Introduction
Can I run with a bunion? What are the non-surgical treatments for neuropathy? What is a podiatrist, anyway? Whatever your question, basic or complex, we can answer it. When it comes to feet, whatever your condition, simple or serious, we can treat it. Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics is your go-to source for information and expert foot care.
No question is too simple or too hard for us. If your concern is not listed here, call the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics at 916-961-3434 or visit any of our conveniently located offices in Carmichael, Folsom, and Roseville California.
Diabetic Foot Care
When you have diabetes, you can benefit from special socks if you have problems with your feet, including neuropathy and circulation issues. If you don鈥檛 have these problems, you can wear whatever socks you want, as long as they breathe well, and are not constricting your feet in any way. However, diabetic socks offer peace of mind and comfort with features like these:
Weave: Some regular socks are too tightly woven at the opening, which could constrict blood flow in the legs. Special socks made for those with diabetes usually have a larger weave that fits around the ankle and the calf to reduce tightness.
Material: They are also made of anti-microbial, anti-fungal, acrylic material that wicks moisture and prohibits the growth of bacteria. They are padded for protection too, and sewn without seams to reduce friction or irritation that could create blisters.
Color: Diabetic socks are light-colored as well, which can help people detect any bleeding or discharge from wounds on the feet.
Call the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics at 916-961-3434 to reach our office in Carmichael, which also houses the Foot and Ankle Centers for the Care of Neuropathy. We can treat your diabetic feet in a jiffy!
Preventing diabetic ulcers requires you to inspect your feet every day, keep your feet clean and dry, practice caution when cutting your nails, wear the right socks and shoes, and get regular check-ups.
There are also some things you shouldn鈥檛 do. Don鈥檛 try to get rid of calluses, warts, or blisters yourself. If you need help, schedule an appointment with the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics. Never go barefoot, even around your house. If you do, you risk stepping on something that could really get you in trouble, especially if the cut or scrape goes unnoticed and turns into an ulcer.
If you check your feet every day for any sores, cracks, tenderness, swelling, and tenderness, you鈥檒l be able to get early treatment if you see any problems developing. Soaking and cleaning your feet once a day in a foot bath is that extra step that will keep your feet soft, clean, and dry, and save you from getting most minor skin problems that snowball into bigger ones.
Don鈥檛 forget to schedule a check-up for your feet at least once a year with the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics in Carmichael, CA, at 916-961-3434.
Questions about at-home foot ulcer care and showering with your wound are best handled by your podiatrist, doctor, or nurse. There are many ways to treat foot ulcers and each doctor may have different methods.
However, there鈥檚 one basic rule to remember: Your dressing and the skin surrounding the wound should always be dry. Getting your bandage wet in the shower wouldn鈥檛 be the best idea鈥攊t may soften the healthy tissues and cause the ulcer to spread.
The wound should be cleansed daily, though, so your doctor may give you or your family members some home care ulcer-cleansing methods before you leave the hospital. Make sure you ask for their recommendations on how often you should change dressings.
We鈥檙e experts in neuropathy care and would love to answer some of these questions for you, too. Call the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics at 916-961-3434 to make an appointment and get your life back to normal!
If your feet feel numb and tingly, like they鈥檙e falling asleep, you may be experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Neuropathy is a result of nerve damage, either from an injury, infection, nutritional deficiency, herniated disk, medication, or other factors. The most common cause of this painful burning sensation is diabetes.
When you鈥檙e a diabetic, spikes in blood sugar damage the nerves and cause your limbs to lose feeling. Often, your feet experience symptoms first, since they鈥檙e the longest nerves in your body鈥攖hey鈥檙e the farthest ones away from the brain.
If you are seeking treatment for neuropathy or other nerve problems, whether your symptoms are just starting or the pain is too strong, visit the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics in Carmichael, CA. Diagnosing and treating this condition鈥攁s well as taking away your pain, numbness, and tingling鈥攁re our specialties. Make an appointment by calling 916-961-3434. While you鈥檙e at it, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Foot Trauma & Fractures
Poor blood flow is often caused by a narrowing of arteries, which means that less oxygen is brought to your legs and feet. The loss of oxygen is troubling because proper flow supplies the tissues with nutrients to help your body heal itself and function normally.
Cuts and scrapes that seem like minor problems need to be taken more seriously, as they can take longer to heal and may develop into wounds. In fact, some of these problems may not heal unless they鈥檙e treated by a podiatrist. If not properly cared for, those slow-healing wounds could develop into ulcers that may result in amputation.
