Items filtered by date: August 2022

Several illnesses that affect your body also have a deleterious effect on your feet. In addition, simply aging can negatively affect the health of your feet. Anyone who has diabetes is at risk of developing serious foot and ankle problems. Two common side effects from this disease are nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor circulation (peripheral artery disease), and both are the result of high blood sugar levels. Neuropathy causes numbness and inhibits the ability to detect sores and wounds that may then become infected. Poor circulation limits blood flow to the extremities, slowing down the ability of the sores to heal. This combination can lead to the formation of ulcers on the feet and ankles, which if not treated properly may cause gangrene and in serious cases lead to amputation. Another condition that can seriously affect the feet is arthritis. This includes rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and gout, which can result in pain, joint damage, and deformity. The aging process itself affects the feet as the skin loses its elasticity, protective fat pads get thinner, and the likelihood of falling increases. It is a good idea, especially if you have any of these conditions, to begin seeing a podiatrist for regular checkups designed to keep your feet healthy. 

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact one of our doctors from Favor Foot Ankle Leg & Wound Center. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in South Amboy and Edison, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Swelling around the ankles is nothing to ignore. When one’s ankles become swollen, one can feel tight and restricted, making it significantly difficult to walk and wear shoes that would otherwise fit comfortably. Swelling can occur for any number of reasons. Commonly, pregnancy can make one’s feet swell because of the extra blood and fluids that a pregnant woman produces to support the growing baby. Additionally, your feet and ankles may swell in response to some kind of injury to your feet, ankles, or lower legs. Whatever the cause of your swollen ankles, there are a variety of steps that you might consider taking to mitigate the effects of your swollen ankles. Perhaps you might benefit from wearing compression socks or stockings. These stockings are made to put pressure on your feet, which has the effect of facilitating blood circulation and discouraging fluid from gathering in the feet. Besides wearing compression socks, you might also consider washing your feet and ankles in Epsom salts. This is done to increase magnesium levels, which can have the effect of minimizing inflammation. Lastly, a very common technique that is used to mitigate swollen feet and ankles is to elevate the feet to promote circulation. If you are concerned about your swollen feet, consider reaching out to a podiatrist.

Swollen feet can be a sign of an underlying condition. If you have any concerns, contact one of our doctors of Favor Foot Ankle Leg & Wound Center. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Swollen feet are a common ailment among pregnant women and people who stand or sit for extended periods. Aging may increase the possibility of swollen feet and patients who are obese often notice when their feet are swelling too. There may be medical reasons why swollen feet occur:

• Phlebitis - A condition that causes the veins to become inflamed and can also cause leg pain.
• Liver disease - This may lead to low blood levels of albumin which is a protein. This can cause fluid in the blood to pass into the tissues and several areas of the body can become swollen.
• Heart failure - When the heart doesn’t pump properly the blood that is normally pumped back to the heart can pool in the veins of the legs causing swollen feet.
• Kidney disease - One of the main functions of the kidneys is releasing excess fluid in the body. This type of condition can make it difficult for the kidneys to function properly, and as a result the feet may become swollen.
• Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)- This is a serious condition where blood clots form in the veins of the legs. They can block the return of blood from the legs to the heart which may cause the feet to swell. It is important to be treated by a podiatrist if this condition is present.

Swollen feet can also be caused by bone and tendon conditions, including fractures, arthritis, and tendinitis. Additionally, there may be skin and toenail conditions and an infection may cause the feet to swell. Patients who take medicine to treat high blood pressure may be prone to getting swollen feet. 

Many patients elevate their feet to help relieve the swelling and this is generally a temporary remedy. When a podiatrist is consulted the reason behind the swelling can be uncovered and subsequently treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in South Amboy and Edison, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that can be extremely painful. It generally attacks a joint in the body, frequently the big toe. The joint becomes inflamed during what is termed a flare-up. Usually the inflammation recedes after a few days or a week. Symptoms of gout are pain, redness, swelling, tenderness to touch, and heat. Men are more likely to have gout than women. Obesity, genetics, high blood pressure, consuming high levels of alcohol, and eating foods rich in purines are risk factors. Purines are contained in red meat, organ meat, and some seafood. The purines break down into uric acid, which then can crystallize in the joint and result in inflammation. While there is not a cure for gout, it can be treated. If you have frequent problems with gout in the big toe, please see a podiatrist for more information and possible treatment options.

