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Diagram showing Achilles tendon, tendinitis, tendinosis, and joint disease causes.
25Oct

The Achilles Tendon orcalcaneal tendonorheel cord, is the big entwinedensemble of fibrous tissuesthat is located at the back of the lower leg and connects the calf muscles(gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) to the heel bones (calcaneal tuberosity on the calcaneus).It is the largest and the strongest tendon in the human body. The Achilles tendon endures a lot of stress and pressure in the normal day-to-day activities, such as, walking, jumping, running, as well as athletic activities. However, a rupture in the Achilles tendon can be caused among the people of any age group, but most ruptures are caused during the age of 30-50, among the people who are very physically active or are professional athletes.

The tears in the tendon fibers can result in a partial or total disruption of the tendon. If you hear sudden pop sound at the back of the calf, then the condition might need instant medical care.

 tendon

Achilles Tendon: Causes

Achillis Tendonitis is normally caused by repetitive and intense pressure on the Achilles Tendon. The structure of the Tendon weakens with age, making it more prone to the injury. There are two main types of Tendonitis:

The first type of Tendonitis, Non-insertional Achilles Tendonitis, usually affects the younger adults. It causes pain and swelling as the small slits of the middle fibers of the tendon begins to disrupt.

The second type of Tendonitis, Insertional Achilles Tendonitis, can occur at any age, even to people who are not very physically active. The pain is caused due to additional bone development at the spot where the Tendon meets the heel bone.

Achilles Tendon: Symptoms

Achilles Tendonitis can weaken the tendon and can make the tendon more prone to the rupture, which may require an immediate surgical repair. The symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis are:

  1. Stiffness, aching or swelling within the tendon. Pain can be at its intensity upon waking up in the morning and worsening during the day due to increased activities. The pain would occur at the back of the leg or near the heel.
  1. Powerful penetrating pain when the sides of the tendon are squeezed. However, when the back of the tendon is touched or squeezed there is considerably less pain.
  1. Enlargement or growth of nodules may arise in the spots where the tissue is injured. The patient will experience difficulty in bending the affected foot.

Achilles Tendon: Treatment

After the Achillis Tendonitis is diagnosed by the doctor through your medical history, visible symptoms and X-ray results, it is important to get the right treatment.Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. If the injury is not very intense, the doctor will ask you to take considerable amount of rest, frequent ice compression at the affected area, intake of pain relieving drugs, special exercises that you can do on your own to strengthen the calf muscle, physiotheraphy, orthotic shoes (to lift your heel).

If the above treatment is not of much relief then the foot doctor might recommend surgery. Some of the surgical methods may include: surgery to extend the gastrocnemius (calf muscle) decline or surgery to remove the excess bone growth and to repair the tendon. 

It is very important to seek out a podiatrist if you believe you have an injury in the Achilles region, because further damage could result in severe complications that would make being mobile difficult, if not impossible.

 

 

Close-up of a foot showing an ingrown toenail on the big toe.
21Oct

Ingrown toenail is a common medical condition whereby the side or the corner of a toenail grows in the soft flesh. It leads to redness, pain, and swelling and the resultant infection makes ingrown toenail removal a necessity. It is commonly seen in the big toes. Though you can try home remedies for the toenails, it is better to go to a foot doctor to relieve the discomfort and prevent further complications.

Close-up of a foot showing an ingrown toenail on the big toe.

Causes of ingrown toenails:

Ingrown toenails can occur in both women and men. This condition is highly common in people whose feet sweats a lot, such as the teenagers. Even the elderly is at a higher risk because the toenails tend to thicken with age. There are multiple reasons why you might develop an ingrown toenail, such as:

  • Incorrectly cutting the toenails can lead to ingrowth. The toenails have to be cut straight because angling the sides of your nails can make them grow into the skin directly.
  • Curved or irregular toenails
  • Footwear that creates a lot of pressure on the big toes, like stocking and socks which are really tight, can cause ingrown toenails. Even shoes those are too narrow, tight, or flat for the feet.
  • Toenail injury might be the cause, including dropping a heavy object on the foot, stubbing the toe somewhere, or repeatedly kicking a football
  • Wrong posture
  • Not maintaining proper hygiene for your feet, like not keeping the feet dry or clean
  • Genetic causes
  • Diabetes or other such conditions that leads to loss of proper blood flow to the feet.

