Puss, ooze, swelling, discoloration, and pain are NOT part of an awesome Halloween costume.  When someone has a ‘pain in the toenail’, they often head straight to their bathroom to fix it right on up – my immediate family is no exception!  Both my husband and sister have attempted this home remedy of digging the corners out themselves to relieve the pressure caused by a nail digging into the side of their skin.

The problem is twofold:  first, most of the time people skip the step of cleaning their tools of choice before working on their feet.  This will most certainly lead to infection and a round of antibiotics.  You don’t want an infection toe when you’re trying to trick or treat, or even if you’re just on candy duty!

Secondly, when you trim back the corner yourself, you can angle the nail in a way that leads right back to an ingrown!  You want to gently snip the edge, not dig out the entire corner – this will lead to a larger ingrown nail down the road (Thanksgiving, anyone?).

If you see white drainage (pus) or the toe is red, hot, or swollen to the touch, do yourself a pain favor and head straight to a podiatrist!  You can read about some SAFE at home tips here.  Once the area is cleaned out (down to the root, but we use nice numbing medication BEFORE working on toes!) we can easily work with you on further options to make sure you aren’t limping this Halloween!!

Families across the state were disappointed last night as the Texas Rangers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the third game of the 2011 World Series.  The Rangers won 4-2 now leading overall with 3 wins to the Cardinals’ 2 wins.  Tomorrow’s game will be at Busch stadium so hopefully the Cardinals can excel in their home field.

Baseball is the national pastime in America. From kids to adults, playing baseball is one of the most enjoyable team sports. But as with other sports, it’s important that you keep yourself in good condition and have the right equipment to play safely and enjoy the health benefits of the game. Baseball players are advised to condition their entire bodies and be sure to stretch the leg, ankle, and foot muscles before, during, and after play to avoid injuries.

Baseball can be characterized by lots of stops and starts, lots of running, and, of course sliding. Practice and technique can enhance your competency and enjoyment of the game, but they are also crucial for building up the muscles needed in baseball. The rapid and changing movements associated with the sport place many pressures on your feet and ankles. Inadequate stretching, improper shoes, and repeated motions lead to the most common foot problems that occur among baseball players, such as Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, stress fractures, ankle sprains, and bone fractures.

As with most athletic shoes, comfort is the most important element in choosing the right baseball shoe for you. Look for shoes with a roomy toe box that give your toes enough room to wiggle. The widest part of your foot should fit comfortably into the shoe without stretching the upper. Look for a snug heel to help keep your foot stable. Most importantly, remember to replace your baseball shoes after 70 to 75 hours of active wear.

For league play, cleats may be recommended to give you the traction needed for the surface in the diamond. Baseball cleats come in a variety of materials ranging from leather and synthetic materials (plastics) to rubber and metal. Be sure to follow the regulations of your league regarding the material allowed; many leagues no longer permit the use of metal spikes or cleats, particularly on artificial turf. Be sure to give yourself time to adjust to cleats by wearing them on the designated surface.

Well, we are rolling right along heading into week 6 of the NFL and I have seen so many reports of players suffering from ‘high ankle sprains’.  Most recently, Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams, who will be OUT against the Packers this Sunday (I care because I need/want the Packers to lose so the Bears stand a fighting chance in the division!)

So what is a ‘high ankle sprain’?  It’s actually something completely different than the traditional “I rolled my ankle stepping off a curb” sprain.  It is a tear or separation of the interosseous (between bone) or syndesmotic ligament of the 2 leg bones (tibia and fibula).  Normally the fibula (the outside ankle bone) sits a little bit behind and to the side of the tibia.  It is held in place by three factors: 

1. Knee ligaments
2. Ankle ligaments
3. Interosseous ligament

If that IL is damaged, torn, or strained, it can cause instability in the ankle (not a good thing for anyone, let alone a professional athlete!) and perhaps further injury down the line (like weakening the ligaments around the ankle which could cause a more traditional ankle sprain).

Treatment consists of the PRICE therapy – Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate.  Most athletes are able to recover in 4-6 weeks if swelling allows them into regular shoe gear.  Four-six weeks is just enough time for Sam Bradford to NOT play against Aaron Rodgers.

