If you’re overloaded with work, stressed-out, and feel like you have a lot of pressure on you, a little help can go a long way! That’s not only true with people, but also with diabetic wounds. A big part of avoiding complications from a wound and allowing it to heal properly is taking pressure off it, and one great way to do that is by getting a little help from orthotics.
Your feet endure as much as 120% of your body weight with every step – that’s a lot of stress! If you have a wound, imagine the amount of pressure you place upon it every time you stand much less move. Custom orthotics are designed to fit exactly what your unique feet need, and when it comes to diabetic wounds, you need redistribution of weight so that pressure is redirected away from the problem area. Orthotics can do that!
In addition, these devices can provide added cushion and support to protect your feet from further harm. In fact, slip them inside a pair of diabetic shoes, and orthotics will not only help your wound heal, but they’ll help you feel less stressed about the situation, too, knowing your feet are safe.
Of course, it’s important to be diligent about your daily foot checks so you can catch wounds as soon as possible. A wound gone too long without care may need weight completely offloaded (not to mention serious intervention), but an injury caught early enough can often be addressed by simply good hygiene, antibiotic medication, a sterile bandage, and – you guessed it — orthotics!
So, if you have diabetes, call us to find out if orthotics could benefit you – not only in helping wounds heal, but also preventing them from developing in the first place! Contact our Bloomington, IN office today by dialing (812) 333-4422 to take the pressure off! Hey, you have enough to worry about when you have diabetes. With orthotics, there’s one less concern!
You might get pinched to grow an inch, or to ensure that you’re not dreaming, but when a nerve gets pinched, the only thing that grows is the pain and tingling feelings, which can definitely become a nightmare!
A pinched or compressed nerve in your foot can result in pain, a feeling of pins and needles, as well as burning sensations and numbness, all of which interfere with your quality of life. Activities you once enjoyed can become unbearable, and even day-to-day tasks can be difficult. Determining what’s behind pinched nerves provides valuable insight as to how you can prevent them from happening to you.
The most common culprits of a compressed nerve in the foot include:
With all that in mind, here are ways you can prevent a pinched nerve from occurring:
Healthy habits. Eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly helps with circulation as well as maintaining a healthy weight, reducing pressure on nerves. Alcohol inhibits the flow of nutrients to your nerves, so limiting your intake can also contribute to keeping nerves healthy. Finally, staying strong and flexible as a result of exercise and stretches encourages not only overall health, but healthy nerves as well!
Taking breaks. Activities that include repetitive actions are especially hard on nerves and can cause injuries and inflammation that put the squeeze on them! Be sure to take breaks during your sports and hobbies, and intersperse other activities throughout your routine. If you sustain an injury, seek treatment so it heals correctly.
Managing underlying conditions. It’s important to treat and manage conditions like diabetes and arthritis that can have ill-effects on nerve health. Staying on top of such conditions will go a long way toward keeping nerves safe from compression or damage.
Avoiding cramped positions and shoes. Make sure you don’t sit or rest for long periods of time with legs crossed which can cut off circulation and aid in nerve problems. Also, wear shoes that fit properly and do not squeeze toes or place too much pressure on the balls of your feet, and in turn the nerves found there.
If you follow these prevention tips, you will hopefully sidestep nerve problems, although there are other factors that can’t be controlled — like age, gender, and heredity – which may increase your risk. That’s why it’s important to come see us at the first signs of pain and tingling, and other symptoms. We will determine what’s behind your pinched nerve and get you started on an appropriate treatment plan. Call (812) 333-4422 to schedule a visit at our Bloomington, IN office today.
Okay, so it’s not a typical topic you might discuss around the water cooler, but tarsal tunnel syndrome is certainly worth talking about, especially if you are experiencing tingling, burning, numbness, and pain in your feet. While these symptoms are often associated with the nerve damage of neuropathy, there may be something else behind the strange sensations.
There is a nerve that travels down the inside of your ankle and into your foot. It’s called the posterior tibial nerve and it’s protected by – you guessed it — the tarsal tunnel. Usually, the tunnel allows the nerve plenty of room to do its thing (helping your foot have normal feeling), however, with tarsal tunnel syndrome, something occurs to narrow the tunnel and squeeze or pinch the nerve resulting in the symptoms above. What exactly the something is that’s causing the narrowing of the tunnel varies. It could be the result of having flat feet which over pronate and puts pressure on that side of your foot. It may be swelling from the inside due to an injury like a sprain, or a condition like diabetes or arthritis. Still another cause could be an internal growth such as a cyst. The only way to truly know is to come in for a foot exam so we can determine the guilty culprit behind your pinched nerve, and thus the appropriate course of treatment.
