What are the Symptoms of Toenail Fungus?

Every person is unique, which means that not every person experiences every symptom of toenail fungus. You may have one symptom – discolored toenails, for example, with nails that appear yellow, brown, black, or mottled – or you may have a combination of symptoms, such as discolored toenails, embarrassing odor, or a change in toenail texture.

What Is The Cause of Toenail Fungus?

Toenail fungus is caused by microscopic spores, also known as onychomycosis, which occur naturally everywhere in our environment. The spores are most prevalent in warm, moist settings frequented by many people, such as communal showers or locker rooms. When these spores find their way underneath your toenail, they flourish and grow into a toenail fungal infection.

What Is The Best Way To Cure Toenail Fungus?

When searching for a cure for your toenail fungus, you’ll discover that there are treatment options available. Your CT podiatrist may prescribe an oral medication, which attacks the infection from the inside of your body out. This is an expensive option which requires at least one doctor’s visit and taking a prescription medication –another pill! – for seven to ten days.

Another option, although not a very good one, are the topical creams and lotions for toenail fungus available at grocery and discount stores. These treatments require several messy applications over the course of several days. You will generally need to purchase several tubes of topical treatment to treat one single case of toenail fungus. Most people have difficulty complying with this demanding, expensive routine and for this reason, topical treatments do not offer satisfying results for toenail fungus treatment.

The best cure is laser treatment for nail fungus in CT. Your CT podiatrist uses the PinPointe Laser Treatment – an FDA-approved, clinically-proven therapeutic laser – to eliminate the spores that cause toenail fungus at the source. The procedure is painless and quick. Once the spores are gone, so is your toenail fungal infection. Your toenails will grow in pink and healthy over the course of the weeks following your laser treatment for nail fungus in CT. Simply trim away the old, discolored nail and enjoy having healthy feet once again!

Spring is a time for renewal and rejuvenation. If you’ve been struggling with toenail fungus for a long time, you may be amazed at how great you’ll feel after you have your toenail fungus cured. The embarrassment and worry is gone! No more pain and discomfort! You have the freedom to wear whatever shoes you’d like – sandals, flip flops, open-toed shoes are all open to you once again.

Laser treatment for nail fungus in CT is safe, proven, and effective. The PinPointe Laser Treatment doesn’t hurt, and you can get right back to your normal routine after your treatment session. If you want great looking feet this spring, get laser treatment for your toenail fungus now!

How Can I Be Sure I Have An Ingrown Toenail?

If you think you have an ingrown toenail, look for the following symptoms:

• Pain: Ingrown toenails are often painful. If you’re experiencing tenderness in or around your toe, particularly along the nail bed, this may be a sign you have an ingrown toenail.

• Redness: The area surrounding an ingrown toenail can appear red and swollen. If you have any red lines emanating from the area surrounding the suspected ingrown toenail, contact your CT podiatrist immediately. This is a sign of a dangerous infection!

• Swelling: Although swelling is not always present, many people experience mild to moderate swelling when they have an ingrown toenail. This swelling can make it difficult to wear your normal shoes or to perform your daily activities.

• Signs of Infection: An ingrown toenail makes you more vulnerable to infection. Look for any areas that are red, yellow, or brown. Pus-like discharges may be present. There is often a foul odor associated with infection. If you see any signs of infection, contact your CT podiatrist for treatment right away!

What Causes Ingrown Toenails?

There are a number of causes for ingrown toenails. Some of these causes we’re just stuck with – you can’t do anything about a genetic predisposition toward ingrown toenails or a congenital foot structure problem. However, there are some causes for ingrown toenails that are entirely within our control, including proper foot health care and maintenance. Make sure you trim your toenails straight across. Wear shoes that give your toes ample room to lie flat and comfortably. Toes that are squished and compressed are more likely to develop ingrown toenails.

What Can Be Done For Ingrown Toenails?

If you have ingrown toenails, you’ll be happy to know that there are several different treatment protocols available. These options include conservative, non-surgical solutions as well as conventional surgical treatment for ingrown toenails. Every individual is different, and your CT podiatrist will meet with you to assess your needs.

If you have diabetes, or any other health condition that negatively impacts your circulation or immune system, it becomes highly important to your foot health care and totally body wellness that ingrown toenail treatment is prompt and complete.

