Corns and calluses can become annoying if they grow to become irritating. Corns and calluses form as a result of constant rubbing and pressure on the feet. Calluses are usually flat bumps while corns are thick and circular. When treating your corns and calluses, make sure to see a health professional first. Using instruments like a pumice stone may be sufficient enough to remove smaller bumps, but refrain from using any sharp implements on your skin. Orthotics and insoles can also help alleviate any pain and pressure on your feet.

If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact one of our podiatrists of Livingston Footcare. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What are they? And how do you get rid of them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:
- Well-fitting socks
- Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
- Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Salicylic acid can help in getting rid of these corns because it dissolves keratin, which is the protein that makes up a good majority of corns. Podiatrists recommend that people with diabetes not use salicylic acid but should consult with their podiatrist regarding the treatment of corns.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to fit your foot and ankle needs.

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If you have Morton’s neuroma, then you may experience numbness or pain in your feet. Morton’s neuroma is described as a cyst that develops on your toes from repeated pressure. The cyst can cause pain and swelling, and if not treated, can change your gait. Morton’s neuroma, however, can be treated by taking over-the-counter medications, soaking your condition in hot and cold water alternatively, wearing arch supports, and giving your feet rest from physical activity. Custom orthotics can help treat Morton’s neuroma, but a good solution is to change to shoes that are comfortable and better fitting for your feet.

Morton’s Neuroma is a very uncomfortable condition to live with. If you think you have Morton’s neuroma contact one of our podiatrists of Livingston Footcare. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful foot condition that commonly affects the areas between the second and third or third and fourth toe, although other areas of the foot are also susceptible. Morton’s neuroma is caused by an inflamed nerve in the foot that is being squeezed and aggravated by surrounding bones.

What Increases the Chances of having Morton’s Neuroma?

·         -Ill-fitting high heels or shoes that add pressure to the toe or foot

·         -Jogging, running or any sport that involves constant impact to the foot

·         -Flat feet, bunions, and any other foot deformities

Morton’s neuroma is a very treatable condition. Orthotics and shoe inserts can often be used to alleviate the pain on the forefront of the feet. In more severe cases, corticosteroids can also be prescribed. In order to figure out the best treatment for your neuroma, it’s recommended to seek the care of a podiatrist who can diagnose your condition and provide different treatment options.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to fit your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about Morton’s neuroma.

Morton's Neuroma, also called Intermetatarsal Neuroma or Plantar Neuroma, is a condition that affects the nerves of the feet, usually the area between the third and fourth toe. Neuroma refers to a benign growth that can occur in different parts of the body. Morton's Neuroma strictly affects the feet. This condition causes the tissue around the nerves that lead to the toes becoming thick, causing pain in the ball of the foot.

This condition can be caused by injury, pressure or irritation. Normally no lump will be felt, but instead burning pain in the ball of the foot will be experienced. Numbness and tingling may also occur. With the onset of this condition, a person may feel pain when tight or narrow shoes are worn. As the condition worsens, the pain may persist for days, or even weeks.

Persistent foot pain should always be a concern. The foot should be examined by a podiatrist if pain persists longer than a few days with no relief from changing shoes. The earlier the foot is examined and treated, the less chance there will be for surgical treatment.

There are some factors that can play a role in the development of Morton's Neuroma. These include wearing ill-fitting shoes that cause pressure to the toes, such as high heels. Also, high impact exercise may contribute to the cause of this condition. Morton’s Neuroma may also develop if the foot sustains an injury. Another cause includes walking abnormally due to bunions or flat feet. This causes excessive pressure and irritates the tissue. At times, people are affected for no determinable reason.

Podiatrists can alleviate the effects of this condition using a treatment plan to help decrease the pain and heal the foot tissue. Depending upon the severity of the Morton's Neuroma, the treatment plan can vary. For cases that are mild to moderate, treatments may include applying padding to the arch to relieve pressure from the nerve and reduce compression while walking. Ice packs can also help reduce swelling. The podiatrist may also create a custom orthotic device to support the foot and reduce compression and pressure on the affected nerve. The doctor will probably advise against partaking in activities that cause constant pressure on the affected area. They may provide wider shoes to ease the pressure from the toes. If these treatments do not relieve the symptoms of this condition, the doctor may use injection therapy.

Surgical treatment may be recommended by the podiatrist if all other treatments fail to provide relief. Normally, the podiatric surgeon will decide on either a surgical procedure that involves removal of the affected nerve or will choose surgery to release the nerve. After examination, the surgeon will decide on the best approach to treat the problem.