In most cases, conservative measures are all it takes to ease the discomfort of a compressed nerve in your ankle. These may include anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling, or physical therapy exercises. In addition, orthotics are often used to correct flat feet and remove pressure from the area. If these methods do not provide relief, surgery to release the tarsal tunnel may need to be considered. Surgery may also be necessary if a growth is to blame for your troubles.
That’s a lot of information you can share around the water cooler, but first, if you are experiencing tingling, burning, and numbness in your feet, call to schedule an appointment with us by dialing (812) 333-4422 to reach our Bloomington, IN office. We’ll get you and your feet back to feeling normal again in no time!
If you have diabetes, you know that you need to keep your blood sugar in check. You know you need to eat right and maintain a healthy weight. Hopefully, you also know to look over your feet every day. However, if you are experiencing numbness in your feet (common with diabetes), you may not know if you sustain an injury, and in this case especially, what you don’t know could hurt you!
If you can’t feel your feet, that means you can’t feel excessive heat, shoes rubbing, sharp objects being stepped on, or even a tiny scratch. Being unaware of an injury puts you at serious risk as the problem will likely go unnoticed, thus untreated. Even injuries that start out small can quickly snowball into big trouble with major consequences including amputation. Here’s why:
Diabetes is not only associated with nerve damage causing tingling, pain, burning and numbness in your feet, but the condition can negatively affect your circulation as well. Already, blood takes a long time to travel all the way to your feet, but with diabetes, blood flow is slowed even more which means the nutrients needed to heal foot injuries have a hard time reaching their destination. The longer it takes for a wound to heal, the stronger the chances are of a dangerous infection. All the more reason to address nerve damage as soon as possible and keep a close eye on those feet of yours!
Fortunately, there are ways to manage symptoms of numbness in your feet, as well as the tingling and burning sensations often experienced with it. Controlling your blood sugar, exercising, and making healthy lifestyle choices, like not smoking and limiting alcohol, are all ways you can encourage nerve health. When nerves are healthy, they’re able to send messages to your brain, which allows you to feel your feet again and know if something happens to them.
Call us to find out more or if you need help with a foot injury you didn’t realize you had. You can reach our Bloomington, IN office by dialing (812) 333-4422.
Get in the know about numbness in your feet, so it doesn’t get in the way of activities you enjoy — or worse, get you into a dangerous situation!
Neuropathy symptoms like burning, tingling, and lack of sensation stem from nerve damage to your feet. Your blood is what delivers the nutrients nerves need to be healthy, so it makes sense that when you improve blood flow, you improve nerve health and in turn minimize those nagging neuropathy symptoms that have been stopping you from doing the things you love. In other words, if you get that blood flowing, you can get back to your normal life! So, here are some great ways to boost circulation:
Exercise – this is not only beneficial in maintaining a healthy weight which keeps pressure off your feet, but it gets your heart pumping and blood flowing, too.
Massage – who doesn’t love a good foot massage? It’s relaxing and stimulates blood flow, so sit back and enjoy!
Heat Therapy – taking a warm bath or relaxing with a warm heating pad can boost circulation, not to mention reduce stress.
Managing stress – speaking of reducing stress, that helps too! Try meditating, doing yoga, breathing deeply, repeating a mantra or slowly counting to ten, and avoiding triggers that tend to stress you out.
Getting plenty of sleep – your body heals and makes repairs while you sleep, so give it the time it needs to get the work done!
Eating right – a diet rich in Vitamins C, E, and B3 will encourage an increase in blood flow, so be sure to get your fill of leafy greens, as well as food choices with built-in antioxidants like dark chocolate. Lean proteins are good options, too, as are items containing cayenne or garlic, and those with healthy fats, like avocados, nuts, and fish. Also, stay away from highly salted stuff!
Drinking right – limit caffeine and alcohol and instead drink plenty of water and green tea, which dilates blood vessels, thus helps get that blood moving.
Not smoking – smoking builds up plaque in your arteries which slows circulation – the opposite of what you want!
Follow these tips to improve blood flow and decrease neuropathy symptoms, and you’ll be back to your favorite activities before you know it! If you have any questions or need us for any reason, don’t hesitate to call our Bloomington, IN office at (812) 333-4422.
