Items filtered by date: December 2020

Engaging regularly in high-impact activities, like basketball, running, or professional dancing, may expose you to the discomfort of a foot stress fracture. This overuse injury involves hairline cracks in weight-bearing bones of the foot. If left untreated, a stress fracture in the foot can escalate into a more serious concern. However, stress fractures are not always easy to diagnose. Pain upon weight-bearing activities that often subsides after rest is a primary indicator of stress fractures. Tenderness in the affected area, occasional bruising, and swelling around the ankle are other signs to be noted. Various factors contribute to the development of stress fractures in the foot. Overuse and repetitive stress, stemming from prolonged engagement in activities without adequate rest, can subject the foot bones to cumulative stress. Wearing inadequate footwear, whether ill-fitting or worn-out, further elevates the risk by providing insufficient support and shock absorption. Additionally, suddenly increasing the intensity or duration of physical activity can overwhelm the bones, especially without sufficient time to adapt. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly in calcium and vitamin D, can weaken bones and make them more susceptible to hairline fractures. If you believe you may have incurred a foot stress fracture, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist for a thorough exam and suitable imaging tests and treatment options.

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact Tanisha Richmond, DPM from Richmond Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Dayton, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Laser treatment for fungal nails, a therapeutic modality gaining prominence, involves utilizing concentrated beams of light to target and eradicate fungal infections within the nail bed. This non-invasive procedure harnesses the power of specific wavelengths to penetrate the nail and reach the underlying fungal colonies, without causing harm to surrounding tissues. The laser energy is absorbed by the pigments in the fungal cells, generating heat that neutralizes the infection. Unlike traditional treatments, laser therapy poses minimal risk of side effects and does not necessitate medications. The exact mechanism of laser treatment for fungal nails underscores its precision, selectively targeting the fungal pathogens while preserving the integrity of the nail and surrounding structures. If you have toenail fungus, it is strongly suggested that you speak with a podiatrist who can determine if laser treatment is the correct treatment option for you. 

Laser treatment can be an effective way to get rid of toenail fungus. If you have any questions about laser treatment, consult with Tanisha Richmond, DPM from Richmond Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment for fungal nails.

What Are Toenail Fungal Infections?

Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail, is a relatively common and non-serious condition. Around 10 percent of U.S. citizens are afflicted with fungal nails. Common forms of fungus that infect the nail include dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds.

Symptoms of Toenail Fungal Infections Include:

• Nail thickening
• Brittleness of the nail
• Discoloration of the nail

Diagnosis for Fungal Nails

Fungal infections are diagnosed by fungal culture and microscopy. This will rule out any other conditions such as nail trauma, psoriasis, lichen planus, and onychogryphosis.

What Is Laser Treatment?

Laser treatment is a non-invasive, safe, quick, and painless procedure that uses the heat from a laser to kill fungus in the nail. Each infected nail is targeted with a laser for several minutes. The treatment is usually utilized several different times over a select period. During this time, a podiatrist will keep an eye on the infection.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Dayton, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Choosing how to treat a hammertoe, which is a foot deformity, depends on whether the toe can still move and is flexible, or is stiff and fixed. The severity of the deformity also plays a role in deciding whether to opt for surgery. Surgery is considered when there is disabling pain that does not improve with non-surgical options, like taping for a flexible hammertoe, or wearing special shoes for a fixed hammertoe. For flexible hammertoes, soft-tissue procedures are used, while rigid ones might need surgery involving the bones. Different surgical techniques are employed based on whether the deformity is flexible, fixed, or involves a rotated toe. In some cases, shortening the metatarsal bone, which is part of the middle foot, is necessary. If you have a hammertoe that is causing pain and discomfort, it is strongly suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for an examination and discussion of treatment options that may benefit you.

Hammertoe

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact Tanisha Richmond, DPM from Richmond Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes of your feet. It is a painful foot condition in which these toes curl and arch up, which can often lead to pain when wearing footwear.

Symptoms

• Pain in the affected toes
• Development of corns or calluses due to friction
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Contracture of the toes

Causes

Genetics – People who are genetically predisposed to hammertoe are often more susceptible

Arthritis – Because arthritis affects the joints in your toes, further deformities stemming from arthritis can occur

Trauma – Direct trauma to the toes could potentially lead to hammertoe

Ill-fitting shoes – Undue pressure on the front of the toes from ill-fitting shoes can potentially lead to the development of hammertoe

Treatment

Orthotics – Custom made inserts can be used to help relieve pressure placed on the toes and therefore relieve some of the pain associated with it

Medications – Oral medications such as anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs could be used to treat the pain and inflammation hammertoes causes. Injections of corticosteroids are also sometimes used

Surgery – In more severe cases where the hammertoes have become more rigid, foot surgery is a potential option

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Dayton, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Experiencing sharp pain in the big toe can be a perplexing and discomforting ordeal with diverse underlying causes. One common culprit is gout, a form of arthritis characterized by the buildup of urate crystals in the joints, leading to sudden and intense pain. Ingrown toenails, where the toenail grows into the surrounding skin, can cause sharp pain and inflammation. Another potential reason is a condition known as turf toe, often seen in athletes, where excessive bending of the big toe leads to sprains of the ligaments. Neuromas, benign growths of nerve tissue, can also result in sharp pain, particularly when wearing tight footwear. Arthritis affecting the big toe joint, often seen in conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, may contribute to persistent sharp pain. If you are experiencing pain in your big toe, it is strongly suggested that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can determine what the cause is, and offer correct treatment options.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Tanisha Richmond, DPM of Richmond Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Dayton, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.