It’s that time of year again; old man winter is out of hibernation. As the holidays are in full swing we can assume that the ice and snow are just around the corner.  If you’re like me (and in this aspect I hope you are) you have already dug out all your boots and scarves in preparation for the winter months. Proper bundling is essential when out in the cold for any amount of time. Frostbite is not something you normally think about, especially when you think you’re only going to be in the cold for a short amount of time, but you never know when that time can be unexpectedly extended.

Kenyan runner, Marko Cheseto, competed for the University of Alaska Anchorage in cross-country and track.  Hedisappeared one snowy night while on a run.  He was found 3 days after his roommate reported him missing. The paramedics were unable to remove his running shoes because they were frozen to his feet. He suffered from severe frostbite, resulting in amputation of both feet.

At or below freezing temperatures, blood vessels close to the skin start to constrict, or get smaller, in the body’s attempt to preserve core body temperature. In extreme cold, or when the body is exposed to cold for long periods, this protective strategy can reduce blood flow in some areas of the body to dangerously low levels. This can lead to the freezing of the tissues, or frostbite. 

There are 4 stages of frostbite ranging from pain with redness to blisters and ulceration. Factors leading to frostbite include extreme cold, inadequate clothing, wet clothes, wind chill, and poor circulation. Poor circulation can be caused by tight clothing or boots, cramped positions, fatigue, certain medications, smoking, alcohol use, or any disease that affect the blood vessels, such as diabetes. Areas most commonly affected include toes, fingers, ears, cheeks, and noses.  

If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing frostbite, seek professional help immediately. Do NOT rub, massage, or do any other types of movement to the affected area as this can cause further damage.  Treatment of frostbite centers on slowing re-warming or thawing out the affected areas.  This can be done via passive warming which uses one’s own body heat or room temperature and includes wrapping the area in dry towels or blankets. Active warming includes using the addition of heat, often a water bath. During the thawing process it is important to be monitored closely as changes to core body temperature may also take place and can cause systemic issues such as cardiac arrhythmias or shock. If the affected area is unable to be sufficiently revived, amputation is needed to remove the necrotic (dead) tissue. Following a bout with frostbite it’s possible to experience sensitivity to cold, changes in sensation, pain, arthritis or even bony changes.

As you can see, frostbite can be a life changing problem, but it can also be prevented. Always be sure to dress appropriately for the weather conditions, regardless of how long you will be exposed to the weather- you never know what could happen. Also, it’s smart to keep a winter survival kit in your car in case of car trouble during winter travel.

As any Chicago Bears fan can attest, these past two weeks have been torture.   First, we are 7-3 with an edge over several other wild card playoff teams, THEN tragedy struck!  Jay Cutler, the quarterback we always knew he could be, was OUT with a broken thumb.  I get a lot of questions about what seems to us as fans as ‘little injuries’ for foot related problems (Baltimore Ravens Linebacker, Ray Lewis’ Turf toe will be a post NEXT week!).   But as I am not familiar with Cutler’s injury I decided to investigate…

Here’s the nitty-gritty of what’s going on and how LONG we have to deal with Caleb Hanie!

Jay has a “Bennett fracture” first described in 1882.  The reason it is a problem (especially for professional athletes!) is that it is intra-articular – it passes through the thumb and hand joint space (carpo-metatacarpal).  High incidence of arthritis for ANYONE, so it is important to treat it early and get good reduction of the injury – especially an NFL Quarterback on his throwing hand L

Jay had surgery on November 23^rd and reported that his orthopedic surgeon placed three screws and two pins to reduce and stabilize the fracture.  The pins can come out quickly IF the soft tissues heal around correctly, most importantly the abductor pollicis longus muscle attachment – the muscle that lets us grasp and pinch things like a football! 

According to Cutler, we may see him back in time for the Week 17 game versus Minnesota.  That would be cutting it close but HOPEFULLY the Bears can pull out 3 more wins (I am predicting that they will kill the Broncos, Seahawks, AND Vikings!!  Even with Forte out, I love my Bears!  And beating Green Bay would be AWESOME!) and get that wild card spot – déjà vu from last year with our beloved Bears will run that table and make it to Indianapolis in February!!!  (I have a great baby Bears cheerleader onsie from my friend Tricia that will be perfect for our Super Bowl Party!!)

As a foot care specialist, I tend to relate almost all things to podiatry- ask my husband, he can vouch as to how I somehow bring ‘feet’ into our everyday conversations.  Thanksgiving is no exception to my ‘obsession’.  Those who do not deal with feet all day every day may not realize what Thanksgiving has to do with your feet.  No worries, I have done this for you!

Busiest Travel Season- Even movies have illustrated how Thanksgiving is one of the, if the THE busiest travel times of the year.  If you suffer from heel pain, remember this tip when traveling: take frequent breaks to walk and stretch your toes up to your nose.  This prevents the plantar fascia from tightening up, which causes pain.  Night splints also work to stretch out the plantar fascia, even while traveling.  You can also bring your foot roller in the car, or on the plane or train to massage away that foot pain!

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade- On November 27, 1924, the first Macy’s Christmas Parade (now called the Thanksgiving Day Parade) stepped off from Convent Avenue and 145th Street in New York City.  Besides hosting the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York is also one of the 8 states that homes one of the 9 podiatry colleges in the U.S.- the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. 

