Podiatry

At CiC, we take a comprehensive approach when it comes to your health and that includes your feet. Your feet are the foundation for everything you do, from standing and balancing to walking, dancing, or bowling, whatever activity moves you through life. It all starts with healthy feet.

We offer treatments for the following conditions:

 

A podiatrist specializes in diagnosing and treating problems that affect your foot and ankle. They evaluate symptoms, order and review x-rays and tests to diagnose the cause of any symptoms and treat all foot ailments.

Your feet play a key role in your overall well-being and if they hurt, that impacts your everyday living. If there is a problem with your feet, it may affect how your knee functions, cause discomfort in your hip, or lead to back pain, and most importantly your overall well-being.

Heel pain, bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, burning, tingling, and cramping, ingrown or fungus nails, and diabetic concerns are among the many complaints people have about their feet that affect their quality of life. The good news is that these conditions respond well with proper care.

Bunions

A bunion is a bump or bony enlargement that forms at your big toe joint. It can become painful and, if left untreated, may lead to other problems like hammertoes, corns, and calluses. It may even cause the big toe to shift and move under the second toe. It can become large and unattractive, and there can be increased swelling and pain around the joint.

Bunions will not heal themselves so don’t ignore them. Evaluation as soon as the condition is noticed is best. If caught early enough, bunions often respond to conservative care. The goal is to relieve the pain and slow the progression of the bunion.

There are several treatments available. Custom shoe inserts can be used to control the biomechanical imbalances present which may help alleviate pain.

Surgery becomes an option when your bunion is painful or there is damage to the cartilage in the joint. Today, advanced surgical techniques, combined with specific criteria allow doctors to individualize treatment for each patient. The procedures are done on an outpatient basis meaning there is no over-night stay.

Most of the time there is very little discomfort after surgery, and if so, is often less than the pain of the bunion that caused you to have the surgery in the first place. You should be able to walk on the repaired foot directly after surgery with a special boot or shoe.

Diabetic Foot care

When you have diabetes, you know you have pay attention to your overall health and caring for your feet is a big part of it. While complications from a foot problem are one of the most common reasons for a person living with diabetes to be admitted to the hospital, the good news is 50 to 75% of serious diabetic foot problems can be lessened or eliminated with day-to-day foot care and regular visits to a podiatrist.

Be Aware – Listen to what your feet are telling you. Persistent pain in your legs or feet is not normal. Pain is your body’s way of getting your attention and telling you something is wrong.

Be Proactive – Check your feet every day. Look at the top, the bottom, and even between your toes. Report any red spots, cuts or cracks, swelling, blisters, discoloration, or fluid drainage to your doctor.

Be in Control – You can affect what happens to your body by taking charge. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) reports that more than half of lower extremity diabetic amputations could be prevented by strictly following your doctor’s recommendations.

Be Moving – Regular physical activity helps maintain muscle, bone and joint health in your legs and feet. Walking helps improve circulation and is a great overall foot conditioner. Even losing a few pounds can take pressure off your feet and make your feel better.

Be Loud – If you notice any changes in your feet, no matter how small, say something right away! Call your CIC doctor if you see a change in skin color, temperature or texture, pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or infected nails.

Fungus Nails

Fungus nails can become thick or deformed, may separate from the toe and a yellowish, crumbly material can form. They can be unsightly and uncomfortable.  While nail fungus most likely will not cause any other serious health problems, it can be painful and make it difficult to wear certain shoes.  In the past, toenail fungus has been a very difficult condition to treat. 

There is FDA approved, low-level laser therapy available to treat this condition. It is painless, has a reported effective rate of approximately 88% and poses virtually no risk to the patient. This therapy operates under the principle of photochemistry by enhancing the natural processes of the immune system and impacting the structural integrity of the fungal strain. Simply put, low-level laser therapy can kill the fungus.  

Hammertoes

A hammertoe is when the toe is bent, it can happen to any of your little toes. When a toe is held in one position long enough, the muscles tighten and cannot stretch out. This causes the tip of the toe to hit the ground and makes it look like a hammer.

Pain can develop deep in the joints and create problems in other areas of the foot as you change the way you walk in response to the discomfort. Hammertoes can impact your quality of life by limiting how far you can walk or long you can stand.

Because hammertoes are a bony/structural condition, surgery is often needed to provide relief.  The goal of surgical correction is to restore normal alignment and function of the toe joint which will help relieve the pain. 

Heel pain and/or Plantar Fasciitis

Heel pain is that sharp pain you feel with every step you take. It’s typically worse pain worse when you first put weight on it in the morning, followed by an easing of the pain after moving around for a while, then the discomfort return as the day goes on.

In-office care can resolve heel pain up to 90 percent of the time. Treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammation, relieving stress on the soft tissues, and dealing with the imbalances to address the cause and alleviate the pain. Regenerative medicine, custom shoe inserts, cold laser therapy, and stretching exercises are all options directed at the source of the problem.

Ingrown Nails

An ingrown toenail happens when the nail curves or grows into the skin at the side of the nail. It is tender and painful, can make it hard to wear shoes, and it could be swollen and red. It will not heal on its own and can develop an infection. Treatment can be done at the first office visit so patients can start healing.

Neuroma

 A neuroma or Morton’s neuroma is thickening of the tissue around a nerve leading to the toes. Symptoms include burning, tingling, or cramping of a toe. It may feel numb or like there is a hot poker between your toes.

There are several ways to treat neuromas without surgery. Our doctors will create a personalized plan for you once they have examined your feet. Treatments include custom shoe inserts, medication, and injections. Treatment is focused on reducing inflammation and irritations.

Neuropathy or Burning, Tingling, Cramping

Neuropathy is a condition that involves damage to the peripheral nerves. Symptoms include muscle cramping, difficulty walking, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain in the legs or feet. In many cases, it’s caused by diabetes, but poor circulation can also cause these symptoms or make them worse.

It’s important to determine the cause of these neuropathy symptoms. In many cases, neuropathy is misdiagnosed, and medication is prescribed. This medication is not a cure, just a way to manage the symptoms. If the symptoms are caused by something other than neuropathy, that condition can get worse.

Diagnosing the cause of these symptoms is the first step towards treating them.

Poor Circulation or PAD

Poor circulation or PAD (peripheral artery disease) is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries which hardens into plaque. When this occurs, it limits the amount of blood that passes through the arteries.

Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your feet and toes which they need to stay healthy. When your feet aren’t getting an adequate supply, they start sending signals. Those signals include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or cramping.

When you ignore the symptoms, it can get worse. When you identify the cause and treat it, it’s possible to reverse the symptoms.

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