Illustration of Morton’s Neuroma showing nerve swelling and localized pain in the foot.
31Oct

Morton’s neuroma causes thickening of the tissue around the nerves leading to your toes. It is a painful condition affecting the ball of your foot between the third and fourth toes and the tissue around the nerves. Neuroma foot feels like you are standing on a pebble or a fold in Illustration of Morton’s Neuroma showing nerve swelling and localized pain in the foot. your sock. It causes a burning, sharp pain in the ball of the foot that radiates into the toes. The toes may feel numb, sting, tingling, and a burning sensation.

Who is vulnerable to developing Morton’s Neuroma?

Certain footwear

Shoes that are ill-fitting or high heeled shoes place extra pressure on the toes, and the ball of the foot causes the development of Morton’s Neuroma. It commonly affects women who wear high heels more because of compressing the toes together.

Certain sporting activities

High impact athletic activities that cause repetitive trauma to the feet, such as running and jogging, put extra pressure on the nerve of the foot. Also, sports that require wearing tight shoes such as rock climbing and snow skiing that puts pressure on your toes.

Foot deformities

Experts believe foot deformities are be associated with Morton’s Neuroma development. It is because the conditions cause the metatarsal bones to rub against the nerves. If you have the following, you might be vulnerable to the development of neuroma foot:

  • Hammertoes, where the middle joint of the toe is bent, and pressure is applied when one has footwear on.
  • A bony swelling, known as a bunion, puts pressure on the nerves of the foot.
  • Irregularly positioned toes.
  • Flat feet if you have a low arch or have no arch at all.
  • High arches that cause the instep of the foot to be raised.

Overweight

If you are overweight, you are at risk because the extra weight puts pressure on your feet. If you add footwear, it causes pressure to build on the nerves in the foot.

Home remedies

If you are experiencing pain from Morton’s neuroma, consider self-care to allow the nerve to heal.

  • Take over the counter anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
  • Use ice packs regularly massage to reduce pain. Roll the pack over the affected area and painful site.
  • If you are suffering due to foot deformities, you can buy footpads and arch supports. Fit inside your shoe to reduce the pressure placed on the nerve. They are available over the counter or consult a foot doctor who can mold an exact fit for your foot.
  • Change your footwear to lower heeled shoes or shoes with extra depth and a broad toe box.
  • Take a break from active sports. You can reduce aerobic exercises, jogging, or dancing that put extra pressure on your feet.

If these home remedies do not work, the doctor might recommend other Morton’s neuroma treatment such as steroid injection, decompression surgery, and in severe cases, removal of the nerve is done.

Here at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center  located in Houston, Texas, and covering surrounding areas like Cypress, and Katy, TX. Ejodamen Shobowale, DPM and her highly skilled staff provide personalized comprehensive care for all your podiatry and sport medicine needs. Whether the issue is foot-related like hammertoes, or toenail fungus or involves pain in the heel , nerves, or joints, Dr. Sho, as she is fondly called, can get you back on your feet in no time.

Illustration of foot with pain and red target zones for injury prevention.
25Oct

Illustration of foot with pain and red target zones for injury prevention.

As we get older, falling could lead to a broken foot or foot fractures that may be the beginning of several hospital trips and health problems. A simple fall could turn into a broken foot, broken ankle, fractured ankle, foot fracture, and a lifetime problem. The risk of falling and developing fall-related complications increases as you get older. The fear of falling is real across those who have experienced a fall and those who have not. Lifestyle and personal factors that can be changed cause falls. It is critical to prevent falling, broken foot, and foot fractures by maintaining your health by

  • Maintaining your bone health

If you maintain the strength of your bones, you will prevent fractures. Healthy bones will not prevent a fall, but the bones will not be prone to fractures that will lead to many hospital trips, sometimes disability, and in severe cases, death. You can improve your bone health at any age by increasing the intake of vitamin D and calcium. Some people prefer taking supplements, but you can include good sources of calcium such as dark green leafy vegetables, dairy products, foods fortified with calcium, sardines, soybeans, nuts such as almonds, and salmon with bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is absorbed by the body when one is out in the sun. For older people, the body does not absorb enough vitamin D from the sun, so they need to increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin D or supplements.