Black Friday- I can’t talk about Thanksgiving without mentioning one of my favorite holidays: Black Friday! Black Friday, possibly the largest shopping day of the year, hosts multiple injuries, especially to the feet.  Just last year HFAA had 1 emergency come in after a Black Friday shopping accident, and multiple foot pain complaints on Saturday after everyone’s shopping extravaganza the day before.  My Black Friday crew mans up by wearing Aetrex copper sole socks to keep our feet warm, and PowerStep inserts or custom orthotics to outlast, out run, and out shop our competitor shoppers. 

Football- Football is an all American sport, and families across the country watch this sport while enjoying a feast on Thanksgiving Day.  If you just glance at our blog you will see that football is FILLED with foot and ankle injuries! 

Turkey- The ‘icon’ of Thanksgiving is the turkey.  Children learn how to draw a turkey from the outline of their hand.  Well did you know that a turkey only has 4 ‘toes’ while we humans usually have 5?  If a person has extra digits that condition is called ‘polydactyly’.  Each toe bone, or digit, has 3 separate bones, the phalanges.  The one exception is the hallux, or big toe, which only has 2 phalanges.  

Give thanks to no foot pain!- Anyone who has been a patient in this office knows how painful foot aches can be!  When your foot hurts, everything hurts.  So this Thanksgiving make sure you give thanks to no foot pain!

The 21-year-old Twilight super star, Kristen Stewart, was seen limping around in her Jimmy Choo shoes at the premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.  The Twilight series is four fantasy romance novels by American author Stephenie Meyer.  It is a love story about Bella Swan, a teenage girl who falls in love with a 104-year-old vampire named Edward Cullen but might also have feelings for a werewolf named Jacob Black.  (I personally have a unicorn collection at home with 200+ figurines, so I am not about to ‘bash’ this story line or those in love with vampires and/or werewolves.) 

Since the release of the first novel, Twilight, in 2005 the books have gained immense popularity worldwide.  The series has won multiple awards including Children’s Book of the Year.  Thus far every book has been made into a motion picture, and this third film may have been the most highly anticipated film to date. 

So, millions watched as the Twilight stars strutted down the BLACK carpet outside the Nokia Theater in L.A. for the premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. Although, Kristen Stewart wasn’t doing as much strutting as she was limping.

She confessed that her feet were in pain due to a stunt injury on the set of the fairytale film Snow White and the Huntsman, where she illustrates Snow White, the only person fairer in the land than the evil queen, Charlize Theron.  (Snow White and the Huntsman is the inside cover in the special double issue of this week’s People Magazine, where Bradley Cooper is featured as the sexiest man alive!)

Stewart confessed to Hollywood Access that her feet were hurting her tremendously. "I just hurt my foot on Snow White of course, because I do that to myself all the time."  She continued: "I was running around on Snow White and I tend to hurt myself when I get really into stuff, and I did it again."

The actress admits that the Jimmy Choo heels intensified her pain.  "I think this is the last interview I'm going to stay in these heels… [the injury is] not that bad, it's just these are crazy killer heels.” Kristen confides, "I'm such a klutz… I hurt myself... (But) I love stunts."

Even if you’re not a Hollywood heart throb or stunt person, if you have a foot or ankle injury, come in to see Dr. Lockwood immediately! Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates is here for all Bloomington, Normal, and central Illinois residents.

Last year citizens around the world watched as Chilean miners were trapped underground for days.  The mine that imprisoned the workers is located deep in a desert in Chile, South America, one of the driest and harshest regions on earth.  The buried men, who became known as "Los 33" ("The 33"), were trapped 2,300 ft underground.  In addition to the obvious threats- dehydration and starvation- these miners were victim to another hazard that many would not automatically think of...

These miners were victim to a very warm and humid setting, which is an ideal environment for fungi and bacteria to flourish in.  Thirty six days after being trapped, all the miners received socks with copper in them to protect and eliminate fungi, bacteria, and odor.  If the miners had no protection, they would have likely ended up with severe infections causing pain, itchiness, discoloration, perspiration, and irritation.  Both their skin and nails were at risk for infection.       

All miners emerged from the tragedy with clean feet, free of bacterial and fungal infections despite the damp humid environment.  Dr. Juan Carlos Mellibovsky, head of the dermatology department at the Copiapo Regional Hospital, had the following to say:

“I was the physician responsible for performing an initial examination and following treatment for each of the 33 miners rescued from the San Jose mine in Chile. I am convinced that these socks containing Cupron technology played a major role in protecting the miner’s feet from developing fungal and bacterial infections.”

Here at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates, we are proud to carry the product that protected the Chilean 33 from dangerous infections.  Our Aetrex copper sole socks are unsurpassed in comfort, performance, and protection, as proven by this valiant story.  Copper sole technology has been lab tested and clinically proven to help prevent bacteria, fungi, and odor as well as improve skin texture and appearance.  The copper ions, which are imbedded in the yarn, are guaranteed to last for the life of the sock regardless of repetitive washes and wear and tear.

To see and purchase the sock that shielded the Chilean 33, stop by Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates.  We carry the copper technology in 5 styles:

1. Athletic, crew or low cut, black or white
2. Non-binding, crew or low cut, black or white
3. Compression, available in 5 different colors
4. Dress, crew or ankle, black, brown, khaki or navy

Click here to see pictures of the miners feet after recovery.