Recovery varies according to the type of surgical procedure. The patient will also be instructed on the best shoe wear to prevent the return of this condition, along with changes to workout routines, if this was a cause. Preventative measures are important in ensuring the condition does not return.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome affects about 10 to 25 percent of the population, of which symptoms include lateral hip pain. The syndrome seems to affect women more than men, and older individuals are more prone to the condition. The treatment options for greater trochanteric pain syndrome are limited, but shockwave therapy is one possible solution. According to studies, shockwave therapy effectively reduced pain in patients who responded to the treatment. In addition to shockwave therapy, exercises to strengthen your muscles can supplement recovery from the syndrome.

Shockwave therapy is a treatment commonly used to treat various injuries and conditions, particularly plantar fasciitis in the feet. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of Livingston Footcare. Our doctors will fulfill your foot and ankle needs.

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a new treatment option designed to treat bone conditions such as tennis elbow, shoulder pain, and others. Shockwave therapy uses high intensity sound waves that are directed to the affected tissues of the body with pinpoint accuracy. The effects are very beneficial, leading to a production of collagen fibers, eliminating inflammation.

Who Benefits from Shockwave?

Shockwave is recommended for patients suffering from heel pain and associated problems. Heel pain is a common condition which can be caused by obesity, overexertion, and spending a substantial amount of time on hard floors with your feet exposed and unsupported.

Fast and Easy

The therapy is actually a simple process that can leave patients feeling better the very next day. Shockwave therapy is not as dramatic as it sounds. It enables more blood flow to effected areas, attacking the source of the problem so treatment lasts for a long time.

Treatment & Recovery Time

Shockwave treatment will enable your feet to recover quickly. This is especially important since surgery is not required. It is cost effective and does not require the use of anesthesia. This treatment is a better option to surgery, since it is proven safe.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to fit your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is one treatment option for plantar fascia, a condition that causes heel and foot inflammation and pain. This type of injury is often caused by overworking the feet. Heel pain is most common in people that exercise often, individuals who are overweight, and people whose profession require them to stand for long periods of time.

Heel pain can be caused by a number of problems including ill-fitting shoes, strenuous exercise routines or work hazards. Simple treatment options involve buying new shoes, taking ibuprofen, doing heel and foot exercises, and resting your feet. For severe cases, shockwave therapy can be considered a more viable form of treatment.

Shockwave therapy should be considered for patients that have had unsuccessful treatment or whose heel pain has lasted for more than six months. In shockwave therapy, a device delivers shockwaves to the patient’s body, which jumpstart the body’s repair mechanisms. These mechanisms then begin working more effectively to repair damage done to the heel area.

Shockwave therapy also helps eliminate pain in the heel area. When the body’s natural repair mechanisms are triggered, tissue healing in the body is sped up. This leads to pain reduction after pain transmission nerves are stimulated.

Shockwave therapy eliminates the risk factors associated with surgery, such as the use of anesthetics, and is less invasive. Since this technique also helps improve the body’s natural healing techniques, recovery time should be shorter than surgical procedures.

Discomfort issues can also be a side effect of treatment. Short-term issues normally include skin bruising, minor pain during and after treatment, swelling of the heel, and discolored tissue. However, these side effects of shockwave therapy usually disappear after a few days. The fast recovery time of shockwave therapy makes it easy for patients to return to their daily routines.

Like most types of treatments, surgeries, and medications, shockwave therapy is not for everyone. Potential patients with heart conditions and people with pacemakers should not be considered for this technique. People on certain types of medications, usually medications affecting blood clotting, would be ineligible for shockwave therapy. Children and pregnant women should avoid this treatment option as well.

Overall, shockwave therapy could be a great option for heel pain. It is less invasive than surgery, helps trigger natural healing mechanisms, and should be considered by people who have had long bouts of heel pain or tried conventional treatment options that were unsuccessful.

Alec Burks of the Utah Jazz will have to undergo surgery for a broken ankle despite being told no additional surgery would be required. Jazz sources stated, “Alec has chosen to have the surgery because it will potentially allow him to come back at an earlier date.” With Burks away from the Jazz, Coach Quin Snyder will have to decide what is necessary for the team before the All-Star Break.

