Items filtered by date: December 2022

Tuesday, 27 December 2022 00:00

Towels and Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is primarily caused by a fungal infection. Athlete’s foot can produce a scaly rash of some kind, often producing itching sensations. Athlete’s foot can be spread in highly-trafficked public areas such as the sides of public pools and locker rooms. Importantly, however, athlete’s foot can be spread through using towels. If an individual with athlete’s foot uses a towel after taking a shower and then an uninfected person uses the towel, the second person will have a high risk of developing athlete’s foot. Therefore, if you live with someone, it might be a good idea to have separate towels for each individual to avoid this dilemma. It might also be useful to make a point of cleaning the towels every day. This can help ensure that the athlete’s foot is not being unnecessarily spread. Contact a podiatrist today for more information.  

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM from Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics.  Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

  • Hydrate your feet by using lotion
  • Exfoliate
  • Buff off nails
  • Use of anti-fungal products
  • Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

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

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Monday, 26 December 2022 00:00

Heel Pain Can Be Treated!

Do you suffer from heel pain when you get up in the morning? If so, you should seek the professional help of your podiatrist and have a proper diagnosis performed. Heel pain can be caused by several different foot-related conditions.

Tuesday, 20 December 2022 00:00

What Can Cause a Plantar Fibroma?

The plantar fascia is located on the sole of the foot and it connects the toes to the heels. Some patients may experience a growth that develops inside the plantar fascia, which is often benign. This is referred to as a plantar fibroma that might cause pain while walking and running. It is noticeable by the lump that forms on the bottom of the foot, generally in the center of the arch. The majority of experts agree it occurs due to genetic reasons or medical conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, and alcoholism. Other people can argue a plantar fibroma may develop after an injury occurs to the plantar fascia and the lump may be a natural reaction to the stress from the trauma. Mild relief may be found when the shoes that are worn have extra cushioning, or it may be beneficial to wear custom-made orthotics. If you have developed this condition it is advised that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can provide the treatment options that are correct for you.

A plantar fibroma may disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM of Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Plantar Fibroma

A plantar fibroma is a fibrous knot in the arch of the foot. It is embedded in the plantar fascia which is a band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes along the bottom of the foot. There can be multiple plantar fibromas in the feet at the same time. There are no known causes for this condition. If you have a plantar fibroma, there will be a bump in the arch of your foot that cannot be missed. Any associated pain is most often due to a shoe rubbing against the nodule. Non-surgical options, such as steroid injections, physical therapy, and orthotics should be tried first. Surgery is a last resort and is the only thing that will remove a plantar fibroma entirely. Consult with a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and to determine the treatment regimen that is right for you.

What Causes a Plantar Fibroma?

While there are no specific causes identified, a plantar fibroma can possibly come from genetic predisposition or the formation of scar tissue that forms from healing the tears in the plantar fascia.

What Are the Symptoms of a Plantar Fibroma?

There will be a noticeable lump in the arch of the foot that may or may not cause pain. If pain is felt, it is typically because a shoe is rubbing up against the lump or when walking or standing barefoot.

Treatment and Prevention

A plantar fibroma will not disappear without treatment, but it can get smaller and be a non-issue. If pain persists, a podiatrist examines the foot and when the arch of the foot is pressed, pain can be felt down to the toes. An MRI or biopsy might be performed to help diagnose or evaluate the plantar fibroma. The following non-surgical options are generally enough to reduce the size and pain of these nodules:

  • Steroid injections
  • Orthotics
  • Physical therapy to help apply anti-inflammatory creams on the bump 

Surgery is considered if the mass increases in size and the patient continues to feel pain after non-surgical methods are tried.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in McKinney and Coppell, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Tuesday, 13 December 2022 00:00

Simple Everyday Foot Care Techniques

Many people are experts in taking care of different parts of their body, but may lack the enthusiasm to properly care for their feet. This may lead to getting unwanted foot conditions, such as fungal infections, cracked skin, or corns. The feet may need to have additional pampering in the colder months, when they can become dry from the weather. There are basic methods that can be implemented, which can make the feet feel better. These can include washing them daily, followed by applying a good moisturizer. It can be helpful to exfoliate the skin on the feet on a monthly basis by using a loofah or pumice stone, in addition to soaking the feet in warm water every other week. One of the most important things that can be done for the feet is to wear shoes that are comfortable and fit well. It is suggested to limit the time wearing high heels, and this may help to prevent hammertoe and bunions from developing. If you would like more information about how to care for your feet daily, please ask a podiatrist who can provide you with helpful tips.

 

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM from Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. 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 our office located in McKinney and Coppell, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Tuesday, 06 December 2022 00:00

Pain in the Arch

When an individual experiences foot pain, they ought to take note of where and how they are feeling the pain. This is so because foot pain can often tell us a great deal about what the underlying problem might be. An individual can experience pain in virtually all parts of their foot, and this can point to different potential sources of pain. Sometimes, an individual might experience pain in the inside or arch of their foot. This can be indicative of several different things. For example, one might experience arch pain because of structural issues perhaps caused by weight gain, overuse, and physical stress. Additionally, pain in the arch may be indicative of a specific foot affliction such as plantar fasciitis, which is defined as the inflammation of the plantar fascia band of tissue along the arch of the foot. Contact a podiatrist today if you are experiencing arch pain. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Jeffrey Radack, DPM from Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. 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 our office located in McKinney and Coppell, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Foot Pain

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