Snow and Ice Can be Dangerous for Many Women

As a female, I too, like to wear fashionable shoes or boots, however with the onset of snow and ice after the 1st big snow storm hitting Northeastern Ohio it can be very dangerous. The treacherous snow and icy conditions we endure, can lead to falls, which are not only embarrassing but can result in a number of injuries. If your ankle rolls inward or outward, a bone can be broken or if your ankle twists, ligaments can be stretched or torn causing an ankle sprain. If this does happen to you, collect your belongings, brush off your designer duds and get somewhere where you can immediately begin “R.I.C.E.” therapy– rest, ice, compression and elevation – to help reduce swelling, pain and further injury. Then pick up your phone and call my practice in Mentor to be seen, 440-946-5858. If treatment is delayed long-term complications, such as chronic ankle instability and pain, arthritis, or deformity can develop.

Also, please do not believe the misnomer, if you can walk on it, it is not broken. If you develop pain, swelling, or bruising this is an indication of a serious injury requiring medication attention, so please don't hestiate and come into the office for evaluation.

Are you Prepared for Winter Sports?????

For many athletes and weekend exercise warriors, winter is a time to enhance their cardiovascular health. Many partake in winter sports such as sledding, skiing, snowboarding, rough-and-tumble ice hockey or casual ice skating. Winter sports offer a fast track for fun, but expose the body to injuries, especially foot and ankle injuries.

Some common winter and snow sports injuries related to the foot and ankle include:

• Frostbite: The symptoms of frostbite include skin-color changes, from blue to whitish, and a feeling of burning or numbness.
• Blisters: Friction in winter sports footwear often causes blisters.
• Neuromas: Enlarged benign growths of nerves between the toes are caused by friction in tight footwear and can result in pain, burning, tingling, or numbness. Neuromas require professional
treatment, including an evaluation of skates and boots.
• Sprains and strains: The stress of skiing and skating can result in sprains and strains of the foot and ankle. They can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). If pain persists, seek medical attention.
• Subungual hematoma: Pressure in the toe box of a ski or skate
can cause bleeding under the toenail known as a subungual hematoma. This condition should be treated immediately to prevent the loss of a toenail.

With adequate preparation and proper equipment, you can prevent most injuries common to winter and snow sports:
• Maintain an adequate fitness level all year round. Being fit is the best way to avoid many sports-related injuries in winter.
• Find a buddy who enjoys your sport. Never participate in winter sports alone.
• Warm up thoroughly before activity. Cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are vulnerable to injury. Make sure to cool down thoroughly afterwards, as well.
• Wear several layers of light,loose, waterand-wind-resistant clothing for warmth and protection.
• Wear proper footwear that is in good condition and keeps feet warm and dry. Footwear should provide ample ankle support, as well.
• Wear appropriate protective gear, including goggles, helmets, gloves, and padding.
• Wear a blended sock that “wicks” sweat away from the skin.
• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your sports activity.
• Move to a warm, dry environment if your feet get wet. The skin tissues of wet, cold feet are in danger of freezing (frostbite).

If you sustain any type of injury during a winter activity please contact our office, 440-946-5858, for an appointment. Happy Holidays!!!

Frostbite can lead to many problems within the winter months

As we enter the cold weather season, many of us will be skiing,sledding, and shoveling snow. Many people will get cold feet as well as wet feet. Having “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” sounds great when Nat King Cole sings it, but it’s no fun when frostbite strikes your feet. Extreme exposure of your feet to cold over a prolonged period can lead to a serious condition called frostbite. However, you do not necessarily need to be exposed to extremely cold temperatures to get frostbite. Even cool temperatures coupled with wet socks can induce frostbite.

Symptoms include pain and a burning sensation in the exposed areas, numbness in the toes or feet, and changes in skin color, from pale or red to bluish-gray or black. Children, the elderly, and people with diabetes are more prone to frostbite because of the size of their extremities or poor circulation. People who live or work outdoors also have higher likelihood of contracting frostbite because of their increased exposure to the cold.

There are various degrees of frostbite with frost nip (first degree) being the most commonly encountered by people who live in very cold climates or do a lot of outdoor activity in the winter. Skin may feel stiff to the touch, but the tissue underneath is still warm and soft.

Superficial frostbite (second degree) and deep frostbite (third degree) are serious medical conditions that must be treated by a trained medical professional. Skin will feel hard and frozen to the touch and blistering will happen. In some severe cases, doctors may have to amputate frostbitten limbs to prevent severe infection.

Mild frostbite initially can be treated by getting out of the cold and moving to a warm environment. Keep the feet dry and warm; warm the skin gradually by using warm compresses or immersing the feet in warm water (101° to 104° F) until sensation
returns. Do not use direct heat such as heating pads or fire, and do not disturb any blisters.

Frostbite is very serious, and if you suspect that you have it, please call our office, 440-946-5858, for prompt diagnosis, proper treatment and to save your toes!

Prepare for Winter Sporting Season

From the rush of downhill snow skiing to cross country skiing to ice skating, cold weather sports provide a fast track for fun and cardiovascular heath, but the colder temperatures and exhilarating speeds attained during such sports can expose your foot and ankles to debilitating injuries.

Healthy feet and ankles act as accelerators, brakes and shock absorbers in winter sports and help keep the body upright and out of the line of danger. Therefore, avoiding foot/ankle problems is key to full enjoyment during theses activities.

To ensure an injury–free winter season follow the tips provided below:

● Keep feet warm and dry - Proper footwear, insulated, waterproof boots or shoes, and thick cotton socks, to wick away moisture is as important as coats, hats and gloves during cold weather activities.