Foot surgery is a serious deal and typically done if other treatments do not seem to work. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of Livingston Footcare. Our doctors will fulfill your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for extreme cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to help with the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary are:

·         Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions

·         Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues

·         Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

·         Bunionectomy for painful bunion growth

·         Surgical fusion for realignment of bones

·         Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated with technological advancement. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to fit your foot and ankle needs.

Foot surgery may be necessary for a variety of reasons, but it is normally reserved for cases in which less invasive procedures have failed to help with the problem. Cases in which surgery may be deemed necessary include, but are not limited to, surgically removing deformities of the foot (such as bone spurs and bunions), problems with arthritis that have caused severe bone issues within the foot, and reconstruction to attend to injuries caused by accidents and congenital malformation (such as club foot and flat feet). Foot surgery may be necessary for individuals of all ages and races.

If you find yourself in need of foot surgery, the reason why the surgery has been found to be necessary will dictate exactly what kind of surgery you need. If you have to have a growth, such as a bunion, removed, then you may undergo a bunionectomy. If your bones need to be realigned and fused together, then you may undergo a surgical fusion of the foot. If it is nerve pain and problems that you are enduring, then you may need to undergo surgery in which the tissue that surrounds the painful nerve is surgically removed. Normally other, less serious treatments are first applied when a problem is discovered, but if those treatments are found to be ineffective, surgical techniques are considered and used.

Even though surgery of the foot is usually reserved as a last resort by most physicians, there are some benefits if you and your doctor choose to use surgery to fix the problem. The first is that the pain associated with the issue is normally relieved, which means that you can finally resume the activities your foot problem was preventing you from participating in. The second benefit is that, once you have the surgery completed, the problem is generally eliminated since it has finally been addressed.

History of podiatry has shown that foot surgery techniques continue to advance every year. Endoscopic surgery is just one of the many advancements that have been made in the field of foot surgery. As technology improves, foot surgical techniques will also continue to improve. Many procedures can now be completed using a very small incision and smaller, more refined instruments. Because of these better tools, surgeries are becoming less invasive, and recovery time has become a great deal shorter. Shorter recovery periods mean that you will be back on your feet in no time.

Keeping your shoes clean is one important factor in ensuring your feet stay clean too. Make sure to always wear socks to prevent moisture from accumulating in your shoes or on your feet. Wash your feet often to repel foot odor and odor-causing bacteria. Antiperspirant sprays are also great for killing bacteria and getting rid of foot odor. Other less common solutions include using insoles that have activated charcoal, or carbon. Activated charcoal insoles are absorbent and can be adjusted to fit the size of your shoe. Use moisture-absorbing material like cedar shoe trees or newspaper to put in your shoes after wearing them. Don’t forget to also swap often between different pairs of shoes.

Every day foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, see Dr. Dave Poonai of Livingston Footcare. Our doctor will treat your feet in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Every Day Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. After all, without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks. It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before, for example.

For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops.

Also, wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Duke’s senior forward Amile Jefferson will be sidelined for a month following a broken right foot injury after the game against Utah in Madison Square Garden. Jefferson is considered Duke’s “most consistent front court player” in the season and his absence will impact the team. Jefferson averages 11.4 points. Duke won the game against Utah with a score of 9-1, a new record.

A broken foot requires immediate medical attention and treatment. If you need your feet checked, see Dr. Dave Poonai of Livingston Footcare. Our doctor will treat your feet in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury.

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

• Bruising

• Pain

• Redness

• Swelling

• Blue (foot)

• Numbness

• Cold

• Misshapen

• Cuts

• Deformities

Those that suspect they have a broken foot shoot seek urgent medical attention where a medical professional could diagnose the severity.

Treatment for broken bones varies depending on the cause, severity and location. Some will require the use of splints, casts or crutches while others could even involve surgery to repair the broken bones. Personal care includes the use of ice and keeping the foot stabilized and elevated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Photographer Stacy Kranitz, picked by Time magazine as Photographer of the Year 2015, suffered from plantar warts during the height of her career. Kranitz walked along the streets of California photographing people for a project, searching for young people to connect with. She says that her case of plantar warts “forc[ed] her to work more intimately with people,” as she could not walk very well because of the pain. Kranitz’s project focused on poverty and culture, often engaging closely with her photograph subjects.

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, see Dr. Dave Poonai of Livingston Footcare. Our doctor will treat your feet in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

·         Legions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy

·         Hard or thick callused spots

·         Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots

·         Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

·         Freezing

·         Electric tool removal

·         Laser Treatment

·         Topical Creams (prescription only)

·         Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, will help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in North Brunswick, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about plantar warts.