  • Be physically active

Being physically active is a guard to future falls and cracks, it fortifies the muscles, and builds adaptability. Physical activity improves your sleep, decreases pain from arthritis, and avoids muscle shrinkage. Also, the lungs and heart work well and improve blood flow preventing blood clots.

  • Have your hearing and eyesight tested

Changes in sight and hearing may cause a fall causing an ankle break and fractures. Once your eyesight is tested, and if you get new contact lenses, get used to them before moving around with them but always wear them whenever needed. If you have a hearing aid, ensure it fits and you have it all the time.

  • Have your medicine reviewed

It is crucial to understand the side effects of the medications you are on. Some might cause imbalance, dizziness, confusion, and make you sleepy. Some medications escalate the side effects when used together. Carry them all and any additional supplements you are taking to the doctor for you to get correct guidance if they are causing the risk of falling. If it is necessary to continue with the medications, the doctor will give you the way forward on the prevention of falling when on medication. 

  • Always wear safe footwear

Our feet have lots of nerves that judge the position of our bodies and they need to stay firmly on the ground when standing or taking steps. You can contact a foot doctor who will explain what kind of footwear is suitable for your feet. The soles of the shoes should not be too thick or too thin. Wear rubber-soled shoes, lace shoes, and non-skid shoes that will fully support your feet. Always keep track of how many times you fall although you did not get hurt and share these concerns with a health care professional. It could be a sign of medical problems and sometimes they might recommend physical therapy or the use of walking aids to prevents future falls.

At DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center located in Houston, Texas, Ejodamen Shobowale, DPM and her caring staff strive to provide the best comprehensive care for all podiatry and sport medicine related issues. If the foot and ankle issue, is foot-related like toenail fungus or heel pain, or involves foot deformities such as bunions or hammertoes, the foot specialist at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center can get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.

 

Podiatrist examining patient's foot in a clinical setting.
22Oct

 Is it time to look for foot care near me? Proper foot care involves maintenance to keep your feet healthy and prevent problems. Your feet need   some tender loving care since they are responsible for taking more than a thousand steps daily in addition to bearing your weight with every  step. Foot and ankle care are essential to maintain optimum function and avoid problems.

 Basic foot care tipsproper footcare

  •  Maintain blood circulation by exercising or walking 30 minutes a day, five to seven times a week.
  • Give your feet a rest by lying back and elevate your feet to relax. With your fingers, gently massage the feet or roll them over a golf ball or a rolling pin.
  • Ensure that your feet are always dry and clean to prevent fungus infections; wear clean well-dried socks, and air out your shoes.
  • Inspect your feet regularly and if you notice redness, sores, or cracked skin, attend to them immediately. For diabetic patients, immediately visit a foot care clinic if you notice any of the above.
  • Cut across the toenails straight and leave them a little longer than the tips of the toes to avoid ingrown toenails.
  • Make it a habit to use a pumice stone to remove thickened skin on calluses and corns.
  • Always keep the feet moisturized to avoid excessive dryness and cracking. In case the cracking and drying cannot be contained by home interventions, contact a podiatrist for a prescribed treatment.

 

Ensuring proper foot care when buying shoes

Most of the time, we choose style over the comfort, we cram our feet into too tight or too high shoes that could cause more problems for the feet.

  • When trying shoes, walk around, lean, jog, and jump to see how comfortable the shoe is. If it feels uncomfortable, do not buy the shoes avoid damaging your feet and your body.
  • For men, wear the socks you plan to wear with the shoes when you try them.
  • Shop for the shoes when the feet are a bit swollen at the end of the day.
  • Check for good quality shoes and durable with finished edges and smooth stitching.
  • For your child, buy shoes that match their daily activity.
  • Avoid hand-me-downs for your child because the shoes might be uncomfortable for your child. Oversized shoes that they can grow into can cause blisters.
  • Most feet injuries happen at work meaning you must get proper protective footwear. Add special features to your shoes for protection to protect against specific hazards.