Gout is a foot condition that requires certain treatment and care. If you are seeking treatment, contact one of our doctors from Favor Foot Ankle Leg & Wound Center. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. It often develops in the foot, especially the big toe area, although it can manifest in other parts of the body as well. Gout can make walking and standing very painful and is especially common in diabetics and the obese.

People typically get gout because of a poor diet. Genetic predisposition is also a factor. The children of parents who have had gout frequently have a chance of developing it themselves.

Gout can easily be identified by redness and inflammation of the big toe and the surrounding areas of the foot. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, joint pain, and running high fevers. Sometimes corticosteroid drugs can be prescribed to treat gout, but the best way to combat this disease is to get more exercise and eat a better diet.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in South Amboy and Edison, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Morton’s neuroma is a noncancerous swelling along a nerve in the foot that carries sensations to the toes. Once the swelling begins the bones and ligaments nearby put pressure on the nerve causing more irritation and inflammation which in turn causes pain, numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations in the toes. Some people feel the sensation of a lump, like a fold in a sock or a pebble between the toes. It usually develops between the 3rd and 4th toes and less often between the 2nd and 3rd toes. It is also rare for Morton’s neuroma to happen in both feet at the same time. While reasons for this condition are unknown, it is more apt to develop in women than men, likely a result of wearing high-heeled, narrow-toed shoes. These shoes shift the bones into an abnormal position. It is also more likely to impact obese people due to the pressure of excess weight put on the foot. Usually, pain can be temporarily relieved by removing shoes, flexing the toes, and rubbing the feet. You may need medical intervention to ease the pain of Morton’s neuroma or it may masquerade as a different condition altogether, such as arthritis, nerve or muscle problems, or previous injury to your foot or leg. It is important to consult with a podiatrist who can properly diagnose the condition and provide treatment options.

Morton’s neuroma is a very uncomfortable condition to live with. If you think you have Morton’s neuroma, contact one of our doctors of Favor Foot Ankle Leg & Wound Center. Our doctors will attend to all of your foot care needs and answer any of your related questions.  

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful foot condition that commonly affects the areas between the second and third or third and fourth toe, although other areas of the foot are also susceptible. Morton’s neuroma is caused by an inflamed nerve in the foot that is being squeezed and aggravated by surrounding bones.

What Increases the Chances of Having Morton’s Neuroma?

• Ill-fitting high heels or shoes that add pressure to the toe or foot
• Jogging, running or any sport that involves constant impact to the foot
• Flat feet, bunions, and any other foot deformities

Morton’s neuroma is a very treatable condition. Orthotics and shoe inserts can often be used to alleviate the pain on the forefront of the feet. In more severe cases, corticosteroids can also be prescribed. In order to figure out the best treatment for your neuroma, it’s recommended to seek the care of a podiatrist who can diagnose your condition and provide different treatment options.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in South Amboy and Edison, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

There are several different types of foot surgery that have to be performed for permanent relief. A bone spur is a growth on the back of the heel that can develop from wearing shoes that do not fit correctly. The Achilles tendon is often affected by a bone spur, and may have to be repaired following removal of the bone spur. A cast is generally worn for several weeks, and this is helpful as the healing process occurs. The removal of a toe spur can be a reason to have foot surgery. This is a bony growth that develops on the toe, and the surgery is done by making a small cut in the skin surrounding the toe spur. A tool that is referred to as a power rasp is inserted into the small incision, and used to file the spur in addition to smoothing the skin. The majority of patients wear a surgical shoe for several weeks following the surgery. This is helpful in providing stability and protecting the affected toe. If you have developed spurs on your foot, it is strongly advised that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can effectively perform the foot surgery that is needed.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our doctors of Favor Foot Ankle Leg & Wound Center. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in South Amboy and Edison, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.