● Proper fitting footwear - Single most important factor in safe and successful skiing and ice skating. Without a snug and accurate fit, the pressure exerted from constant forward motion and lateral movement of skiing and quick turns of skating can result in discomfort and injury. Additionally, boots or skates that are too big can cause irritation in the toes due to excess motion or ones that are too small can inhibit circulation to the toes and cause cold feet.

● Stretch before and after participating in winter sports - Stretching the lower extremity prevents muscle pulls and tears and prepares the muscles for the movements required in the sports. Some simple stretches, such as a knee to chest, ankle/foot-soleus and ankle/foot-gastro with each being held for 60 seconds can aid in proper warm-up of tendons and ligaments.

Follow the tips listed above and enjoy the upcoming cold, snow-filled weather.

If you have sustained an injury during a winter sporting activity please give our office a call, 1-440-946-5858 for an appointment. Happy Holidays!

Follow These Tips to Allow for Happy Feet During the Holidays!

Don’t let sore, achy feet ruin your holiday season. Here are five tips to healthy holiday feet:

1. Chose proper shoes — When hitting the dance floor or the shopping malls during the holiday season, don’t compromise comfort and safety when picking the right shoes to wear. Narrow shoes, high-heeled shoes or shoes that aren’t worn very often, such as dress shoes, can irritate feet leading to blisters, calluses, swelling and even severe ankle injuries. To prevent problems, choose a shoe that has a low heel and fits your foot in length, width and depth while standing.

2. Don’t overindulge in holiday cheer — Did you know your feet can feel the effects of too much holiday cheer? Certain foods and beverages high in purines, such as shellfish, red meat, red wine and beer can trigger extremely painful gouty attacks. A condition where uric acid builds up and crystallizes in and around your joints, most commonly affecting the big toe.

3. Be pedicure-safety conscious — Before you head for your holiday mani/pedi, remember nail salons can be a breeding ground for bacteria, including MRSA. To reduce your risk of infection, choose a salon that follows proper sanitation practices and is licensed by the state. Consider also purchasing your own pedicure instruments to bring along to your appointment.

4. Watch for ice and snow — Holiday winter wonderlands can be beautiful but also dangerous. Use caution when traveling outdoors. Watch for ice or snow patches along your trail. Ice accelerates a fall and causes more severe trauma, because the foot can move in any direction after it slips. If you do experience a fall, take a break from activities until you can be seen by a foot and ankle surgeon. Use R.I.C.E. therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) to help reduce the pain and control swelling around the injury until seen by a physician.

5. “Listen” to your feet — Don’t let foot pain ruin your holiday fun. Inspect your feet regularly for any evidence of ingrown toenails, bruising, swelling, blisters, dry skin or calluses. If you notice any pain, swelling or signs of problems, make an appointment with your foot and ankle surgeon.

If you are suffering from foot pain or have concerns about your foot health, please call our office at 440-946-5858 for an evaluation. Happy Holidays!

Got Gout?????

Thanksgiving dinner, holiday office parties, are right around the corner. Tis the season to beware of the dreaded gout!

Clevelanders are more likely to eat and drink alcohol in excess during the upcoming holiday season. Next, thing you know your knee, ankle, or big toe starts throbbing in the middle of the night. The bed sheets touching the top of your foot feels like a hot prod. You get out of bed and your foot is red, hot, swollen and you can't place any weight on it. Got gout?

Gout attacks are extremely painful. They are caused when uric acid accumulates in the tissues or a joint and crystallizes. This most commonly occurs in the big toe joint because the big toe is the coolest part of the body and uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes.

Foods that are high in purines contribute to uric acid build-up. These foods include shellfish (shrimp, crab, etc.), organ meats (kidney, liver, etc.), red meat, red wine and beer.

Gout can be treated with medications, diet changes, increasing consumption of appropriate fluids, and immobilizing the foot. In some cases surgery is required to remove the uric acid crystals and repair the joint. For more information on gout, please contact our office at 440-946-5858. Happy Holidays!

Healthy Feet Make the Best Dancing Feet

Don’t ignore foot pain on the dance floor at your upcoming holiday parties.

Being ‘light on your feet’ when dancing is not entirely true; dancing the night away can take a toll on feet and ankles. Both professional and amateur dancers can suffer foot injuries that can stop the show.

The most common types of dance-related foot and ankle problems are overuse injuries, which occur due to the repetitive movements in dance. Over 50 percent of dance injuries occur in the foot and ankle. The severity of the damage is determined by a patient’s age, strength and flexibility and the type of shoes worn when dancing.

Other common types of injuries related to dancing can include:

■ Stress fractures (hairline breaks in the bone) from repeated jumping and landing
■ Foot neuromas (thickening/irritation of the nerves in the ball of the foot) resulting from repetitive pivoting
■ Shin splints (pain and swelling in the front of the lower legs) which can be aggravated by recurring activities
■ Tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons in the foot) from over exertion
■ Corns, calluses or blisters—all painful skin irritations resulting from repeated rubbing of the skin on the feet.

With dancing being repetitively hard on the lower extremities, how can dancers of any level protect their feet and ankles? The best defense to injury is prevention. Dancers should wear appropriate shoes to properly support their feet and ankles as well as perform dance moves with their individual skill levels in mind.

When an injury does occur, prompt medical attention by a foot and ankle surgeon can make all the difference in a proper rehabilitation. Most dance injuries can be treated with conservative care as long as they are addressed early and not ignored. Many people dispel foot pain if they can walk on the foot, but it is important to remember it is possible to walk on a seriously injured foot. Plus, common injuries, if left untreated, may require surgical intervention to ensure proper healing.

If you are suffering from foot or ankle pain, please call our office at 440-946-5858 for an assessment.