Items filtered by date: May 2021

Metatarsus adductus (MTA) is a congenital foot deformity in which the front part of the foot is curved inward. This condition is fairly common and painless and can affect one or both of a baby’s feet. MTA often goes away without intervention within the first three years of life. In rare cases, MTA does not go away on its own and requires treatment. Treatments for this condition include stretching therapy or wearing a cast to move the foot into the correct position. In very rare cases, surgery may be needed. To learn more about foot and ankle development in babies and toddlers, and how you can best support your child’s foot health, please consult with a podiatrist.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact Kimberly Woodard, DPM of Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Centers, LLC . Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

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

There are a variety of painful conditions that can impact the feet, and many of those can cause pain in the toes. Pain and swelling around the toenails where the nail has curled into the skin is a common sign of ingrown toenails. Bunions are formed near the big toe as painful bony lumps that form due to poorly fitting shoes. If any toes are broken, the toes will become painful and swollen, and walking could be difficult. If there is pain and stiffness around the joints, and they feel hot and swollen, that may be a sign of gout, which is affected by the level of uric acid in the blood. If the pain in the toes is severe, gets worse, results in a loss of sensation, or you are diabetic, consulting with a podiatrist is suggested. A podiatrist will be able to diagnose and provide treatment options for pain that is in the toes and feet.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Kimberly Woodard, DPM from Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Centers, LLC . Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This 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

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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

Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They occur on the sole of the feet—most typically on the balls of the feet, heels, and under the toes—and are spread by human contact when the virus enters the bloodstream through tiny cracks in the skin. They usually present as hard, thick, lesions akin to calluses, and sometimes tiny blood vessels are present, which look like black specks on the surface. Plantar warts can range in size, and are often tender or sometimes even painful. They can form as either independent growths or as part of a cluster of warts. While plantar warts can sometimes go away over a period of years, it is suggested that you seek the care of a podiatrist if you have circulatory problems or diabetes, or if your warts are painful, bleeding, or spreading quickly.

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact Kimberly Woodard, DPM from Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Centers, LLC . Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

• Lesions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy
• Hard or thick callused spots
• Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots
• Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

• Freezing
• Electric tool removal
• Laser Treatment
• Topical Creams (prescription only)
• Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, can help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

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

While the feet have a variety of functions, issues with the feet can also indicate issues in a variety of other parts of the body. Because of this, podiatrists can often be the first doctors to notice an issue. For example, feet that are too cold, or are blue in color, can indicate circulation problems in the rest of the body. Swollen feet can sometimes indicate heart disease or high blood pressure. The toenails can also indicate a variety of issues. Changes in toenail color can be signs of issues in the lungs, heart, kidneys, or liver, and it can even be a sign of diabetes or an infection. If you are noticing any abnormalities in the feet, consult with a podiatrist to make sure there aren’t any underlying issues.

When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, it is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly.  If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact Kimberly Woodard, DPM from Pinnacle Foot and Ankle Centers, LLC . Our doctor will assist you with all of your podiatric needs.

Systemic Diseases of the Feet

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable.  Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet. 

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