Everyone needs proper foot care but in case you notice a problem with your feet consult a podiatrist right away so that it does not get worse. However, there are groups of people who need extra care for their feet including the children, the elderly, athletes, and diabetic patients. save the toes and feet from disabling injuries by maintaining family foot care and visiting a foot care clinic for any concerns you might have.

Surgeons performing foot surgery in an operating room.
8Oct

Surgeons performing foot surgery in an operating room.

The doctor can understand developmental problems in babies and conditions that occur later in life. The first interventions to foot and ankle problems are conservative management and visiting a podiatrist for treatment. No matter the foot condition, if the podiatrist determines that the pain and deformity are persistent, then foot surgery may be the better option. It helps restore the function of the foot and ankle while alleviating discomfort.

Testing and care

Undergoing foot and ankle surgical procedure follows undertaking examinations and tests. A foot doctor takes time to examine the medical history and medical conditions. An evaluation of your health is given to ensure a fruitful and improve the success of the procedure.

Types of foot surgery

Bunion surgery: It is offered depending on the severity of joint involvement and severity of the bunion. Your foot surgeon explains the appropriate procedure for your bunion and the recovery time needed.

Fusions: It is done to treat painful arthritic conditions. This procedure involves removing the cartilages from the joints then join the bones together with pins, screws, plates, or a combination of either, so they do not move.

Hammertoe surgery: Involves removing a portion of the bones in the toe to realign or fusing the joints in the toe. It might involve temporary wiring to hold the toes straight permanent implant or realigning.

Heel spur surgery: Based on the foot condition, this is done to relieve pain and restore mobility. Surgical enhancements and modifications ensure you experience relief due to plantar fascia release.

Metatarsal surgery: This procedure is done on the long bones of the feet behind the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes. The surgery is to distribute the body weight-bearing ball. In severe cases, the metatarsal heads are removed.

Nail surgery: Usually performed on infected, deformed, or damaged toenails. It is done under local anesthetic. Depending on the assessment, the nail may be partially or totally. There are two types of nail surgeries; avulsion that allows a new nail to grow back or matrixectomy that is permanent and does not allow any nail growth.

Neuroma surgery: It is the removal of benign enlargement of the nerve between the metatarsal heads. The procedure is done if the condition is causing numbness, burning, or tingling sensations to the toes.

Reconstructive surgery: It is a surgical repair, that is done to regain the stability and function to prevent deformity, reduce pain. There are different types of reconstructive surgery that repair foot bones.

Tendon Surgery: Done for acute injuries and chronic conditions such as to lengthen or shorten the tendon, to improve the ankle and foot function the tendons may be re-routed.

After surgery care

The kind of surgery and the length of recovery is determined by the type of surgical procedure performed. The basics of post-surgery care include plenty of rest, compression, ice, and elevation. Your doctor will determine the right time to be up and running your daily activities. Ensure you discuss further post-surgical procedure care with the best foot doctor Houston.

Close-up of cracked heels on feet, showing dry, damaged skin.
2Oct

crackedheels

Cracked heels are common, with 20 percent of adults having experienced cracked heels at one time. It can happen in children also, though it seems to affect women more. In severe cases, dry cracked feet with cuts cause discomfort and pain when walking.

The best-cracked heels remedy is to prevent them. Look at your daily routine and identify any habits that leave the heels vulnerable to cracks and alter them to prevent cracked heels.

Some factors that pose a risk to the development of cracked heels include

  1. Lack of moisture

This causes most cracked heels because the skin under the feet is rough, chapped, and dry. It has a small number of sweat glands and hence less skin elasticity. Exposing your feet to water for long strips off the natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry.

Apply thick moisturizers to soften and moisturize the heels. Find moisturizers with the following ingredients urea, salicylic acid, saccharide isomerate, and alpha-hydroxy acids. These also are the best cream for cracked heels and help in treating cracked heels.

  1. Deficiencies

Inadequate intake of zinc, vitamins, and minerals affects the health of your heels and they may crack. Increase the intake of these in your diet for a supple heel skin.