Worried about your ingrown toenail? Contact us today! There is help available.

Maintaining Your Cheerleader’s Foot Health Care: Choose the Right Shoes

Cheerleading can place multiple, complex stresses on your cheerleader’s feet. These stresses can be overwhelming, resulting in painful injuries. There are two routes to minimizing cheerleader foot injuries and ensuring proper foot health care. The first is to have a coach or cheer squad leader who emphasizes safe, proper form throughout practice sessions and games.

The second is to choose the right footwear for your cheerleader. Coaches and parents must work together to identify and select footwear that aligns with proper foot health care practices, providing adequate support and cushioning for the cheerleading team. The jumping, running, and other high-impact physical activities that are part of cheering make it essential to have footwear with good cushioning to absorb impact and reduce the stresses on the foot. If you need suggestions on proper footwear for cheerleading, contact your CT podiatrist.

What Are Some Common Cheerleading Foot Injuries?

The most common cheerleading foot injuries include ankle sprains and foot fractures. Both of these injuries are often incurred during jumps: landing improperly or with too much force can cause an ankle sprain or a foot fracture.

If your cheerleader is complaining of significant foot pain after cheerleading practice or cheering at a game, don’t ignore it! Pain can be the primary symptom of both ankle sprains and foot fractures. While there may be swelling or discoloration – there may not be! Immediate treatment for an ankle sprain involves rest, ice, compression and elevation.

It’s essential to have your cheerleader evaluated by your pediatrician, physician, or CT podiatrist right away to determine the cause of foot pain. While ankle sprains and foot fractures are common causes of foot pain in student athletes, there are other causes, including bruised heel, stress fractures, joint sprain, blisters, corns, calluses, and more.

The Fastest Recovery From Cheerleading Foot Injuries

Proper treatment is essential to ensure the fastest possible recovery from cheerleading foot injuries. Your cheerleader may be worried about missing a game or even the entire season due to a sports injury. However, in many instances, early identification and treatment of a foot injury makes it possible to contain the extent of the damage, stop further damage from being done and begin the healing process.

If your cheerleader has a sports injury related to their feet, contact your CT podiatrist today. We’ll schedule a consultation right away and work on getting your cheerleader back to full health. That’ll give them something to shout about!

Numbness in the Feet: What are the Causes?

One of the most common foot health care complaints associated with diabetes is the loss of feeling or sensation in the feet. This numbness can have a number of contributing factors: poor foot circulation results in reduced sensation in the extremities, while neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that inhibits feelings and physical perceptions.

Numbness in the Feet: Why is this Important?

The primary reason that numbness in the feet is an important consideration in managing your diabetes is that when you can’t feel your feet, you can’t feel when you injure your feet. We all encounter minor scratches, scrapes, cuts and small wounds to our feet at times – but a person who can’t feel these injuries is far less likely to be aware of them. That means less treatment and a greater chance of infection. Couple this with the fact that the body’s natural healing processes are slowed by poor foot circulation, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Serious infections can cause significant health problems for people with diabetes, up to and including the need for toe and foot amputations.

Diabetes Foot Health Care: Avoiding Amputations

Reducing the numbers of amputations has long been a goal of the diabetes community and your foot health care specialist. For that reason, the following recommendations have been developed:

• Check your feet daily. You’re looking for any small scrapes, cuts, or wounds. Treat these carefully, and monitor for any sign of infection. If a wound appears infected, or does not respond to your treatment, consult your foot health care specialist immediately.
• Bathe your feet in warm water once a day, and dry them thoroughly. This helps reduce the risk of developing athlete’s foot or other fungal infections, as well as stimulating circulation in your feet.
• Take care of your diabetes. Regular monitoring of your blood sugar, complying with your doctor’s recommendations, and living an active lifestyle all benefit your foot health care. It may even be possible to reverse some of the feelings of numbness in your feet with lifestyle changes.
• Choose the right shoes! Wide, spacious shoes that provide ample space for your toes to lie flat without crowding or pinching are ideal. Your foot health care specialist may recommend orthotics or inserts to ensure proper foot support and alleviate pain.

If you have diabetes and you’re worried about your foot health care, contact us today! Numbness in the feet and poor foot circulation can be addressed as part of your overall diabetes management plan. We can help you take the proper steps to realize optimum foot health care.

