Podiatry
Athletes Foot
Athlete’s Foot is a common foot condition that is caused by a fungal infection to the skin. Also referred to as Tinea Pedis, this fungus is more prone to develop in damp and hot environments. It can be easily picked up in very common places in Florida such as bathrooms, swimming pools, and locker rooms.
Common symptoms include:
- Dry
- Itching
- Flaking skin on the bottom of the feet
If not properly treated, the condition may worsen and spread to other parts of your body. If left completely untreated, it can even give rise to a bacterial infection. Come see our specialists today for a proper evaluation and a recommended treatment plan.
Arch Pain
Arch pain can be caused by a wide variety of foot and ankle issues. Most commonly, it is due to inflammation of the plantar fascia, termed plantar fasciitis.
Other reasons for arch pain could include:
- Acute injuries
- Stress fractures
- Soft tissue
- Bone masses
- Arthritis
- Nerve conditions
It is important to speak with a specialist to determine what underlying issue is present and what the proper treatment regimen is to resolve your pain.
Corns and Calluses
Corns and Calluses are very common foot conditions. They typically present as a thickened lesion within the skin. They often arise from an underlying deformity causing increased pressure on the skin. This can be precipitated by constant rubbing within in a shoe or increased pressure from a biomechanical abnormality.
You may be more prone to developing corns and calluses if you suffer from:
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Bone spurs
- Other deformities
Although these can cause significant pain and discomfort, our specialists can recommend an appropriate treatment to help ease your pain.
Cracked Heels
Cracked heels can be a painful, aggravating issue to deal with. It is important to see a specialist to evaluate your feet and ensure that a more significant problems is not present such as an open wounds or neuropathy. Trust our specialists to expertly evaluate and treat your pathology.
Custom Orthotics and Braces
Orthotics and bracing are a mainstay of non-conservative treatment measures to help alleviate foot and ankle pain. Our specialists will perform a clinical biomechanical evaluation of your feet which, in conjunction with advanced imaging studies, can identify what medical pathology is afflicting you.
Our podiatrist can determine whether you are a candidate for a custom, medical grade orthotic or brace. Utilizing advanced digital scanning module, we can obtain a three-dimensional industrial grade impression of your lower extremities. This allows us to extrapolate the most precise, accurate impression to produce an orthotic or bracing device that can help support and re-align your feet.
Common reasons why you may be a candidate for custom orthotics include but are not limited to:
- Flat feet
- Posterior tibial tendonitis/dysfunction
- High arch (cavus) feet
- Heel pain
- Bunions
- Arthritis
- Achilles tendonitis/pain
- Ankle sprains
- Sports injuries
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Foot/ankle wounds
Ingrown Nails
An ingrown nail is a common condition that occurs when the side of the toenail invades and grows into the skin of the nail border. This typically affects the great toenail more than the other toes.
You may notice:
- Accompanying pain
- Redness
- Swelling
Although the etiology is variable, it is most commonly due to trauma, tight fitting shoes, improper toenail trimming or fungal nails. If you notice increased warmth, drainage, redness, or odor it may be a sign that an infection is present to the area.
It is vital to seek out further medical care, especially if you are diabetic or have any other condition that may preclude you from healing. Standard of care sometimes care involves a small office procedure that will remove the offending nail and eliminate both the pain and likelihood of recurrence.
Our specialists can help determine the best treatment for you.
Fungal Nails
Nail fungus, often referred to as onychomycosis, is a common issue for patients who live in Florida. The fungus responsible for this infection typically grows in a warm and moist environment.
You may notice:
- Nails may thicken
- Become discolored
- Nails are brittle or misshaped
Once set in, nail fungus is very difficult eradicate. It important to get evaluated to ensure you are not at greater risk for a more serious infection. Our specialists have specific treatment plans that are designed to successfully treat your nail fungus.