Circulation problems in the feet and legs are often categorized as peripheral arterial disease. We can help treat your condition at Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics. Successful recovery from circulation problems usually require you to quit smoking, get more exercise, and manage your diabetes more closely. Please call us at 916-961-3434 or drop by our office in Carmichael, CA, to schedule an appointment. We also serve Roseville, Rocklin, and the surrounding Sacramento area.
If you are feeling tingling, burning, numbness, and shooting ankle pain that is similar to an electric shock, you may be experiencing tarsal tunnel syndrome. This set of symptoms appear when there鈥檚 a compression of the posterior tibial nerve that runs along the inside of the ankle. For this condition, it is important to see a doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms. If left untreated, tarsal tunnel syndrome can create permanent nerve damage.
It鈥檚 also possible that you have torn or inflamed your posterior tibial tendon. In this case, you could experience pain on the inside of your foot that gets worse with activities like running. You may also have pain on the outside of the ankle and notice a fallen arch on the affected foot. To initially treat posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, rest from activities, ice your foot, and make an appointment with a doctor.
There are many reasons for pain on the inside of your ankle鈥攊ncluding deltoid ligament sprains, synovitis, and stress fractures. See us as soon as you can to make sure you have the right diagnosis. The Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics can be reached in Carmichael, CA, at 916-961-3434.
Yoga and feet go together well! And not just that鈥攜oga and your back, hips, and knees also go together, too! Foot pain often creates problems that radiate into those areas, so it鈥檚 very beneficial to consider joining a class or practicing at home.
It鈥檚 also a good exercise because it鈥檚 low impact. Activities like running put a lot of repetitive pressure your feet, which can aggravate problems. Whether you鈥檙e looking for a less stressful exercise or rehabbing from an injury, yoga is a good place to start.
The ancient Indian practice can also serve as an activity for someone recovering from a broken foot. You can easily modify the poses according to your ability and strength. This means that you can slowly increase joint flexibility at a pace where you don鈥檛 put any extra strain on your feet.
People with arthritis, as well as those suffering from bunions, can also find that this meditative practice soothes the aching in their stiff joints.
Anyone looking for more advice on foot exercises should follow Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest. If you need to make an appointment, call our office in Carmichael, CA, at 916-961-3434.
Broken toe symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and bruising that lasts up to two weeks. Your toe may be crooked and red around the affected area. Walking and wearing shoes may create a lot of pain, since the movement irritates the break or crack. In some cases, blood will pool underneath the toenail.
You can care for the injury at home with rest, ice, elevation provided it is not dislocated. Many times people say to our office that they didn鈥檛 think a broken toe could be treated. Not only can IT be treated but if not treated properly one can go on to develop what is called a nonunion and the toe may stay broken for 6-12 months. If the break isn鈥檛 severe, this common injury will go away in four to six weeks with home treatment like taping and wearing stiff, protective shoes.
If your big toe is oddly out of place鈥攁nd especially if the break has created an open wound 鈥� you will need to come in for an evaluation. Call the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics at 916-961-3434 to make an appointment at our office in Carmichael, CA. We also serve the greater Sacramento area, including Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks.
At first, the ability to determine an ankle sprain vs. ankle fracture might be difficult. Let鈥檚 talk anatomy to clear things up.
The ankle connects the tibia and fibula of the lower leg with the talus on the top of your foot. Between these three bones are ligaments that hold the bones in place and allow for some elastic movement. Furthermore, tendons attach muscles to the bone, so you can move your foot around and keep the joints stable.
An ankle fracture is a break in one or more of these bones. An ankle sprain is damage to the ligaments. It happens when the ligament stretches beyond the elasticity it鈥檚 used to. You鈥檝e probably pulled the muscles and tendons past their limit as well.
Did that help? We hope it did! If you need to make an appointment with the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics for an ankle sprain or fracture, call 916-961-3434 to reach our office in Carmichael, CA.
Foot & Ankle
Ultrasounds are one of our diagnostic tools that help us to determine the extent of soft tissue injuries like Morton鈥檚 neuroma, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis. The soft tissue includes muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
In this painless test, sound waves are transmitted into the body, bounced back, and recorded鈥攁ll through a probe. If the object has a higher density, the image that appears will be bright white. If the examined tissue has less density, the image will appear gray.
We may opt to use ultrasound because it can be used on almost anyone. If you鈥檙e pregnant or have a pacemaker, you can have an ultrasound as opposed to an MRI or CT scan. Also, an ultrasound does not produce radiation like an X-ray or CT scan.
If you have more questions about diagnostics, feel free to ask our expert staff at Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics. You can call our office at 916-961-3434 to make an appointment. We鈥檙e also on Facebook and Pinterest!