Bunion surgery focuses on bringing your big toe joint back into alignment. There are many common reasons why the toe joint can get out of alignment: footwear that is too tight, confining, and narrow; genetics, such as a family history of bunions, and more. Your CT podiatrist will re-shape or re-structure the big toe joint by removing sections of bone, re-aligning soft tissues, fusing joints, or inserting therapeutic implants.

It takes your body time to heal. Surgery for bunion treatment has an expected recovery period of six weeks to six months, depending on your age, health, and fitness level. Many people are wearing their normal shoes after 4-5 weeks of recovery time and returning to their accustomed activity levels shortly thereafter.

During recovery period, you may need to wear a walking cast, protective boot, or wider shoes. Your CT podiatrist will advise you about needed follow up care for your individual situation. It’s essential to keep weight off of your foot.

Realistic Expectations for Bunion Treatment

Research has shown us that the patients who are the happiest and most satisfied with their bunion treatment surgery went in to the procedure with realistic expectations. Talk to your CT podiatrist ahead of time. Ask them what your toe will look and feel like after the procedure. Ask about the impact bunion surgeon may have on your toe’s flexibility and range of motion. The patients who have the most complete understanding of the projected outcomes of their bunion treatment tend to enjoy the highest levels of satisfaction with the results.

You don’t have to suffer from the chronic pain and burning agony of bunion pain! There are bunion treatment options available! Contact your CT podiatrist today to schedule a consultation and learn what can be done for your bunions.

You have to make sure that you’re ready. Transitioning from a long season on the couch (and we know Netflix makes it all too easy to be sedentary over the winter!) to a more active lifestyle outdoors is a process. Try to do too much all at once and you’ll find yourself plagued by foot aches, pains, and potentially injuries.

Here are some tips to make sure you have fit feet this spring:

Treat Toenail Fungus – Fast!

Toenail fungal infections become more prevalent in the spring. There’s a lot of moisture in the environment at this time – look at all those puddles! – and the fungus spores that cause toenail fungus thrive when they’re in a warm, moist environment. If your morning run involves lots of splashing on soaked streets, you’re at an increased risk of developing a toenail fungal infection. The beginning signs of spring are a great time to look into laser treatment for nail fungus in CT!

The signs of toenail fungus include discolored toenails, bad smelling toenails, and a change in toenail texture. Toenails can appear yellow, brown or black. The best way to treat toenail fungus is laser treatment for nail fungus in CT. Talk to your CT podiatrist about how you can safely and effectively eliminate your toenail fungus in a single session – the results have been clinically proven to last up to a year!

Stretch, Stretch, Stretch – Before Every Run, Walk, or Workout!

Physical fitness experts have long advocated for stretching before vigorous activity. Foot stretches are especially important in injury prevention. By stretching, you work out any tension or joint stress that you may have, making it easier, safer, and more fun to move your body. Stretching can increase your range of motion and flexibility. This is great news for runners, tennis players, gymnasts, and other athletes.

Talk to your CT podiatrist about what type of stretches are most helpful for your unique anatomy and lifestyle. You can also find more information about foot stretches for runners here.

Choose Smart Shoes

You need good footwear to keep your feet fit this spring. When choosing running shoes, select shoes that offer plenty of cushioning and support. It’s also super important to choose workout shoes that fit well. When you’re trying on shoes, look for pairs that leave you with plenty of space around your toes. Your toes should be able to lie flat, without being squished or crowded. Shoe designs that allow the foot to breathe by wicking away moisture are a superior choice.

Choose activity-specific athletic shoes whenever possible. These shoes have been designed to meet the needs of athletes engaged in a given set of activities. Every person and every sport is different: what you might need to wear when you’re playing softball can be very different from what you might need to wear when you’re running long distances. If you’re not sure about what footwear would be best for you, talk to your CT podiatrist. They have the advice and insight you need to make smart choices.

It’s true!

Here are six fun ways that people with diabetes can improve their foot health care.

Diabetic Foot Care Secret #1: Go Shoe Shopping!

This one’s for the fashionistas and bargain hunters out there! Give yourself permission to go shoe shopping regularly! People with diabetes need superior shoes. The shoes that offer the best foot health care for people with diabetes provide great support and a fabulous fit. It’s essential that you have lots of room for your toes to lie flat without being squished. You don’t want your feet compressed and sweaty – this contributes to the development of toenail fungus, which is no fun for anyone.