A little over a year ago I became a new mom. When you’re a new parent, everyone always wants to tell you about their parenting techniques, horror stories, and tricks of the trade.  One concern I would continuously hear from these stories is how no one ever liked trimming the newborns fingers or toenails. I was told “Be sure you do it while their sleeping or else you’ll never get it done.” As well as “I was SO nervous to trim their nails I had to have someone else do it!” I had never realized what a fuss toenail trimming could cause.

Sure enough my time came when I had to trim my son’s nails. I was a little anxious at first just due to all the negative comments I had received over the past few months.  But I did indeed trim all of Mason’s nails without any major problems. 

When my son was about 2.5 months old I was hired on as a Medical Assistant at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates. After just one day of assisting Dr. Lockwood with patients, I learned the importance of trimming toenails straight across.  I kept hearing Dr. Lockwood emphasize to her patients that when you trim toenails straight across you are training the nail to grow straight and not curve in, hence lessening the probability of getting ingrown toenails.

Besides improper trimming of toenails, ingrown toenails can also be inherited.  I personally have a history of ingrown toenails and have experienced their pain.  I knew that I wanted to do everything I could to keep from son from dealing with that same pain. 

Just a day or two after learning about ingrown toenails from Dr. Lockwood it was time for my son to have his nails trimmed. As I sat there going slower and meticulously trimming my son’s nails I kept thinking about what Dr. Lockwood had said the few days before:
Okay Natalie- trim straight across to keep your little boy from potential ingrown nails that hurt. 

Mason is a little over a year now and I informed/trained everyone that would potentially be trimming his nails on how to properly do it.  It might take just a little more time, but it is definitely worth decreasing the risk of ingrown toenails.

If you or your child has an ingrown toenail make sure you schedule an appointment immediaty to prevent more pain and possible infection. 

Try to say this title 3 times fast!!!

I recently joined a spinning class at my gym. For those of you who aren’t familiar, spinning is a fast paced stationary biking class that simulates flat road rides and uphill climbs that you would experience on a real bike ride. During the class your feet are strapped to the pedals. About half way through my first class I noticed that all 10 of my toes were going numb. When class was over, the numbness resolved itself almost immediately.

For the next class I came prepared with my Dr. Jill’s Ball of Foot Gel Cushions. I love these gel pads- they are reusable, self sticking, and work in ALL shoe types. I can even wear them in sandals and while barefoot.  Since they are re-usable and self-sticking, it saves me money because I don’t have to go out and buy new pads all the time.  The entire line of Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads was created and designed by a fellow podiatrist (Dr. Jill!), and they are all made in this country.  During my spinning class, the pads relieved the pressure on my feet and prevented most of the numbness that I experienced in the previous class.

Many patients have experienced the same type of numbness and tingling while using exercise equipment.   Machines where your feet remain stationary, such as an exercise bike or elliptical runner, are especially prone to causing pain. Thisis most likely due to a neuroma in the foot. A neuroma is an enlargement of a nerve. In the foot, neuromas occur in the nerves that run between the metatarsal heads, the bones that form the “ball” of your foot. The constant pressure put on the foot while working out can compress the enlarged nerve, causing numbness and/or tingling. Appropriate padding (like Dr. Jill’s!) placed behind the metatarsal heads on the bottom of the foot will offload the area and distribute weight more evenly.  This allows less compression on the nerves, hence decreasing the tingling sensation.

The numbness and tingling could also be caused by tight shoes or laces that are tied too tight. Feet swell when you exercise. If you experience pain when exercising, check to make sure your shoes fit properly. You may need to loosen your shoe laces a bit to accommodate swelling throughout your workout.  The soles of your shoes should be flexible in the ball of the foot and have room to move your toes.  Try a well-cushioned sock for reinforcement, such as Aetrex Copper Sole Socks so that perspiration is "wicked" away too.

For longer workouts, taking a few breaks will alleviate the constant pressure on your feet. In most cases, the numbness should subside once your workout ends. If the problem persists long after the workout there could be a more serious problem and you should make an appointment at Heartland Foot and Ankle to have it checked out. Happy exercising!!