Gout
Gout is condition that is caused abnormal deposits of crystalized uric acid in and around your joints. It most commonly affects the big toe but can affect any of the joints in your foot and ankle.
There are two primarily reasons why Gout develops:
- Either from your body overproducing uric acid
- Or from an inability of your body to excrete enough uric acid
- You may be at higher risk of developing Gout or having a flare with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, obesity and hypertension.
Over the counter medications and diet (dairy, shellfish, red meat, red wine and beer) may also trigger a Gout attack. Patients who have Gout may experience significant pain and the inability to ambulate normally.
You may notice:
- Warmth
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Limited range of motion
If left unresolved, you may have persistent pain, repeated flare-ups, and it could lead to destruction of your joints. It is important to speak with our specialists who can diagnose your pathology and provide a treatment regimen to help solve your Gout issue.
Heel Pain
Heel Pain is one of the most common issues that foot and ankle specialists treat. This is often caused by a condition called plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation to the long facial band of tissue on the bottom of the foot. It is important to seek evaluation with one of our specialists to help determine whether any other underlying pathology is responsible for your pain.
Other less common reasons for heel pain include:
- Bursitis
- Stress fractures
- Achilles tendonitis
- Soft tissue
- Bone masses
- Heel spurs
- Arthritis
- Nerve conditions
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It stems from inflammation to the long, thick fascial band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot.
This typically occurs when there is continued micro stress and strain that cause small tears in the fascia, leading to a repetitive cycle of inflammation. Patients often report debilitating pain that can range from mild to significant.
Common characteristics include:
- Sharp
- Burning
- Stabbing sensations most prevalent during the first few steps out of bed in the morning or after being off your feet for awhile.
Certain foot types and conditions may be more prone to developing plantar fasciitis such as:
- Flat feet (Pes Planus)
- High-arched feet (Pes Cavus)
- Achilles tendonitis
Patients who are on their feet for long periods of time, like to be barefooted, athletes and those whose activity may cause them to have overuse of the fascia may also be at higher risk of developing this condition. Our specialists can evaluate your feet to help determine the cause of your fasciitis and ensure that there are not any other underlying factors contributing to your pain.
Most cases of plantar fasciitis can be resolved with effective, non-surgical conservative treatment measures. Occasionally, conservative measures fail and intervention may be the best course of action. Our specialists typically employ a unique minimally invasive procedure that allows patients to walk the same day and return to activity even faster. Come see our specialists today for a proper evaluation and a recommended treatment plan.
Warts
Plantar warts are lesions that grow on the bottom of the foot because of an infection from the Human Papillomavirus within the top layer of the skin. Warts typically present as a small, thickened growth of skin that classically have little dark spots in the core of the lesion. Although benign (non-cancerous), these lesions can still cause pain, irritation and are able to spread to other parts of the body.
Left untreated, a single wart can grow larger and spread into a cluster of warts, termed mosaic warts. You should never assume that you have a wart and sometimes a biopsy of your lesion is recommended to rule out any underlying cancer.
- You should never attempt to remove a wart yourself as it could cause further harm.
The Remy Laser Foot Treatment
Florida Foot and Ankle Specialists proudly presents the Remy Class IV Laser therapy as part of our comprehensive treatment offerings. This advanced therapy delivers a quick, easy, and painless solution for various conditions .
We utilize the Remy Laser, renowned for its convenience, safety, and effectiveness in treating multiple foot conditions without side effects. Additionally, it minimizes reliance on pharmaceuticals for managing pain and inflammatory foot conditions.
With this laser, you can find relief from ailments including postoperative pain, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, arthritis, ankle sprains, nerve pain, wounds, fungus, and warts. By precisely targeting swelling and reducing inflammation, this cutting-edge therapy alleviates discomfort. Bid farewell to pain and embrace the remarkable effectiveness of laser therapy at Florida Foot and Ankle Specialists.
This site does not contain or provide medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general information and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. The use or reliance of any information contained on this site is solely at your own risk.