Category: Blog

Have you been experiencing pain and swelling around my toe around the nail? Could it be an ingrown toenail? An ingrown toenail is a condition where one or both corners of the toenail grow into the soft flesh of the toes skin. It is a common condition and it affects the big toe. The result is swelling, pain, redness, and in severe cases, the toe is infected. The nail may have overgrown and inflamed skin over the tip that may be painful in response to pressure.

It can be treated at home but if you have questions about ingrown toenail treatment, reach out to a foot specialist for his/her expert advice. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist. Our foot and ankle doctor, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free on your feet.

Causes of ingrown toenails

• Cutting the nails short and not cutting straight across.
• Tight-fitting stockings, socks, or tight also increase the chances of ingrown toenails.
• Too tight, short, narrow ended or flat shoes, increase the chances of developing ingrown toenails.
• Injury through something dropping on the toe or kicking something hard.
• Walking and standing posture can affect the likelihood of ingrown toenails developing.
• Excess sweaty feet keep the skin moist and warm, leaving the toenails susceptible to the development of ingrown toenails and increased chances of ingrown toenail infection.
• Ingrown toenails can be heredity.
• Genetic factors, such as people with larger toenails.

Ingrown toenail treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as ingrown toenail symptoms appear, and if you have nerve damage in the foot, you have diabetes and poor circulation in the foot. Before taking over-the-counter medications that may mask the pain but not solve the problem, visit a foot doctor.

Infections – Bacteria enter through the point where the nail pierces the skin. It results in infection manifested by the area becoming red, painful, warm, and swollen, some times you might notice bleeding and pus oozing out. Keep your toes and toenails clean and dry to prevent infections.

Removal – If an ingrown toenail recurs, the cells in the nail bed may be removed and destroyed using a chemical such as phenol so that the toenail cannot grow again. During ingrown toenail removal, the doctor uses a local anesthetic and when it wears off, use painkillers. During the healing process, wear soft spacious shoes.

Surgery – A toenail avulsion is removing part of the nail through surgery. A podiatrist cuts away the edges of the toenail, to make it narrow and the skin folds on either side of the toenail may be removed. In some cases, if the toenail is distorted or thick, the whole nail is removed and you will be back to normal activity the next day.

Home treatment – Most patients are advised to treat the toenail themselves. The toenails are soaked in warm water with Epsom salt up to four times a day and using a cotton bud push the skin from the toenail. Do not cut the toenail repeatedly because it could make the problem worse. Wear footwear with plenty of room.

Ingrown toenails can be prevented, if the nails are cut straight across in a straight line or if you have circulatory problems see a podiatrist for professional trimming, maintain good foot hygiene, and choose proper fitting footwear.

Sever’s Disease Houston’s formal name is calcaneal apophysitis; it causes heel pain due to the irritation and swelling of the growth plate. The growth plate is a weaker layer of cartilage near where the bone growth takes place. The muscles and tendons become tight during growth pulling the heel and when active the tendons and muscles pull injuring the growth plate. Within a few months of management, the condition goes away without any lasting problems.

Who gets the Sever’s Disease and the Heel pain?

1. It is common in the skeletal of immature athletes because of an overuse injury to the Achilles tendon.
2. It is common in kids within the growth spurt especially between the age of 9 to 14 years old and common in males than females. It is because of the rapid growth rate in active adolescents.

• iii. Young people engaging in active activities or sports that require repetitive jumping and running such as cross-country, gymnastics, basketball, and soccer.

Risk factors that increase chances of developing sever’s disease

• Overuse injury from all-year-round sports or activities.
• Worn-out footwear or poorly fitting footwear.
• Poor training mechanics and training on hard surfaces.
• Biomechanical factors such as poor heel flexibility.
• Being overweight adds pressure to the foot.

Sever’s Disease Treatment

Severs disease treatment is self-limiting because it revolves around maturity and the closure of apophysis.

The non-operative options of severs disease treatment include

• Resting or enjoying periods of inactivity without active sporting until the symptoms subside.
• Wearing proper footwear, well maintained and updated.
• The use of orthotics or casting is dictated by clinicians for severe symptoms of the condition. It may mean some periods of immobilization depending on the severity of the symptoms. Heel pads and heel cups can also be used.
• Utilization of Achilles tendon stretches and include heel cord stretching, to strengthen dorsiflexor.
• Apply ice to the foot before and after activities, especially sports.
• Take over the counter painkillers with the guidance of a health professional.
• Wear open shoes at the back to avoid irritation to the heel.

The improvement of the symptoms takes place from 6 months onwards. It might not be necessary for injections or surgical interventions since the condition does not cause long-term complications.

Preventative measures

Preventative measures should be to avoid overuse injuries to the foot. It is essential to maintain adequate hydration, have adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and increase activity level at the rate of 10 percent every week.

Use stretching to maintain flexibility and use proper equipment and techniques for sporting activity.

Specialize in one single sport in the early years. Sometimes patients are involved in multiple sports that can cause a challenge during the healing process from the disease.

Sever’s disease Houston issues can be very uncomfortable to live with. If you are experiencing pain with your sever’s disease and the heel pain, contact the podiatrist at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

A bunion, usually a bony bump, that forms on the joint of the big toe. It means that some bones at the front of the foot have moved out of place, causing the big toe to pull towards the smaller toes, forcing the joint to stick out. The area around the joint is red and sore. The most obvious symptom of a bunion is a bulging lump at the joint of the toe. Avoid bunion surgery by seeking solutions immediately you notice bunion symptoms.

Causes of bunions

The exact cause of bunions is not known, but other likely reasons are

1. Foot deformities at birth.
2. Inherited foot type.
3. Foot injuries and stresses.
4. Some bunions have been linked to inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Tight or too-narrow shoes or high-heeled shoes cause bunions though some experts disagree with this.

Other factors that increase the risk of developing bunions are:

• Wearing high heels is believed to be the number one risk factor. High heels force the toes to the front of the shoes causing the toes to cramp.
• Wearing too narrow or tight shoes, likely pointed, cause bunions due to pressure on the toes cramped together.
• The tendency to develop bunions might be a result of inherited anatomy or structure of the foot.
• If you have an underlying condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, it likely favors the development of bunions.
• Adolescents, especially girls, are likely to get bunions. It is not known why, but doctors suspect the constant need to change footwear around this age as a contributing factor. However, bunions in adolescents and young people have not been linked to any underlying health condition.
• Bunionette forms at the little toe’s joint, often known as a tailor’s bunion, is caused by the pressure put on the side of the foot. It often happens due to sitting cross-legged for long hours, putting pressure on the side of the foot leading to bunions near the pinky toes.

Unless you seek bunion treatment Houston, bunions are permanent. However, several measures will make you comfortable and slow bunion progression. Some measures include

1. Maintain a healthy weight that does not put pressure on your feet.
2. Buy the gel-filled pad or moleskin from a drugstore for the protection of the bunion. You need to test the moleskin for a short time to determine if it helps ease pressure and pain.
3. Buy over-the-counter arch supports or shoe inserts that will position the foot correctly.
4. Following your podiatrist’s guidance, use a splint at night to ease the discomfort and hold the toe straight.
5. Take pain killers that are anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen.
6. Use massage, warm soaks, and icepacks regularly. If you have circulation problems, consult the foot doctor before using an icepack.
7. Buy proper fitting shoes with a wide toe box with room for your toes. The heels of the shoes should be lower than two inches.

Immediately you notice changes in the structure of the toe or foot, visit a bunion doctor to avoid complications such as stiff toe, chronic toe pain, and foot/toe deformity.

Over 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.