There are many potential sources of foot pain—and every patient’s case is unique to a certain degree—so the best way to find relief when your foot hurts is to come see us at our Bloomington, IN podiatrist office. Of course, there are also measures you can perform on your own in the comfort of your home to address painful symptoms. Depending on your case, we may even recommend a combination of treatment at our office and home care.
It would take a while if we were to individually cover all the conditions that can cause foot and ankle pain—besides, you can find a list with links to pages for foot and ankle conditions on the sidebar on this page—so let’s start with a look at what we mean by “chronic foot pain.”
Pain is either going to be chronic or temporary in nature when you have a foot problem. The key distinction between these is simply, and perhaps unsurprisingly, a matter of time. If you have a foot that is only sore for about a week or two before feeling better, the pain is not chronic. Instead, we consider this to be temporary. Chronic pain typically will last for weeks, months, or even years without subsiding.
This is not a comprehensive list—as noted, there are many different foot and ankle issues that need to be treated—but some of the more common ways for you to manage chronic pain include:
For additional information, contact our Bloomington, IN office by calling (812) 333-4422 or take advantage of our online form to connect with us now. Our staff will be glad to answer any questions and help set you up with an appointment that works best for you.
Even if you never set foot on a soccer field, tennis court, or baseball diamond, the odds are pretty good you will suffer a sprained ankle at least once in your life. Sure, these injuries happen rather easily when making a sudden move in an intense game, but sometimes all it takes is misjudging a curb or stair, or stepping in an indentation in the lawn.
When patients come see us for sports injury treatment—including treatment for chronic pain after an ankle sprain—there are usually several things they will want to know, including “how long until it’s better?” The answer obviously depends on several factors, specially the nature of the injury and its severity.
Ankle sprains are so commonplace that they might not seem like a big deal, but the fact of the matter is that returning to activity before complete ankle sprain recovery can potentially lead to increased and/or more severe issues in the future. We can certainly provide the treatment you need for ankle instability, it’s better if you can avoid it from happening in the first place. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the importance of recovering completely from a sprained ankle before you resume physical activities.
Ankle sprains are typically graded on three levels of severity:
Regardless as to how long recovery takes; it is important to emphasize that normal activities should not be resumed until the problem has been resolved. Complete ankle sprain recovery, for example, is essential before resuming a running program or playing tennis again. Going back to exercises and sports too soon can increase the risk for long-term issues.
The specific treatment plan we create for you in the event you develop chronic pain following an ankle sprain will be customized based on your unique situation, including severity of injury and level of physical activity. That said, there are some common components that may work particularly well, including:
Whereas the hope is to treat the condition effectively through the use of conservative methods, this isn’t always possible. Fortunately, there are surgical procedures we might use, particularly ones that reconstruct or repair damaged ligament(s).
To accurately diagnosis the severity of the injury and find out what to expect from your ankle sprain recovery, come see us here at our Bloomington, IN office. We will evaluate your injured ankle and provide a professional assessment, along with an effective treatment plan to get you back to activity in a safe manner! Call us at (812) 333-4422 to schedule your appointment or take advantage of our online form to have any questions answered or request additional information.
With 2017 still fresh, many people haven’t abandoned their New Year resolutions quite yet. Given the fact that a majority of New Year’s resolutions are centered on practices for better health—like exercising more frequently and eating better—we hope you are able to stick with any you’ve made for the whole year. Of course, if you didn’t make resolutions for January 1, you can still decide to make lifestyle changes to positively affect your health and wellbeing.
One of the more popular health-related resolutions is to start a running program. This can be a great idea. Running is a fantastic exercise that improves cardiovascular conditioning, burns calories, and relieves stress. With that being said, there’s also a certain degree of injury risk, especially if you make any of the common mistakes when buying running shoes. These include:
Making these mistakes while buying running shoes can lead to potential problems for your lower limbs, but now you know what not to do. Instead, buy your shoes in the late afternoon or early evening and only use the printed size as a general guideline (not a set-in-stone rule). Always try on both shoes to ensure proper fit, especially while wearing your running socks and using your orthotics.
Our hope is that you will be able to stay safe while starting—or continuing—your running program or going back to your old running plan. The choices you make with running shoes is certainly a starting point, but make sure you take measures like easing into running and always warming up first to reduce your risk of injury. In the event you do sustain a foot or ankle injury, come in and see us. Even something that seems to be minor can become a big problem if left untreated.
