Items filtered by date: April 2022

Pain can be felt in the feet for a multitude of reasons, including aging, prolonged standing, walking, being overweight, structural problems with feet, foot injuries, poor fitting foot coverings, or a physical condition, such as arthritis or gout. Painful foot conditions can arise out of the aforementioned risk factors, like bunions, calluses, corns, hammertoes, Morton’s neuroma, plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs. If you are experiencing pain in your feet and you cannot easily figure out what it is from or what to do about it, consider consulting with a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot 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.

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 Warren, Livingston, and Toms River, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

There are many professions where it is mandatory to stand for the majority of the day. Teachers often fall into this category, and many of them experience pain from working on their feet. It is important to choose shoes that fit correctly. These generally consist of shoes that can provide adequate arch support, and wearing these types of shoes may prevent developing plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Some teachers find it beneficial to stretch their muscles throughout the day, and standing tall can help to improve alignment. The calf muscles can be stretched by standing on a step, and lowering the heel until a gentle pull is felt. If you would like more information about how to keep your feet healthy while standing all day, please speak to a podiatrist.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Dr. Kenneth Donovan from Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

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.

Putting your best foot forward means having healthy feet, which takes time and dedication. As a rule, it is important to keep your feet clean and dry, wear shoes that fit well and give proper support, and practice good foot hygiene. This includes such things as checking for abnormalities, cuts and sores on the skin, properly trimming toenails, removal of calluses, and moisturizing. But even healthy feet are subject to numerous problems, including plantar fasciitis (heel pain), bunions, plantar warts, ingrown toenails, athlete’s foot, corns and blisters. Common injuries include sprains, strains, stress fractures and broken bones. Several serious conditions, such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and different  types of arthritis also can cause or contribute to foot problems, like swelling, redness, numbness, infections, ulcerous wounds and pain. Further, as you age and become more sedentary, minor foot problems can worsen. To ensure that your feet can take you where you want to go for many more years, it is a good idea to develop an ongoing relationship with a podiatrist who can help you deal with foot and ankle problems when they arise.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, 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.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

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.

If your ankles are painful, stiff, or swollen, there is a chance that it may be related to one of several types of arthritis. Dysfunction in the body’s immune system causes it to attack healthy tissues, including joints like the ankle. These types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, and even juvenile arthritis, also known as a pediatric rheumatic disease. Gout is a form of arthritis that typically affects the big toe joint; however, it can also occur in the ankle joint. Gout is caused when an excessive amount of uric acid in the body forms sharp crystals that can lodge themselves into joint tissue causing severe pain and inflammation. Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, occurs when joint cartilage deteriorates and causes underlying bones (such as those in the ankles) to rub against each other. Certain infections can cause an inflammatory response in joints including the ankle. This condition is known as reactive arthritis. Someone with psoriasis of the skin may also develop psoriatic arthritis in their ankles. If you are experiencing any type of pain in your ankles, contact a podiatrist to have your condition properly diagnosed and treated.

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Kenneth Donovan from Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. 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 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.