Diabetic Foot Care Secret #2: Go Dancing!

Physical activity, such as dancing, increases your cardio-vascular health and improves circulation. Getting your blood running through your extremities is great for your health. Improved circulation in the feet speeds the healing of any wounds, helps prevent infections, and combats feelings of numbness or pain.

Diabetic Foot Care Secret #3: Eat Well. Really, Really Well.

One of the best ways to improve your foot health care is to eat well and enjoy the meals you have. Choosing a healthy diet doesn’t have to be boring. Every cuisine has healthy options that taste great without overloading your carb count for the day.

Diabetic Foot Care Secret #4: Search Out Super Socks

Socks and shoes play a major role in preventing injuries to the feet. It’s easy to get hurt when you’re going barefoot! The world is full of sharp, pointy, injury-causing things, especially on ground level. Choose socks that are smooth and seamless, that don’t squeeze, bind, or otherwise constrict your foot. Make the search for super socks fun by choosing colorful patterns, great styles, and fun looks – all in natural fibers that allow your feet to breathe.

Diabetic Foot Care Secret #5: The Fabulous Footbath

Indulge in spa like luxury at home – all for the sake of your foot health! Washing your feet daily in warm water helps keep your feet looking, smelling and feeling great. That’s not all! The warm water and stimulation to your feet enhances circulation, which speeds healing and can help increase sensation in your feet. It’s also an easy way to improve your foot health care by keeping a close eye on your feet.

Diabetic Foot Care Secret #6: Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle!

Give your feet and toes regular workouts throughout the day. Stretch your feet out, put them up on a support regularly throughout the day, and most importantly of all, wiggle your toes regularly! This simple activity stimulates circulation, promotes air flow between and around the toes, and provides an easy, enjoyable way to get in touch with one of the simple pleasures of life.

Every bunion is different. That means that there’s a unique and appropriate bunion treatment protocol for your bunion. Not every person who has bunions needs bunion surgery in order to enjoy pain relief. Your CT podiatrist will discuss your non-surgical bunion treatment options with you.

If bunion surgery is right for your situation, you may want to know what to expect after the procedure. Many people worry about their bunions coming back after the surgery.

Can Bunions Return After Surgery?

We often talk about bunion surgery as if it was one simple procedure, but the fact is that there are over 100 different surgical procedures that can be used for bunion treatment. These procedures are used alone, or in combination with each other, to treat your bunions.

The goal of bunion surgery is to bring the big toe joint back into proper alignment, which results in pain relief and the restoration of normal foot appearance. To accomplish this, your CT podiatrist will perform the most appropriate bunion treatment procedure.

Exostectomy or bunionectomy surgically removes a portion of the metatarsal head, the part of the foot that is bulging out. Other bunion treatment options include removing, small portions of bone from other areas of the foot, fusing joints in the affected area, therapeutic implant insertion, and more.

Recovering from bunion surgery can take up to six months. Your CT podiatrist will meet with you to discuss your recovery plan. Some patients need to wear walking casts or special shoes during their recovery. It’s important to avoid putting excessive weight on your foot during this recovery period.

Bunions are not self-regenerating. A bunion is made out of bone, so it’s not something that can just ‘refill’ itself. However, if the surgery is done improperly by someone who is not experienced in bunion treatment, then the bunion can appear to reform when in fact it was never properly eliminated in the first place. It’s essential that the proper surgical procedure be done to eliminate your bunion problem. For this reason, it’s a good idea to seek out the most skilled and experienced CT podiatrist for your bunion treatment or surgery.

Interested in learning more about how bunion surgery can change your life? Contact your CT podiatrist today!

Burning pain in the feet is a common condition. Most often, burning foot pain is experienced by people over the age of fifty. Both men and women are susceptible to burning foot pain.

What Causes Burning Pain in the Feet?

Burning foot pain has several causes. You’ll need to talk with your podiatrist in Norwalk CT to determine the cause of your burning foot pain. Many times, the underlying cause of burning foot pain is a type of nerve damage known as neuropathy. In neuropathy, the nerves are damaged. As a result of this damage, the nerves become overactive, and send your body pain signals inappropriately. You feel this nerve activity as a painful burning sensation. Neuropathy is often related to diabetes, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy.

