Items filtered by date: October 2022

Gout, a form of arthritis, is a painful inflammation of the joints that often develops in the big toe. Men aged about 40 or 50 and older adults who use diuretics are most commonly affected by gout. When the body is unable to rid itself of excess uric acid, small crystals may form that collect in the joints. The result is dramatic, sometimes happening overnight as the joint turns red, swells, and becomes very painful. Although gout can run in families, other factors may contribute to its development. Among them are excessive alcohol intake, not drinking enough water, obesity, and eating certain foods. One of the major ways to reduce the risk of gout is to change dietary habits. Refraining from food and beverages with high purine content, such as organ meat, red meat, seafood, and alcohol, can help. In addition, certain medications are known to help reduce uric levels. If you are experiencing symptoms related to gout, please seek the care of a podiatrist who can provide treatment options. 

Gout is a painful condition that can be treated. If you are seeking treatment, contact the foot specialists from Podiatry Associates of Belleville. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. The condition usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe. A gout attack can occur at any random time, such as the middle of the night while you are asleep.

Symptoms

• Intense Joint Pain - Usually around the large joint of your big toe, and it most severe within the first four to twelve hours
• Lingering Discomfort - Joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks
• Inflammation and Redness -Affected joints may become swollen, tender, warm and red
• Limited Range of Motion - May experience a decrease in joint mobility

Risk Factors

• Genetics - If family members have gout, you’re more likely to have it
• Medications - Diuretic medications can raise uric acid levels
• Gender/Age - Gout is more common in men until the age of 60. It is believed that estrogen protects women until that point
• Diet - Eating red meat and shellfish increases your risk
• Alcohol - Having more than two alcoholic drinks per day increases your risk
• Obesity - Obese people are at a higher risk for gout

Prior to visiting your podiatrist to receive treatment for gout, there are a few things you should do beforehand. If you have gout you should write down your symptoms--including when they started and how often you experience them, important medical information you may have, and any questions you may have. Writing down these three things will help your podiatrist in assessing your specific situation so that he or she may provide the best route of treatment for you.

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

A hammertoe is noticeable by the center joint of the toe forming a mountain-like shape rather than lying flat. Hammertoes can be caused by muscle imbalance, rheumatoid arthritis, or wearing shoes that fit improperly. The raised joint becomes painful as it rubs against the top of the shoe and can cause corns or calluses to develop. If the hammertoe is in a fixed position some form of surgery may be the best remedy for eliminating the symptoms that coincide. One solution is to remove parts of the toe bones. A second option is cutting or transplanting tendons in the toe. A third plan is to straighten the toe by fusing the bones which also keeps it from bending. It is strongly urged to seek the counsel of a podiatrist to decide which alternative is best for you. 

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact the foot specialists of Podiatry Associates of Belleville. Our doctors will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. It can be caused by the type of shoes you wear, your foot structure, trauma, and certain disease processes.

Symptoms

• Painful and/or difficult toe movement
• Swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Calluses/Corns
• Physical deformity

Risk Factors

• Age – The risk of hammertoe increases with age
• Sex – Women are more likely to have hammertoe compared to men
• Toe Length – You are more likely to develop hammertoe if your second toe is longer than your big toe
• Certain Diseases – Arthritis and diabetes may make you more likely to develop hammertoe

Treatment

If you have hammertoe, you should change into a more comfortable shoe that provides enough room for your toes. Exercises such as picking up marbles may strengthen and stretch your toe muscles. Nevertheless, it is important to seek assistance from a podiatrist in order to determine the severity of your hammertoe and see which treatment option will work best for you.

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

“Oh, my aching feet,” is a common complaint at the end of the day. That is because the feet work hard to carry the weight of the entire body all day long, particularly if you spend a lot of time standing or walking. Still, not all aches and pains in the feet are caused by activity. Flat feet, for instance, can contribute to increased foot fatigue. Aging can be another factor in aching feet, as the fat pads on the heel become thinner and the feet often become wider. The shoes worn throughout the day, especially high heels with pointy toes, can affect foot pain, too. Certain medical and physical conditions – including diabetes, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, and hammertoes – are often causes of foot pain. And of course injuries, such as stress fractures, sprains, or muscle strains, may be factors. Aching feet at the end of the day should not be a general cause for alarm, especially if the pain subsides after you rest or soak your feet. However, if the foot pain is ongoing or chronic, it may be a good idea to consult with a podiatrist for an evaluation. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with the foot specialists from Podiatry Associates of Belleville. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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

The medical term for a foot doctor is a podiatrist. This is a doctor who specializes in various conditions involving the feet and ankles. People who are interested in pursuing a career in podiatry will need to earn a bachelor’s degree, followed by four years of training in a podiatric medical school. Residency training begins after medical school and occurs in a hospital or clinic. There are different areas of foot medicine that podiatrists can choose to specialize in. These include wound care, surgery, diabetes, sports medicine, and more. Additionally, there are common everyday foot conditions like ingrown toenails, blisters, bunions, and fungal nails that podiatrists also treat. A podiatrist can prescribe medication to help with any foot or ankle ailment. If you are considering this type of career path, please confer with a podiatrist who can help you to determine if this is the correct choice for you.

If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, don’t join the stubborn majority refusing treatment. Feel free to contact the foot specialists from Podiatry Associates of Belleville. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is a Podiatrist?

Someone would seek the care of a podiatrist if they have suffered a foot injury or have common foot ailments such as heal spurs, bunions, arch problems, deformities, ingrown toenails, corns, foot and ankle problems, etc.

Podiatric Treatment

A podiatrist will treat the problematic areas of the feet, ankle or lower leg by prescribing the following:

• Physical therapy
• Drugs
• Orthotic inserts or soles
• Surgery on lower extremity fractures

A common podiatric procedure a podiatrist will use is a scanner or force plate which will allow the podiatrist to know the designs of orthotics. Patients are then told to follow a series of tasks to complete the treatment. The computer will scan the foot a see which areas show weight distribution and pressure points. The podiatrist will read the analysis and then determine which treatment plans are available.

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