Items filtered by date: September 2022

The most common form of toe pain occurs in the big toe. This joint takes a lot of abuse, as it absorbs most of the body weight with each step you take. The two main big toe complaints are gout and bunions. Less frequent causes are turf toe, and ingrown toenails. Toe pain to the smaller toes is most often caused by hammertoes and claw toes. Gout is an inflammatory disease that attacks the joints, causing redness, swelling and extreme pain. It is connected to a buildup of uric acid that crystalizes and induces pain. Bunions are a deformity at the base of the big toe, usually passed on genetically but made worse by ill-fitting footwear. It causes the toe to push outward at the base and inward at the top. It can adversely affect the biomechanics of the foot, causing other foot problems. Turf toe is common to football and basketball players, and dancers, who frequently push off the ground and hyper-extend their big toe. Ingrown toenails develop when the nail grows into the nailbed. Pressure from tight shoes can irritate the area, causing pain. Hammertoe and claw toe are painful deformities that affect the joints, tendons and soft tissues of the smaller toes. For help with any toe pain conditions you may be experiencing, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Kenneth Donovan of Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. 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 one of our offices located in Warren, Livingston, and Toms River, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

If you notice that your toenails have become thickened, rough, or stained it may be a sign of onychomycosis, also known as toenail fungus. This fungal infection is contagious and quite common among older adults. Touching the infected nail or any surface infected with the fungus can allow it to spread. The fungus thrives in moist, warm environments like gym locker rooms, swimming pools, and changing areas. If your feet or shoes are damp or sweaty, the fungus is more likely to multiply and feed on the nail tissue. Eventually, it may grow under the nail into the skin, turning the nail yellow and changing its appearance. Toenail fungus is not generally painful, but the nail may develop cracks. Protection against infection includes keeping the feet clean and dry, sprinkling antifungal powder inside shoes, and wearing shoes made of breathable materials. It is suggested that you wear foot coverings when you are in damp areas where the fungus is apt to spread. Please see a podiatrist for more information on medications to combat fungal toenail infections.

If left untreated, toenail fungus may spread to other toenails, skin, or even fingernails. If you suspect you have toenail fungus it is important to seek treatment right away. For more information about treatment, contact Dr. Kenneth Donovan of Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Symptoms

• Warped or oddly shaped nails
• Yellowish nails
• Loose/separated nail
• Buildup of bits and pieces of nail fragments under the nail
• Brittle, broken, thickened nail

Treatment

If self-care strategies and over-the-counter medications does not help your fungus, your podiatrist may give you a prescription drug instead. Even if you find relief from your toenail fungus symptoms, you may experience a repeat infection in the future.

Prevention

In order to prevent getting toenail fungus in the future, you should always make sure to wash your feet with soap and water. After washing, it is important to dry your feet thoroughly especially in between the toes. When trimming your toenails, be sure to trim straight across instead of in a rounded shape. It is crucial not to cover up discolored nails with nail polish because that will prevent your nail from being able to “breathe”.

In some cases, surgical procedure may be needed to remove the toenail fungus. Consult with your podiatrist about the best treatment options for your case of toenail fungus.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Warren, Livingston, and Toms River, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Having swollen feet is certainly not a pleasant experience. Swelling in the feet occurs when bodily fluids become trapped or built-up in the tissues. As a result, the affected area can become significantly puffy, causing them to look markedly bigger than usual. Although swelling in the feet has a litany of different causes, obesity is one potential contributing factor to swollen feet. When an individual is obese, or overweight, they can sometimes experience reduced blood circulation, which then can make the feet become swollen. Additionally, since obese people carry more weight, they consequently exert more pressure on their feet and this can cause pain when walking. As a result, obese people may minimize their physical activity, which can make fluids become trapped in the feet. If you are an individual that struggles with obesity, please schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to discuss ways to mitigate your foot pain. In consultation with your podiatrist, you may discuss whether or not losing weight would help you reduce the problems that you are experiencing in your feet. Do not take any chances with the health of your feet–contact a podiatrist today.

Obesity has become very problematic at this point in time and can have extremely negative effects on the feet. If you’re an obese individual and are concerned about your feet, contact Dr. Kenneth Donovan from Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Obesity and Your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Plantar fasciitis – Pressure and stress that is placed on muscles, joints, and tendons can trigger plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of tissue that forms along the bottom of the foot. 

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

There are various reasons one can have ankle pain. It can range from suddenly enduring an ankle injury, or it may gradually happen from having arthritis. There are several bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in each ankle, and ankle pain can develop for many reasons. Tendonitis can occur when the tendons become inflamed, and this can happen to people who run frequently on uneven surfaces. It may feel worse while standing or walking, and will start to feel better with adequate rest. Achilles tendonitis is felt in the back of the ankle, and that part of the foot may feel tight in the morning after rising.  An ankle fracture can cause severe pain and discomfort, and the symptoms that generally accompany this type of ankle pain are bruising, swelling, and difficult walking. Additionally, the ankle may look deformed, and it will not be possible to bend the ankle. If you have ankle pain for any reason, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist who can effectively diagnose and treat this type of pain.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Dr. Kenneth Donovan from Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Warren, Livingston, and Toms River, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.