Other causes of burning pain in the feet include vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse, and infections and inflammations of the foot. Conditions such as Athlete’s Foot and Peripheral Artery Disease can also cause burning foot pain. Some people who have had gastric bypass or lap band surgery experience burning foot pain after the procedure. It’s essential to talk with your CT podiatrist and primary physician to determine what the cause of your burning foot pain may be.

Burning Foot Pain: Is There A Way To Stop The Pain?

If you suffer from burning foot pain, take heart! There is a way to stop the agony of burning foot pain. The first step is to work with your podiatrist in Norwalk CT to determine the cause of your burning foot pain. This is generally a straightforward process. In complex cases of foot pain, your CT podiatrist may ask for some tests to be done to more accurately determine the cause.

Treating burning foot pain requires addressing the underlying cause of your pain. If your burning foot pain is caused by inflammation or infection, your CT podiatrist will treat those conditions. When the inflammation or infection is resolved, the burning foot pain will disappear.

In other instances, such as neuropathy, there is no known way to reverse the effects of nerve damage. That doesn’t mean you have to live with the pain! There are a number of prescription medications used to treat burning foot pain due to neuropathy. Additionally, there are over the counter medications that your CT podiatrist may recommend for pain control.

Put the Fire Out! Stopping Your Burning Foot Pain

If you’ve been suffering with burning foot pain, contact your podiatrist in Norwalk CT today! There is relief for your burning foot pain. Welcome spring with a fresh spring in your step – and say goodbye to burning foot pain!

Tip #1: Choose Super Shoes

Shoe selection is a critical aspect of looking and feeling sexy! The trick is to find shoes that fit, with plenty of room for your toes to lay flat, without squishing and overlapping. There should be enough space for air to circulate around your toes. High heels can place a lot of pressure on the ball of your foot: if you love your heels, make a point of switching up the type of shoe you wear regularly to alleviate some of the pressure and stress your feet are feeling.

Tip #2: Take Toenail Fungus Out of the Picture

Toenail fungus is not sexy. Toenail fungus is caused by microscopic spores that become lodged under the toenail in the tender, vulnerable fleshy area known as the nail bed. Once there, these spores flourish and grow. The resulting infection discolors the toenails, changes the toenails’ texture, and causes an embarrassing odor. The best way to eliminate toenail fungus is with laser treatment. The PinPointe Laser Treatment is clinically proven, safe, and effective. Most people need only a single session to wipe out their toenail fungus, and the results from treatment have been shown to last up to a year.

Tip #3: Banish Bunion Pain

It’s hard to be sexy when your feet hurt. Bunions are caused when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place. Once things are out of alignment, inflammation and swelling can result. This can be extremely painful. The good news is that there are effective bunion treatment options. Your CT podiatrist will work closely with you to determine the appropriate bunion treatment for you. There are many non-surgical options for bunion treatment: don’t delay!

Tip #4: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Dry, cracked, and scaly looking feet are not attractive. Our bodies are continually losing moisture, and it’s through our extremities (our hands and feet!) that we lose the most of the vital moisture that keeps our skin soft and supple. We use hand cream to keep our hands looking and feeling great. For the feet, it’s essential to moisturize. Moisturizing the feet helps combat dry, cracked heels, and can help soften the thick skin of calluses. For extra protection from Athlete’s Foot and similar conditions, choose a moisturizer that contains an anti-fungal medication.

Tip #5: Protect Tender Toes with Sunscreen

The tender tops of your feet and toes need protection from the sun. February in Connecticut means we’re still wearing boots, sneakers, and closed toe shoes – but if you’re traveling to a sunnier climate where you’ll be wearing sandals or flip flops, take the time to put some sunscreen on your feet. Choose a sunscreen that offers at least SPF 15.

Tip #6: Arch Support for a Sexy, Confident Stride

Finding fashionable shoes that offer superior arch support can be a challenge. If you’re on your feet all day, you know how important arch support is! If you’re having difficulty finding shoes that provide adequate arch support, talk to your CT podiatrist. In many cases, there are arch support inserts that can fit discretely into your shoes, giving your foot the boost it needs to feel great. Properly fitting shoes with great arch support result in a sexy, confident stride for men and women alike!