Items filtered by date: February 2022

Broken toes, while painful, are typically not serious and have a good prognosis, with most injuries healing within four to six weeks. In addition to pain, symptoms of a broken toe include swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking on the affected toe. Severe breaks, which may involve the bone sticking out at an angle, a visible deformity of the toe, or the bone breaking through the skin, should be treated by a medical professional immediately. A mild injury can be treated at home while you wait to see your podiatrist. If you suspect your toe may be broken, rest and elevate the affected foot on cushions, apply ice wrapped in a towel to the toe, and take over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling. If symptoms do not improve within a few days, it is strongly suggested that you see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Eugene Little, DPM from Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

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

When you stand on the ground, do you notice small, soft bumps on the bottoms of your feet? Do they disappear when you sit down? If so, you may have piezogenic pedal papules. These tiny bumps are round, squishy, and skin-colored and tend to occur around the heels. They are caused by fat below the skin poking through connective tissue defects in the feet. Piezogenic pedal papules are very common, affecting approximately 60% of adults. In the majority of cases, these papules cause no symptoms. In about 10% of people, papules may cause foot pain, which can be treated through conservative measures, such as avoiding standing for prolonged periods of time, treating any existing foot injuries, wearing orthotics, and weight loss. For more information about piezogenic pedal papules, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Eugene Little, DPM from Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor 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 Sidney, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

You probably have an ingrown toenail if the side of your toe turns red and sore and begins to swell. The main cause of this condition is that the nail pushes into the skin surrounding it and takes hold. One cause is wearing shoes that fit improperly, allowing little room in the toe box for your toes to move. Another cause is cutting toenails improperly. Nails that are rounded or trimmed down at the corners are at risk of becoming ingrown. The first way to avoid ingrown toenails is to cut your nails straight across. Second, try not to pick at your toenails or tear them off at the corners. Third, avoid wearing high heels with pointy toes and shoes that constrict your feet. If the affected toe swells and becomes filled with fluid or pus, it is likely infected. It is a good idea to seek immediate help from a podiatrist who can drain the area and treat it properly. If recurring ingrown toenails are a problem, it may be wise to make regular foot care appointments.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Eugene Little, DPM of Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

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

Hammertoe is a common foot deformity in which one or more of the smaller toes bend downward at the middle joint. Over time, the affected joints become stiff and difficult or even impossible to move. The tops of the affected toes can develop corns, blisters, and calluses from rubbing up against your shoes, causing pain and making it difficult to find proper footwear. Hammertoe is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time when it is left untreated. When caught in its earlier stages, hammertoe can be treated with conservative methods. These include wearing comfortable, properly fitted shoes, wearing orthotic inserts, and padding the affected toes to prevent skin irritation. For more information about hammertoe, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact Eugene Little, DPM of Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor 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 Sidney, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.