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling and warmth to the toe.
If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odor.

There are many different causes for an ingrown toenail, these include but are not limited to:
•Improper trimming of your toenails: Nails should be trimmed straight across, not rounded.
•Fungal infections of the nail can cause a thickened or widened toenail to develop.
•An acute injury near the nail or anything that causes the nail to be damaged repetitively (such as playing soccer) can also cause an ingrown nail.
•If a family member has an ingrown toenail, you are more likely to develop one, too
•Tight-fitting shoes or high heels can cause the toes to be compressed together, adding pressure to the the nail, which in turn can cause the nail to grow abnormally.

Treatment
Sometimes initial treatment for ingrown toenails can be safely performed at home. However, home treatment is strongly discouraged if you suspect you have an infection, or if you have a medical condition that puts your feet at high risk for example, diabetes, nerve damage in the foot or poor circulation.

Home care includes soaking your foot in room-temperature water with one cup of vinegar. However, “bathroom surgery," involving repeated cutting of the nail is highly discourage. If your symptoms fail to improve, it’s time to see a foot and ankle surgeon, therefore given our office a call.

The treatment our office will render will be based on the examination your toe. The treatment options include:
•Oral antibiotics
•Surgery: A simple procedure, involving numbing the toe and removing the corner of the nail, a larger portion of the nail or the entire nail.
•Permanent removal.

Please do not hesitate to give our office call, 440-946-5858. We are here to help:)

Survey Shows Nearly 40 Percent of Americans Reel from Heel Pain

While foot problems such as bunions, corns and dry, cracked skin affect many Americans on a daily basis, one particular ailment—heel pain—stands out among foot disorders, according to a new survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

The APMA survey, which polled close to 420 Americans aged 18 and older, found that 39 percent of adults have experienced heel pain more than any other foot ailment within the last 12 months. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of respondents believed they suffered heel pain while wearing ill-fitting footwear. However, 64 percent of the respondents said they had not yet visited a medical professional—such as a podiatrist—to diagnose and treat their heel pain.
Heel pain is a detrimental foot ailment that affects millions of Americans every day, and foot pain of any kind is not normal. If detected early, most types of heel pain—including the most common, plantar fasciitis—can be treated with non-invasive treatment options including stretching, shoe modification, padding/strapping and/or orthotics. However, the longer one waits to have their heel pain evaluated, the more difficult it is to successfully treat.

If you are experiencing foot or heel pain, please schedule an appointment for evaluation and treatment to aid in finding a solution for your pain at our office. The phone number is 440-946-5858.

Bothersome Warts

At this time of year, your children will soon be heading off to the local pool or beach for a refreshing swim to escape the summer heat. Unfortunately, environments such as the community pool or beach, can harbor a host of various germs and bugs. One of which can cause warts to form on both children and adults alike.
Warts are the most common infection of the skin caused by a virus. This virus, known as human papilloma virus (HPV), can invade the underside of the foot by direct contact creating plantar warts. Two main things may make a person more or less susceptible to plantar warts. These include being more genetically predisposed and/or the environment (i.e. walking barefoot in public areas or showers).
Warts often hurt and feel like a bump on the underside of the foot. This and the less than favorable appearance of the wart will often encourage patients to seek treatment. After failure of over the counter self-treatments, professional treatment options include burning the wart off with an acid (such as salicylic acid), freezing the warts (cryotherapy) and/or laser treatment. However, the best treatment for warts is prevention: This includes the avoidance of walking barefoot in public areas, keeping the feet clean and dry, changing socks daily and periodic checks of you and your child's feet (summer months especially).

Foot and Ankle Problems in Children

Is your child tripping frequently, lagging behind their friends while playing or completely withdrawing from activities, if so your child might be suffering from a foot or ankle ailment.

Foot and ankle problems in children often go unnoticed. Signs and symptoms can be subtle, and sometimes children can’t explain what’s wrong. But it’s important to protect growing feet and have problems checked out early.

Below are five warning signs to watch for in your growing child:

1. Child Can’t Keep Up with Their Peers
If your child lags behind in sports or backyard play, it may be because their feet or legs are tired. Fatigue is common when children have flat feet: The muscles in the feet and legs tire easily because the feet are not functioning as well as they should.

2. Your Child Voluntarily Withdraws from Activities they Usually Enjoy
If your child is reluctant to participate, it may be due to heel pain: A problem often seen in children between the ages of 8 and 14. Repetitive stress from sports may cause muscle strain and inflammation of the growth plate, a weak area at the back of a child’s heel.

3. They Don’t Want to Show You Their Feet
Children may feel pain or notice a change in the appearance of their feet or nails but don’t want to tell mom or dad because they fear a trip to the doctor’s office. Therefore, make it a habit to inspect your child’s feet for any changes such as calluses, growths, skin discoloration or redness and swelling around the toenails.

4. Your Child Often Trips and Falls
Repeated clumsiness may be a sign of in-toeing, balance problems or neuromuscular conditions, that may warrant a trip the doctor's office.

5. Child Complains of Pain
It is never normal for a child to have foot pain.

A child with any of these signs or symptoms should be promptly examined. Please call our office for proper diagnosis and treatment of your child’s aliments, 1-440-946-5858.