Ligaments are strong, stretchy tissues that connect bones and also stabilize joints. Ligaments on the inside and outside of the ankle joint support the ankle and help stabilize it during up-and-down and side-to-side foot movements. An ankle sprain occurs when one or more of these ligaments become overly stretched or torn from a sudden movement, fall, or twist that knocks the ankle out of its normal position. Ankle sprains can occur while participating in sports, walking on uneven surfaces, or twisting your ankle wearing the wrong shoes. People who have had previous ankle sprains or weakened ankles due to genetics may be more prone to experiencing ankle sprains. Walking may prove challenging to a person with an ankle sprain, and they may experience pain, swelling, bruising, or joint stiffness. It is important to seek the care of a podiatrist for an ankle sprain in order to diagnose and treat any additional, more serious injury that may have occurred, as well as to facilitate proper and prompt healing and rehabilitation to avoid chronic ankle instability.

Although ankle sprains are common, they aren’t always minor injuries. If you need your ankle injury looked at, 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.

How Does an Ankle Sprain Occur?

Ankle sprains are the result of a tear in the ligaments within the ankle. These injuries may happen when you make a rapid shifting movement while your foot is planted. A less common way to sprain your ankle is when your ankle rolls inward while your foot turns outward.

What Are the Symptoms?

• Pain at the sight of the tear
• Bruising/Swelling
• Ankle area is tender to touch
• In severe cases, may hear/feel something tear
• Skin discoloration

Preventing a Sprain

• Wearing appropriate shoes for the occasion
• Stretching before exercises and sports
• Knowing your limits

Treatment of a Sprain

In many cases, the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate) is used to treat ankle sprains. However, you should see a podiatrist to see which treatment option would work best with your injury. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

It is important to ask your doctor about rehab options after you receive treatment for your injury. Stretching, strength training, and balance exercises may help the ankle heal while also preventing further injury.

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

Where pain is felt in the foot is sometimes a good indicator of its cause and whether medical treatment is necessary.  Foot pain can originate from wearing uncomfortable shoes, prolonged standing, injuries, or chronic conditions, such as arthritis. Generalized toe pain can be from a hammertoe. Big toe pain can be from gout, broken bones, an ingrown toenail, or a sprain. Joint pain on a toe knuckle, ankle, or where the toes connect to the foot may be from arthritis. Pain in the ball of the foot can be from a strain, sprain, minor overuse, or Morton’s neuroma.  Arch pain may be due to tendonitis, flat feet, or plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis and tendonitis can also cause heel pain. Generalized foot pain or swelling may be from a blood flow issue, such as from diabetes or peripheral neuropathy. If you are experiencing foot pain and it does not resolve in a reasonable period with rest and perhaps a change to better fitting shoes, contact a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors 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 one of our offices located in Media, Glen Mills, Riddle Memorial Hospital, and Concordville, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Toenail fungus can be an extremely unattractive and unsightly condition that negatively affects the toenails. Typically, toenail fungus will make the nail brittle or stiff. It can also manipulate the color of the nail, making it brownish or yellowish. Some individuals struggling with toenail fungus may be curious as to whether or not they are able to wear toenail polish to cover up the fungal infection. If an individual has an important event coming up, for example, they might want to hide the unsightly infection with a pop of color from a nail polish. However, there are several things to keep in mind about toenail polish and toenail fungal infections. Using non-medicated toenail polish potentially may be problematic. This is because non-medicated polish, or cosmetic nail polish, might help the fungus thrive and eventually spread. Medicated polish, on the other hand, is specifically meant to inhibit the growth of the fungus. Sometimes, these medicated nail polishes will have antifungal ingredients. A potential downside to relying solely on medicated toenail polish, however, is that it might take a long time to cure the fungal infection. To learn more about treating your fungal infection and the uses of medicated nail polish, contact your 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, Glen Mills, Riddle Memorial Hospital, and Concordville, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

If you are exercising a lot, or the weather is very hot, your feet may perspire more than normal. But if you find that your feet sweat for no particular reason when you are at rest, you may have a condition known as plantar hyperhidrosis. Although the cause of hyperhidrosis is still unknown, medical experts have determined that the brain signals to the sweat glands that your body is overheating. As a result, the sweat glands in several parts of the body, including the soles of your feet, work overtime to regulate your body temperature. It is not known how to eliminate hyperhidrosis completely, but a number of temporary measures can keep it controlled. Treatment options, which vary with the severity of the condition, include topical gels or lotions, injections, and oral medication. Another treatment option is iontophoresis, which involves sending a mild electrical current through a foot bath to temporarily shut down the sweat glands in the feet. For guidance on which treatment options are best for you, a visit with a podiatrist is suggested.

If you are suffering from hyperhidrosis contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

Hyperhidrosis of the Feet

Hyperhidrosis is a rare disorder that can cause people to have excessive sweating of their feet. This can usually occur all on its own without rigorous activity involved. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis may also experience sweaty palms.

Although it is said that sweating is a healthy process meant to cool down the body temperature and to maintain a proper internal temperature, hyperhidrosis may prove to be a huge hindrance on a person’s everyday life.

Plantar hyperhidrosis is considered to be the main form of hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis can refer to sweating that occurs in areas other than the feet or hands and armpits. Often this may be a sign of it being related to another medical condition such as menopause, hyperthyroidism and even Parkinson’s disease.

In order to alleviate this condition, it is important to see your doctor so that they may prescribe the necessary medications so that you can begin to live a normal life again. If this is left untreated, it is said that it will persist throughout an individual’s life.

A last resort approach would be surgery, but it is best to speak with your doctor to find out what may be the best treatment for you.

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