The athletic activities that require frequent usage of feet can make you prone to the condition of ingrown toenails. In the activities where you put constant pressure on the feet or kick any object for a long period of time, there is a high risk of your toenail getting damaged and the consequent development of the condition that needs ingrown toenail removal. Some of the sports that generally lead to the condition are:

  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Ballet
  • Kickboxing

Symptoms of ingrown toenails

Ingrown toenails are not just painful, but the condition also worsens progressively. The earliest symptoms of the condition are:

  • The skin right beside the nail becomes swollen, tender, and hard
  • A nagging pain when there is any pressure on that toe
  • Fluid accumulation around the infected toe.

If your toe has already become infected, then following are the symptoms you will notice:

  • Continuous pain
  • The skin around the nail becoming swollen and red
  • Bleeding or pus oozing out from the corner of the nail
  • Overgrown skin around the toenails

You need ingrown toenail removalas soon as you can in order to avoid any worsening of the symptoms.

For any questions that you have, get in touch with us at our office in Houston, TX. We have the latest treatment technologies and tools to cure all your foot and ankle conditions. Do not wait for the symptoms to worsen and contact your nearest podiatrists in Houston without further delay.

Close-up of toenail fungus on big toe with thick, discolored nail.
21Oct

Nail fungus is a common disease. It starts with a white and yellow spot under the tip of a fingernail or toenail and gradually the fungal infection spreads. With the increasing rot of the nail due to fungus, it may discolor the nail; thicken it to crumble at the edges. It may spread to other nails as well. We often ignore such nail fungus and if it is not bothering, we do not opt for any treatment. But if it turns out to be painful and has developed thickened nails, self-care and domestic medications might help. But even though the treatment helps it recover, there is always a chance of nail fungus to come back. Toenail fungus is seen more often than in fingernails. The disease of nail fungus is also called Onychomycosis.

Close-up of toenail fungus on big toe with thick, discolored nail.

Causes of nail fungus:

As the name suggests, fungus infection develops due to infection by a fungal organism (fungus). The most common form of fungi that cause nail fungus is known as a dermatophyte. Yeast and molds are other variables that cause fungal infection in nails. It is most commonly seen in older adults but does not imply it won’t occur in younger people. As the nail gets old, it becomes brittle and dry which results in the formation of cracks in nails. These cracks allow room for fungi to enter. Other causes of developing nail fungus can be- Reduced blood circulation to feet and a weak immune system.

Sometimes, nail fungus can also develop from an athlete’s foot. It spreads from one nail to another. But it occurs very rarely to get the disease from an affected person.

The chances of developing nail fungus occur when:

  • Old age
  • Reduced blood flow
  • Sweating heavily
  • Unhealthy conditions that allow fungi to grow
  • Athlete’s foot
  • Walking barefoot in damp areas such as swimming pools, bathrooms, etc.
  • Having an unattended skin or nail injury or in case of a skin condition such as psoriasis.
  • Suffering from diabetes
  • A problem in proper blood circulation
  • The weakened immune system of the body

Symptoms of nail fungus:

You might have developed a nail fungus if you observe the following symptoms growing in your nails:

  • Thickened
  • White nails start changing to yellow-brown
  • Brittle, crumbled or ragged
  • Distorted shape
  • Develops a dark color due to debris building up under your nail.
  • Foul smell.

