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Items filtered by date: July 2016

Monday, 25 July 2016 19:26

Poisonous Plant Causes Blisters

blisterA poisonous plant has recently been found to cause blisters in those who come in contact with it. The plant is called wild parsnip and it is spreading across the Midwest. The plant has a yellow-green head and typically flowers between May and July. Even after the blisters have healed, it may cause a scar on those that have come in contact with it.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, contact our one of our podiatrists of Greene Podiatry Associates, Inc. Our doctors will assist you with all of your podiatric concerns.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

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

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Published in Blog
Tuesday, 19 July 2016 14:37

Treating Plantar Fasciitis

sneaker stretchPlantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that causes pain along the bottom of the foot. It occurs due to the inflammation of the thick band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the toes on the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis can usually be treated at home with simple remedies. One of these treatments includes calf stretching. Calf stretching is a popular treatment because it helps improve flexibility. Another treatment is ice therapy to reduce pain and inflammation. Over the counter nonsteroidal medications may also help in alleviating the pain that plantar fasciitis causes.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact our one of our podiatrists of Greene Podiatry Associates, Inc.. Our doctors will assist you with all of your podiatric concerns.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, known as the plantar fascia, and causes mild to severe heel pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

·      Excessive running

·      Non-supportive shoes

·      Overpronation

·      Repeated stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia

How Can It Be Treated?

·      Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices

·      Shockwave therapy – sound waves are sent to the affected area to facilitate healing and are usually used for chronic cases of plantar fasciitis

·      Surgery – usually only used as a last resort when all else fails. The plantar fascia can be surgically detached from the heel

While very treatable, plantar fasciitis is definitely not something that should be ignored. Especially in severe cases, speaking to your doctor right away is highly recommended to avoid complications and severe heel pain. Your podiatrist can work with you to provide the appropriate treatment options tailored to your condition.

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

Read more about Plantar Fasciitis

Published in Blog
Tuesday, 12 July 2016 17:25

Treating Toenail Fungus

broken toe2It is important to recognize toenail fungus in its early stages to prevent it from developing into an infection. It is also important to be aware of the signs of toenail fungus so that you know to get rid of it. Nails that are darker, or more yellow than usual could have a fungus. You should also watch out for nails that have a strong odor or are painful enough to make walking difficult.

While toenail fungus is troublesome to eradicate, it is not impossible. For more information about treatment, contact our one of our podiatrists of Greene Podiatry Associates, Inc. Our doctors will attend to your foot and ankle needs.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a problem which affects many people and is hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating toenail fungus.

Antibiotics & Treatments 

Lamisil – is the most commonly effective treatment for toenail fungus. It is available as an antibiotic Terbinafine tablet and cream. Terbinafine is a chemical component which kills fungal growth on the body.  Applying regular doses will gradually kill the fungal growth. It is important to keep the area clean and air free. 

Talcum powder – applying 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

Alternative Treatments

There are always surgical procedures that are available for toenail fungus. Some people would like immediate quick removal of toenail fungus. Surgeons will be able to cut through and remove the growth using laser surgery. It is important not to try and remove it yourself. Once removed, your old shoes will need to be replaced to avoid reinfection.  

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

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Published in Blog

ankle surgeryTitans rookie outside linebacker Kevin Dodd needed preventative surgery on his right foot. This surgery, which aimed to relieve a stress fracture in his foot, will cause Dodd to miss the remainder of team activities leading up to training camp. Dodd learned he had the injury in rookie minicamp when he experienced soreness. He tried to play through the pain until he had an MRI which showed that the injury could worsen if he decided to ignore it.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to fix a foot ailment. To learn more, contact our one of our podiatrists of Greene Podiatry Associates, Inc.Ourdoctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

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

  • Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions
  • 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 one of our offices located in Waynesburg and Fredericktown, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about foot surgery.

Published in Blog