May 2021

Osteoarthritis, the type of arthritis we associate with aging, can occur due to wear and tear of the cartilage that lines the joints. As the cartilage breaks down over time, the joints become stiff, painful, and swollen, making it difficult to walk, stand, and go about doing your daily activities. While osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, it often affects the joints of the feet and ankles. A podiatrist can help you manage and mitigate some of the symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis. There are many nonsurgical treatments for osteoarthritis, including taking oral medications or getting corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation, wearing orthotics, bracing or immobilizing affected joints, and physical therapy. If you have arthritis in your feet and ankles, please see a podiatrist. 

Arthritis can be a difficult condition to live with. If you are seeking treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from Michigan Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Arthritic Foot Care  

Arthritis is a joint disorder that involves the inflammation of different joints in your body, such as those in your feet. Arthritis is often caused by a degenerative joint disease and causes mild to severe pain in all affected areas. In addition to this, swelling and stiffness in the affected joints can also be a common symptom of arthritis.

In many cases, wearing ill-fitting shoes can worsen the effects and pain of arthritis. Wearing shoes that have a lower heel and extra room can help your feet feel more comfortable. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the arch in your foot may become problematic. Buying shoes with proper arch support that contour to your feet can help immensely.

Alleviating Arthritic Pain

• Exercises that stretch the foot can prevent further pain and injury and increase mobility
• Most of the pain can be alleviated with anti-inflammatory drugs, heat, and topical medications
• Massages can help temporarily alleviate pain.

It is best to see your doctor for the treatment that is right for your needs and symptoms. Conditions vary, and a podiatrist can help you determine the right method of care for your feet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Ferndale, and Milford, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin instead of over it. This can cause the area to become red, swollen, tender, and painful. Ingrown toenails usually respond well to home treatments. At the earliest signs of an ingrown toenail, you may find relief by wearing wider or open-toed shoes, trimming the toenails straight across, or using tape to pull the skin beside the nail out of the way as the nail grows. Soaking the affected toe in lukewarm water mixed with Epsom salts or a mild soap may also help. Occasionally, there are cases where an ingrown toenail recurs and surgical removal of part of the nail is necessary. If you or your child has a painful or recurrent ingrown toenail, or if the area is showing signs of infection, seek the care of a podiatrist.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Michigan Foot and Ankle. Our doctors 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 one of our offices located in Ferndale, and Milford, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Foot pain can develop from a variety of factors that include injury/trauma, aging, and medical issues. Foot pain can also range from minor inconveniences to debilitating pain. Corns, which can form from wearing ill-fitting shoes or arthritis, are hard thickened areas of skin that form due to friction. Plantar warts, another skin condition, are fleshy growths that occur on the bottom of the feet due to a virus that spreads through small breaks in the skin. The most common cause of pain in the heel is plantar fasciitis. This occurs when the ligament running along the bottom of the foot is strained, putting stress on the heel. Because the foot is made up of 26 bones, a stress fracture or a fracture due to trauma can occur. Medical issues, such as diabetes, can lead to complications  like neuropathy, and a patient’s diet can lead to issues such as gout. If you are struggling with pain in your feet, consulting with a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment is suggested.  

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Michigan Foot and Ankle. Our doctors 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 one of our offices located in Ferndale, and Milford, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

The stiffness, swelling, bruising, and pain that typically accompanies a broken toe can make it difficult to walk or bear any weight on the affected toe. Sometimes the broken toe can also appear bent or deformed. If you believe you have broken your toe, seeing a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan is imperative. Stress fractures and less severe breaks often heal when you rest, ice, and elevate the affected foot. More serious fractures, however, will require more intense treatment. If your broken toe is an open fracture that breaks through the skin, or if you experience numbness, tingling, skin discoloration, an increase in pain, or a wound or sore infection in the affected foot, it is crucial that you see a doctor as soon as possible. To learn more about broken toes, please consult with a podiatrist.  

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Michigan Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Ferndale, and Milford, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.