If the domestic nail fungus cures are not improving the situation, you may want to consult a nail fungus doctor at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center. When the nails become extremely discolored, thickened or darkened, it is advisable not to ignore it anymore and consult a foot doctor urgently to get the best treatment for a fungal toenail. If you are already suffering from diabetes, it is a must to get treated by a physician.

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

Illustration of heel spur formation on the heel bone with labeled parts.
17Oct

Heel spur is a disease that is caused due to deposition of excessive calcium which leads to a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. An x-ray report can show a bony extension near the heel bone. Without the evidence of an x-ray report, the condition is termed as heel spur syndrome. Generally, heel spurs are painless but they can cause intense heel pain and pain while walking or any kind of leg movement. Heel spur often leads to plantar fasciitis. Heel spurs can be healed by exercise, medications, customized orthotics and cortisone injections. Surgery might be necessary if these treatments fail.

heelspur

Causes of heel spur:

Heel spurs are caused due to the accumulation of calcium deposits on the underside of the heel bone. These conditions develop over a large period of a couple of months. The situation of heel spurs can also be caused due to

  • strains on foot muscle and ligaments
  • stretching of the plantar fascia
  • Repeated tearing of the membrane covering the heel bone.

Heel spurs develop in patients who are athletes. People performing athletic activities that involve running and jumping are often affected by heel spurs.

The risk of developing heel spur increases due to these following factors:

  • Walking gait abnormalities, which causes to place excessive stress on the heel bone, ligaments, and nerve near the heel
  • Running or jogging on hard surfaces
  • Poor-fitting shoes or if the shoes are worn in the wrong way. The shoes especially which lack proper arch support increases the risk of causing heel spur.
  • Excess weight
  • Obesity

Symptoms of heel spurs:

There are no distinct symptoms for heel spur. But the development of heel spur can be assumed if we can feel chronic heel pain, especially while walking, jogging, running, or any leg movements. Another symptom is if inflammation is developed at the point of the spur formation.

Treatments:

Rest does not really help to recover pain to give heel spurs pain relief. You can feel a sharp pain as soon as you wake up from the bed. Regular walking helps in decreasing the pain. But there can be a recurrence of pain after prolonged walk or rest.

If the pain persists, consult a doctor. He will most probably prescribe:

  • Stretching exercises
  • Special shoe recommendations
  • Taping or strapping to rest stressed muscles and tendons.
  • Shoe inserts or orthotic devices.
  • Physical therapy
  • Night splints

Heel spur pain may also give a positive response to treatment involving medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). If shoe inserts are not working, cortisone injections are given to relieve the inflammation caused due to the heel pain.

If these methods and medications are still not able to improve the condition, the foot doctor at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center might suggest a surgery

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

 

Close-up of toes with hammertoe deformity on sandy surface.
13Oct

Hammer toe is a foot condition where the toe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint. The toe next to your big toe is usually affected. In the case of hammer toe, a toe gets deformed to bend or curl downward instead of pointing forward. It can be a deformity since birth but can also develop over a lifetime due to several reasons like arthritis, ill-fitting shoes etc.

Close-up of toes with hammertoe deformity on sandy surface.

Causes of Hammer toe

Generally, our toe is composed of two joints that make it possible to flex and move located at middle and bottom. But in the case of hammer toe, the middle joint becomes flexed or bent downwards. This is a special case of bunion deformity in the second and third toe. It is also caused when you have a bunion deformity in your big toe which pushes inward your second toe. But such deformity can be fixed by opting for Hammer Toes Treatment at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center.

The causes of developing such deformity are:

  • An accidental toe injury
  • Arthritis
  • Ill fitted shoes such as pointed heels.
  • Tightening of ligaments and tendons in the foot
  • Pressure from a bunion.
  • Sometimes due to a spinal cord or peripheral nerve damage.

You generally develop the risk of getting a hammertoe, if:

  • Your family has a genetic history
  • You have bunions, calluses or prolonged friction of the skin layers.

Visit a doctor or a bunion specialist in Houston TX in case you need sprained ankle treatment or bunion surgery to avoid any lingering disease.

