Items filtered by date: February 2020

If you are suffering from tenderness, pain, or stiffness in the joints of your feet or ankles, call us to schedule an appointment.

Each foot is comprised of 26 bones. Many of these bones are small, and can easily be fractured. This can happen as a result of a heavy object falling on the foot, or if it is stubbed against a piece of furniture. Common symptoms of a broken foot will generally consist of pain that is so intense, walking may be difficult. Additionally, the foot may appear red and bruised. In severe breaks, the bone may be protruding through the skin. After a proper diagnosis is performed, which typically consists of having an X-ray taken, proper treatment can begin. This can include wearing a supportive boot or cast for several weeks as the healing process takes place. If you feel you have broken bones in your foot, it is advised that you schedule a consultation with a podiatrist as quickly as possible who can determine the best course of treatment for you.

A broken foot requires immediate medical attention and treatment. If you need your feet checked, contact one of our podiatrists from Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury. 

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

• Bruising
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blue in color
• Numbness
• Cold
• Misshapen
• Cuts
• Deformities

Those that suspect they have a broken foot shoot seek urgent medical attention where a medical professional could diagnose the severity.

Treatment for broken bones varies depending on the cause, severity and location. Some will require the use of splints, casts or crutches while others could even involve surgery to repair the broken bones. Personal care includes the use of ice and keeping the foot stabilized and elevated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Media and Glen Mills, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

As many patients know, having an ingrown toenail can be extremely painful, and can often make completing everyday activities more difficult. To help prevent developing this uncomfortable condition, it’s important that certain precautions are taken while cutting your toenails. The first step for proper trimming starts with your technique. Nails should be trimmed straight across, avoiding making them rounded. They should also be trimmed just enough that the corners loosely sit on the skin, and not too short where they begin to dig into the skin. You also want to make sure that the clippers you’re using to trim your nails are specifically designed for the purpose of trimming toenails. Some signs that may indicate you’ve developed an ingrown toenail can include redness surrounding the skin of the affected toe, swelling, pain, and in more severe cases, you may notice pus around the nail. In order to safely treat an ingrown toenail, we recommend you consult with a podiatrist for professional care and attention.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Media and Glen Mills, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

If you find that your toenails have discoloration, this may be a sign that you have developed a toenail fungus. Usually this discoloration may appear as white, yellow, or brown patches or streaks on the toenail. The fungus can also cause the toenail to crumble, as well as thicken, become ragged, or appear dull. It may be likely to develop a fungal infection through not wearing proper footwear in environments that are warm and moist. These places typically include communal showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. You may also be more prone to getting a toenail fungus if you are experiencing other fungal infections of the skin, for example, athlete’s foot. To help prevent this condition from developing, it is suggested that you trim your nails on a regular basis, wear breathable socks, and keep your feet clean and dry. For a proper diagnosis and professional opinion on how to treat this condition, it is suggested that you consult with your local podiatrist.

For more information about treatment, contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a condition that affects many people and can be especially hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating and avoiding it.

Antifungals & Deterrence

Oral antifungal medicine has been shown to be effective in many cases. It is important to consult with a podiatrist to determine the proper regiment for you, or potentially explore other options.

Applying foot powder on the feet and shoes helps keep the feet free of moisture and sweat.

Sandals or open toed shoes – Wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Media and Glen Mills, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Research has indicated that a large percentage of athlete’s have experienced stress fractures at least once in their lifetime. The feet bear the weight of the body, and can cause muscle fatigue. This may be a significant factor in causing small cracks in the bones of the feet, which can lead to severe pain and discomfort. Recent studies have shown that eating healthy foods may be beneficial in reducing the risk of getting stress fractures. Nutritional deficiencies may contribute to the development of this ailment. Your risk may be diminished by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as this may help to provide the body with necessary nutrients. If you would like more information about how stress fractures can affect the feet, and how to possibly prevent them, please consult with a podiatrist.

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists from Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors 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 one of our offices located in Media and Glen Mills, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.