For more information on keeping your lower limbs safe while running, or to request an appointment with our Bloomington, IN office, either contact us online or call (812) 333-4422 and we will be glad to help!
Diabetes has wide-ranging effects on your body. It can be a dangerous health issue, but the good news is that you aren’t powerless when it comes to this disease!
There are actions within the realm of your control that can help you manage the disease and reduce your risk of serious medical complications. Let’s take a look at some of the diabetic lifestyle changes you can make to keep the disease in check:
Better eating. As you likely know, diabetes is the result of elevated blood sugar levels. One of the keys to managing the disease is to focus your diet on healthy eating. Before we delve into what actually constitutes “healthy eating,” here’s a quick tip that can help you find success – Instead of labeling food as “good” and “bad,” think and speak about your dietary habits in the context of “I am choosing to/not to eat _____.” This is an empowering frame of reference. Also, when you affix the “good” and “bad” labels, it can lead to a downward spiral if you go off the track.
More specifically, though, you need to base your diet on veggies, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, legumes, and nuts. (Actually, if you think about it, this is just a smart dietary plan for anyone, diabetic or not!) Contrary to what we have been told, it is best to avoid whole grains and fruit as they excessively raise blood sugar levels. Avoid sugary beverages and, instead, drink lots of water and unsweetened tea. Coffee can be fine, but don’t use sugar-laden syrups. If you get coffee from places like Starbucks, ask for sugar-free options.
Exercise. It is difficult to overstate just how important exercising is for you. The physical, mental, and emotional benefits are countless, including diabetes management. The cardiovascular benefits of regular exercise are particularly important as you manage your diabetes.
Before you begin any kind of workout program, make sure you consult with your primary care physician and our office (especially if it’s been a long time since you last worked out). We can determine if there are any existing or potential issues you need to be aware of. Also, we can provide recommendations for exercises that will be best for you.
Foot care. Given all the issues diabetes can cause for your body, it can be easy to forget how the disease affects the health of your feet. This is not something you want to overlook, though!
Diabetes contributes to both nerve damage (neuropathy) and weakened blood flow (peripheral arterial disease). In turn, these can lead to dangerous situations for your feet, like diabetic ulcers and Charcot foot.
Damaged nerves can leave you unable to feel when damage—including cuts, scrapes, ingrown toenails, and calluses—has been sustained to your lower limbs. Those might be relatively minor problems for someone with normally functioning nerves and immune systems, but they can break down, become infected, and lead to gangrene. Unfortunately, the only way to treat gangrene is amputation. A proper diabetic foot care plan is centered on prevention and protection for your lower limbs, along with daily inspection to catch issues early. If you would like assistance putting yours together, we will be glad to help.
Regular appointments. If you don’t already, make sure you come in to see us roughly every two months. Regular checkups are important so we can catch issues at their earliest, most-treatable stages. We can also review your daily inspection checklist and make sure everything is going well. Of course, this also gives you the chance to ask questions to a medical professional.
For additional information on diabetic foot care, the services we offer, or to request an appointment with our Bloomington, IN podiatrist office, give us a call at (812) 333-4422.
We treat patients for many different conditions, but one of the most concerning is nerve damage in feet. Neuropathy is a condition wherein your peripheral nerves—the ones responsible for recording information and communicating it back to the spinal column and brain (your central nervous system)—are damaged. This can become an emergency situation when an untreated minor cut or sore breaks down over time and becomes an ulcer.
Neuropathy is a concern no matter where in the body it develops, but nerve damage in the feet can be particularly alarming for a couple of reasons. First, your feet endure tremendous force loads on a daily basis, which puts them at heightened risk for injury and medical conditions. Second, feet are generally not particularly visible. Our lower limbs are often covered in socks and shoes, plus they are the furthest points on the body from our eyes. This means you have to be vigilant to catch those issues that can become medical emergencies if you have neuropathy!
Whereas neuropathy is commonly associated with diabetes—and rightfully so given that 60-70 percent of diabetic individuals will develop nerve damage during their lifetime—there are several other potential sources, including:
If you have sustained nerve damage in your feet that is causing problems like burning, tingling, or painful sensations, or you are unable to feel anything, come see us here at our Bloomington, IN office. We will determine the root cause of the problem and then create an effective treatment plan for you. If diabetes is responsible, we can help you develop a diabetic foot care plan to prevent issues from arising in the first place.
Call us at (812) 333-4422 for more information, or assistance in scheduling an appointment that works for you. You can also take advantage of our online form to contact us right now.
