Posts for category: Foot Condition
Ankle and foot injuries could impact one or several structures in the ankles and feet. Your ankle and foot complex contains numerous joints, bones, tendons, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. A problem, even a seemingly minor one, with any of these parts could lead to pain, discomfort, and other ill effects.
For this, a proper diagnosis with your North Shore, IL, podiatrist, Dr. Gary Rogers here at Wilmette Foot and Ankle Clinic in Wilmette, IL, is crucial to obtain proper treatment.
Common Types of Ankle and Foot Injuries
- Dislocations and fractures of the toe, foot, or ankle
- Soft tissue injuries such as ankle sprains, foot and toe bruises, ligament tears, foot infections, and wounds, as well as Achilles tendon injuries
- Repetitive strain injuries such as bunions, toe, foot, or ankle tendinitis, hammer toe, metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, and heel spurs
- Deformities and defects like cavus foot and clubfoot and deformities due to injury like Charcot's foot
- Nerve-related conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and Morton’s neuroma
It’s vital to consult your podiatrist for persistent ankle or foot injury symptoms, including pain, numbness, or swelling. Seeking proper treatment early on can help prevent the progression of these symptoms and resolve the initial cause of the injury. Some injuries, such as fractures and infections (especially if you’re diabetic), will require immediate treatment.
Common Treatments for Foot and Ankle Injuries
During your consultation in our Wilmette, IL, office, your podiatrist in North Shore, IL, will recommend a treatment plan that’s specific to your injury. In general, the main treatment goals include improving your symptoms and fixing any physical issues. These usually require physical therapy.
For minor injuries OTC anti-inflammatory medications and the RICE (resting, icing, compressing, and icing) treatment protocol usually works. Some conditions due to injuries like heel spurs and bunions will require an overhaul of your footwear choices. You may likewise have to use orthotics to help improve your comfort and ankle and foot alignment.
Additionally, for severe injuries, you might have to wear a cast, walking boot, or splint, and use crutches. More potent prescription medicines, corticosteroids injections, and/or surgical intervention might also be necessary to effectively treat certain ankle and foot injuries.
Need Help With An Ankle or Foot Injury? Get In Touch With Us
Arrange an appointment with your North Shore, IL, podiatrist, Dr. Gary Rogers of Wilmette Foot and Ankle Clinic in Wilmette, IL, by calling (847) 256-4434.
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, and it is characterized by joint pain, inflammation, and damage. RA, like other kinds of arthritis, is progressive, which means that symptoms will gradually get worse over time if left untreated. So, how do you know if you might be developing RA in your feet? While a podiatrist can certainly provide you with a definitive diagnosis, here are some telltale signs of rheumatoid arthritis.- You experience pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints of the foot, particularly the toes
- You experience aching feet, particularly after activity or long periods of standing
- Some parts of your foot may feel oddly warm to the touch or may emanate heat while the rest of the foot feels normal
- The joints of the toes and ankles may swell
What does RA do to the feet and ankles?
Along with painful joints and stiffness, you may also notice other changes to your feet over time. Some of these changes include,
- Bunions
- Corns
- Hammertoes and claw toes
- Bursitis
- Circulation issues (e.g. atherosclerosis; Raynaud’s phenomena)
Since RA is not curable, your podiatrist will focus on crafting a treatment plan that will help to alleviate your symptoms and slow the progression of the disease to prevent severe and irreparable joint damage. Prescription medications known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are biologics that can reduce inflammation and prevent the progression of the disease.
Of course, there are also lifestyle changes you can make along with taking prescription medication that can also ease symptoms,
- Warm soaks
- Custom insoles or orthotics
- Pain relievers
- Compression
- Stretching exercises for the feet
- Bracing
- Steroid injections (for targeting severe inflammation)
Most people with RA will eventually develop foot and ankle problems, which is why it’s important to have a podiatrist on your team that can help you manage your RA effectively.
A sesamoid is a bone that connects to a tendon or muscle instead of another bone. The most common sesamoids are the patella (kneecap) and two bones found under the forefoot. The sesamoids in the foot help to provide the foot with weight-bearing support. Unfortunately, just like another bone, sesamoids can fracture or become inflamed. An inflamed sesamoid is known as sesamoiditis and it’s most often found in athletes.- Pain at the ball of the foot near the big toe
- Pain when bending or straightening the big toe
- Swelling
- Pain that comes up gradually
How is sesamoiditis treated?
The good news is that this inflammatory condition can be treated with rest and home care designed to ease the inflamed tendon or muscle. At-home care for sesamoiditis looks like:
- Avoiding any activities that put pressure on the foot
- Taking a pain reliever such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling
- Wearing supportive shoes with ample cushioning
- Applying ice to the foot for 10-15 minutes every few hours
- Avoiding shoes with pointed toes or high heels
If you are experiencing severe or persistent foot pain, you must seek podiatry care from a qualified foot and ankle specialist. Foot pain should not go ignored. Call your podiatrist today.
While tight, cramped shoes and those towering high heels may not immediately show you the damage that’s being done to your feet, over time you will certainly notice changes in the structure and function of your feet. Along with bunions, a common foot deformity, hammertoes are another deformity that causes the toes to bend downward at the middle joint. If the problem isn’t corrected, this simple and rather uncomfortable deformity can become severe. Here’s how to determine whether you may have hammertoes and what you can do about it now to prevent it from getting worse.Wear Appropriate Footwear
Consider Shoe Inserts
Apply Protective Padding
Practice Pain Management
Do I need surgery for a hammertoe?
If you are dealing with hammertoes or other foot problems, you must have a podiatrist that you can turn to for regular and immediate care.
A bunion can be a painful and debilitating foot condition, one that cannot be treated without a foot and ankle specialist. However, if you take proper care of your feet, you can reduce your risk of bunion development. Dr. Gary Rogers is a board-certified foot and ankle specialist based at Wilmette Foot and Ankle Clinic in Skokie, IL. Here are his tips for preventing bunion development.
What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a hard lump that forms on the base of your big toe. It causes pain and stiffness in the toe. Because it pushes the big toe into the next toe, callouses and corns may develop between the two toes. The bone deformity can make wearing shoes very uncomfortable, and over time you may find walking or standing very difficult.
The most likely cause of a bunion is squeezing the feet into narrow, pointed-toe shoes. Over time, this compresses the big toe against the other toes causing the lower joint to protrude from the foot’s natural alignment. Your Skokie foot and ankle specialist will be able to tell how severe your bunion is by taking an X-ray.
How to Prevent Bunion Development
Follow these tips to avoid bunions:
- Always wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes.
- Avoid shoes with a narrow toe box.
- Wear high heels in moderation.
- Take off your shoes frequently and rest your feet.
- Exercise your feet by stretching them and picking up small objects with your toes.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Bunion Treatment
Bunions can be treated by padding the swelling, wearing orthopedic shoes, and if the condition is severe, with foot surgery.
Don’t suffer in silence with bunions or other foot problems. If you’re looking for a foot and ankle specialist in Skokie, call Dr. Robert on 847-256-4434 to make an appointment.