If your heels hurt in the morning, you may have a condition called plantar fasciitis鈥攖he most common kind of heel pain. When you put too much pressure on your plantar fascia鈥攖he tissue that runs from heel to toe along the arch of your foot鈥攖iny tears can form in the tissue as a result of the stress. This creates pain and inflammation.
When you鈥檙e resting the foot, these tears try to repair themselves. However, when you take a step, you only reinjure the area by stretching out the tissue again. Often, these symptoms are felt when you first step out of bed in morning or stand up after sitting down for a long period of time.
People with this type of pain also experience dull or sharp pain, stiffness in the heel, and a burning feeling on the bottom of their feet that radiates into the back of their foot.
If you feel this type of pain in your heel, it鈥檚 best to get early treatment. Make an appointment at the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics in Carmichael, CA, by calling 916-961-3434.
Popping a blister isn鈥檛 necessary if it鈥檚 not causing you pain. Eventually, the skin underneath the blister will grow and absorb the fluid-filled bubble on your foot.
However, if the blister is so big or painful that you can鈥檛 walk, there鈥檚 a safe way to pop it and prevent infection. You should never pop a blister if you have diabetes or poor circulation鈥攁lways consult your doctor in that case.
First, wash your blister and hands with soap and water. Puncture a small hole on the side of the blister with a needle, sterilized by rubbing alcohol. Gently drain the fluid by squeezing or pressing on the area.
Don鈥檛 take the skin off! Apply some antibiotic cream over the patch and cover with a Band-Aid. After a few days, the skin on top should dry up. You can remove this with a sterilized tweezers or scissors.
If you experience symptoms of pain, redness, warm skin, or discharge from the area, please call the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics at 916-961-3434 so we can clean up the infection. someone recovering from a broken foot. You can easily modify the poses according to your ability and strength. This means that you can slowly increase joint flexibility at a pace where you don鈥檛 put any extra strain on your feet.
People with arthritis, as well as those suffering from bunions, can also find that this meditative practice soothes the aching in their stiff joints.
Anyone looking for more advice on foot exercises should follow Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest. If you need to make an appointment, call our office in Carmichael, CA, at 916-961-3434.
That painful heel bump you feel on the back of your foot is called Haglund鈥檚 deformity. It鈥檚 a bony enlargement on your heel bone caused by pressure from the backs of your shoes. The condition is also called 鈥減ump bump鈥� because it鈥檚 common in women who wear鈥攜ou guessed it鈥攑umps. You can find the condition on the entire back of your heel or just a section. Either way, it鈥檚 most commonly found on the outside of your heel, not the bottom.
Bursitis is also likely to manifest with this deformity. It occurs when a fluid-filled sac called a bursa becomes inflamed as friction and excessive pressure starts to rub over the extra bone. This is what can create most of the inflammation and swelling that will make walking painful for you.
A bump on the back of your heel can really create some problems when wearing shoes. Let the experts at Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics recommend the best kind of footwear for this condition. If you make an appointment with our office at 916-961-3434, we can even help you with some custom orthotics too!
You could have thick toenails for a plethora of reasons: fungal problems, old age, or damage from a traumatic injury. Proper nail trimming is important, so here are our tips on how to cut dense toenails.
First, soak your feet for about 10 minutes to soften up the nail. Make sure you鈥檙e very careful. While it鈥檚 easier to cut your toenails when they鈥檙e soft, it鈥檚 also easier to cut too short, which could create ingrown toenails or infections that lead to diabetic ulcers and wounds. Use a sharp nail clippers or nail nipper to make short, straight cuts across the toenail, starting at one side. Too big cuts could crack or tear the nail.
If you鈥檙e afraid you鈥檒l hurt yourself when trimming your toenails, don鈥檛 hesitate to call the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics at 916-961-3434. We offer medical nail trimming so you don鈥檛 have to go through the unnecessary pain and complications that come with cutting them yourself.
You could be losing balance because of peripheral neuropathy in your feet. One of the main symptoms of this condition is the loss of feeling and numbness, which can make it harder to sense the placement of your feet when you start walking. You may feel more uncoordinated than normal.
Also, you might develop a wider walking stance without even knowing it just to compensate for this lack of feeling. You may even drag or trip over your own feet.
The symptoms of neuropathy can start as a tingling or burning sensation but can develop into very serious symptoms with painful consequences. Our office has a special clinic, called the Foot and Ankle Centers for the Care of Neuropathy, just to reduce and lessen the symptoms of this condition. This way, you can take care of your balance problems too!
When you start experiencing these symptoms, make an appointment with the Premier Podiatry & Orthopedics. Our Carmichael office, which also serves Roseville and the greater Sacramento area, can be reached at 916-961-3434 and found on Facebook and Twitter!
The Care You Need, When (and How) You Need It
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