  1. Applied Pressure

If you spend a long time standing during the day, the excess stress is applied to the skin of the heel may cause a crack. The pressure put and the lack of a flexible heel skin leads to cracked heels. Being overweight also increases the pressure on the fat pad under the heel as it expands sideways. The wearing of exposing footwear, such as open back sandals and shoes, forces the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increase the possibility of cracked heels.

Regular foot care through soaking and moisturizing is crucial, especially where pressure is applied. Keep your feet for up to 20 minutes in lukewarm soapy water. Then use a foot scrubber or pumice stone to get rid of thick hard skin. Wipe your feet off and apply a thick moisturizer. Apply petroleum jelly to lock in moisture and put on socks. One can also use moisturizing heel sleeves that contain vitamins and therapeutic oils to treat the dry skin.

  1. Disorders

Some skin conditions leave the heel susceptible to cracking. These conditions include athletes’ foot, eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, thyroid disease, among other skin conditions. Aging skin also loses its elasticity with age and chances of dry cracked heels are high. In case you experience cracked heels due to medical conditions or aging you need to cracked heels treatment from a podiatrist before applying any foot crack cream. Also, if you experience severely cracked heels, seek evaluation by a foot doctor regardless of your medical history.

However, the best form of treatment for a cracked heel is to prevent cracks from occurring in the first place. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist if you have been unsuccessful in getting rid of your cracked heels. Our foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide you with the care needed to get you up and running in no time.

Close-up of elderly foot with skin issues, being examined by a healthcare professional.
23Sep

elderly foot care

Foot problems in the elderly develop due to the aging process, poor circulation, and systematic diseases. The common causes of pain are disability, skin problems, calluses, corns, and nails. They can lead to structural problems and disorders that can cause the seniors immobility for a while. When seeking geriatric foot care, consult a foot health specialist who can identify minor and serious foot problems and conditions, and treat them accordingly.

How to offer elderly foot care services

With aging, feet become wider and flatten because the fatty padding wears down. The joints and bones are exposed to tear and wear. There are elderly foot care services that are readily available for seniors.

  1. Maintain good feet hygiene

Whether an older adult needs help with bathes, the feet should be washed at least once a week. Maintaining foot hygiene prevents viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Foot cleaning can be done outside the shower. Regular foot wipe downs and foot massages promote relaxation and elevate blood circulation.

  1. Moisturize the feet

Older adults have drier skin that is more prone to breaking, flaking, and cracking that causes open foot sores. After thorough washing and drying the feet, apply a lotion that locks in moisture to keep the skin supple and soft. Cover the feet with cotton and acrylic blend socks for warmth and comfort.

  1. Toenail cutting service for the elderly

It is a crucial part of foot care because overgrown toenails interfere with mobility and cause pain. However, toenail cutting service should be done by a podiatrist for elderly especially, if the older adult has health conditions such as diabetes or dementia to avoid causing discomfort, fear, or paranoia.

DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center specializes in geriatric foot care treatment. Feel free to contact our office to book an appointment with our podiatrist. Our Houston foot specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide your elderly one with the care needed to keep them pain-free and on their feet.

  1. Regularly examine the feet

You need to closely monitor the senior’s feet and take note of any cracks, cuts, splinters, pressure sores, and blisters. The most common location for bedsores is on the heels of the feet. If the senior spends most time in bed or a chair, pressure or irritation on the skin can cause tissue breakdown. If these injuries do not show improvement within 24 hours, contact a specialist.

  1. Proper footwear

As I age, I also need to contact senior foot care near me in Houston to have my feet measured to get the right shoe sizes. Oversize or small size shoes affect the comfort levels of the feet that can cause blisters and other ailments that can impair mobility. The shoe heels should not be higher than 1 inch, and they should support the foot arch type.

Proper elderly foot care is given to non-diabetic and diabetic elderly patients. Minor foot abnormalities that are preventable may lead to severe foot problems if not attended to on time. Injuries can impair the function of the feet and cause mobility and balance issues to the elderly. Podiatrists are well trained to give foot care programs following the pathophysiology of foot injuries and provide nail care.