Symptoms

You can understand if you have developed a hammertoe because it causes discomfort when you walk. Get hammertoe treatment in Houston as soon as you develop the symptoms. The deformity will cause you pain whenever you will try to stretch or move the affected toe.

The preliminary symptoms involve:

  • You can see your toe bent downwards.
  • Corns or calluses
  • Face difficulty while walking
  • Unable to stretch or wiggle your toes.

Do not delay and visit your podiatrist nearby as soon as you develop these symptoms. Even if you develop mere heel pain or corns, do not ignore. Visit your nearest Houston foot doctor or get a corn’s treatment in Houston at the earliest.

Treatment

Depending upon the condition of your toe, a suitable treatment is determined. You can start by wearing flat, properly fitting shoes or start wearing toe pads or insoles in your shoes. These pads will help to shift your toes back to position. This will also help in toning down the pain and would also help in fixing the appearance caused due to deformity. Do not pop blisters to cause any further pain or infection. The foot doctor at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center may prescribe OTC creams and cushions. If the condition gets severe, surgery might be the only option left for you. The surgery would cut open to reposition the toe, remove the injured bone or realign the joints. Surgery is the last resource. However, it is nothing serious and you can return home on the day of your surgery itself.

If you any other query, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston, TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all foot and ankle injuries.

Detailed illustration of ankle bones, tendons, and ligaments for foot health.
13Oct

Plantar fasciitis- symptoms and causes

Plantar fasciitis is basically a deformity of an inflamed thick band of tissues that connects the heel bone to the toes. It is commonly known as policeman’s heel. Our foot has a thick, fibrous band of tissues running from our heels to our toes. When these tissues are overly stretched, tiny tears occur in the tissue surface, which results in pain and inflammation. Traditionally foot doctors in Houston and Podiatrists Houston thought that heel spurs were the cause of plantar fasciitis. But modern treatment and research at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center proves that Heel spurs are the result and not the cause. They often prescribe heel spur pain relief in case of such a situation.

plantar

Causes of plantar fasciitis:

There are several reasons that contribute to the occurrence of plantar fasciitis. Generally, women are more prone to plantar fasciitis than men. The possibility of the occurrence of the disease increases with age. It also occurs when you are overweight or you stress your feet to the point of fatigue throughout the day.

 The risk of causing plantar fasciitis also increases if:

  • Your shoes are uncomfortable, worn out with thin soles.
  • You have flat feet or a very high arch.
  • You wear ill-fitting footwear such as high heeled sandals.
  • You have tight Achilles tendons pain or those known as ‘heel cords’.
  • You have an unusual posture and walk or foot position.
  • You are suffering from obesity.

If you bore such habits, then you should visit a foot and ankle specialist at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center in Houston TX. Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel pain which will cause obstruction to our regular pace in life activities.

plantar2

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis include the following:

  • Pain in heel and tenderness in your foot sole.
  • The affected heel would cause pain which will lead to difficulty in bearing weight or any activity involved with the foot.
  • It is difficult to walk, especially while taking the first few steps after waking up.
  • The heel pain is more like a burning pain and sharp, which can become severe.
  • Swelling of the bottom of the foot.
  • You will gradually realize while working out any athletic activities.
  • Swelling and tenderness at the insertion of the plantar fascia or the band of the tissue to the heel, on the bottom of the foot.

 You can start by preventing any stressful athletic activities. Visit for physical therapy from time to time. In severe cases, surgery is recommended. Treatment involves injections of cortisone in the foot which works as a pain reliever. Orthotic devices or shoe inserts are worn to take off the pressure from the plantar fascia. Heel lifts reduce pressure on Achilles tendon to relieve heel spur pain. Use sports running shoes with soft and cushioned insoles to reduce irritation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston, TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle injuries. Visit your nearest podiatrists in Houston or a foot doctor Houston, as soon as getting the symptoms.