Items filtered by date: January 2023

Toes are tiny parts of the body but when there is something wrong, the pain can be substantial. Nerve damage can be the cause of pain in the foot or big toe. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that results from damage to the peripheral nerves and can cause numbness, pain, and weakness in the feet and toes. While it can be hard to figure out if this is going on, some things to look for include a slow but continual onset of numbness, a pins and needles feeling, or sharp, jabbing, or shooting pains in the feet that can spread to the toes. Additionally, one can suffer from a lack of coordination and falling as peripheral neuropathy can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. There are a host of causes for peripheral neuropathy, including but not limited to diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and infections. If you experience any of the symptoms described, it is important for you to see a podiatrist as soon as possible to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact the foot specialists of Table Mountain Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These 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

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Wheat Ridge, CO . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Flat feet is a condition that babies are born with. The arch typically develops during the teenage years in the majority of people, yet fails to do so in some adults. It is easy to tell if you have flat feet. Simply stand with your feet flat on the floor. People who do not have an arch will notice their entire foot rolls inward, and some patients may feel pain from it. If a considerable amount of walking is done, the foot may ache, and custom-made orthotics may be an option for pain relief. Flat feet often happen for genetic reasons, and may occur, although rarely, from improper foot growth in the womb. People who have gained weight may find that they have become flat footed from the additional weight the feet must endure. In severe cases, surgery may be required to build or restore the arch. If you have flat feet, please speak with a podiatrist who can accurately determine the extent of this condition, and offer treatment options, if needed, that are correct for you. 

Flatfoot is a condition many people suffer from. If you have flat feet, contact the foot specialists from Table Mountain Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Are Flat Feet?

Flatfoot is a condition in which the arch of the foot is depressed and the sole of the foot is almost completely in contact with the ground. About 20-30% of the population generally has flat feet because their arches never formed during growth.

Conditions & Problems:

Having flat feet makes it difficult to run or walk because of the stress placed on the ankles.

Alignment – The general alignment of your legs can be disrupted, because the ankles move inward which can cause major discomfort.

Knees – If you have complications with your knees, flat feet can be a contributor to arthritis in that area.  

Symptoms

• Pain around the heel or arch area
• Trouble standing on the tip toe
• Swelling around the inside of the ankle
• Flat look to one or both feet
• Having your shoes feel uneven when worn

Treatment

If you are experiencing pain and stress on the foot you may weaken the posterior tibial tendon, which runs around the inside of the ankle. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Wheat Ridge, CO . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Studies have shown people who have jobs that require standing for long periods can benefit from incorporating small increments of walking throughout their day. The benefits may include increased energy and cognitive function, whereas stress and fatigue levels may decrease. Additionally, the appetite may be reduced when daily activity is pursued, and blood circulation is often increased. Research has been conducted on people who include walking outside as often as possible during their workday. The results have shown that people are generally happier when connecting with nature, which may help to improve work performance. It may also help to lower the risk of heart disease and expand opportunities to be creative. Walking has many positive aspects in strengthening all areas of the body, including the feet. If you would like to know why walking during work is good for the feet, please consult a podiatrist who can provide all the additional benefits as well as implement a routine that is best for you.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact the foot specialists from Table Mountain Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Wheat Ridge, CO . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Extra weight can have a detrimental effect on your feet. Beyond achy and tired feet, problems from obesity can lead to arthritis in the feet. Overweight individuals might notice that their ankles become weaker as their weight increases, and this can lead to increased injuries. With obesity, there is also an increased chance of becoming diabetic, a condition that comes with a host of foot issues. Wearing supportive footwear is important to decrease the amount of strain put on the feet. Losing weight should be the focus of lessening how obesity affects the feet. Changing one’s diet is the most obvious way to help lose weight. Eating healthy foods and those that decrease inflammation is recommended. Diabetics need to make sure that they manage their blood sugar well. Even mild exercise will help in controlling weight. If you are obese and it is affecting your feet, seeing a podiatrist is suggested. This medical professional can help keep your feet as comfortable as possible while weight loss is undertaken.

Obesity has become very problematic at this point in time and can have extremely negative effects on the feet. If you’re an obese individual and are concerned about your feet, contact the foot specialists from Table Mountain Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Obesity and Your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Plantar fasciitis – Pressure and stress that is placed on muscles, joints, and tendons can trigger plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of tissue that forms along the bottom of the foot. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Wheat Ridge, CO . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

The plantar fascia is located on the sole of the foot and it connects the toes to the heels. Some patients may experience a growth that develops inside the plantar fascia, which is often benign. This is referred to as a plantar fibroma that might cause pain while walking and running. It is noticeable by the lump that forms on the bottom of the foot, generally in the center of the arch. The majority of experts agree it occurs due to genetic reasons or medical conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, and alcoholism. Other people can argue a plantar fibroma may develop after an injury occurs to the plantar fascia and the lump may be a natural reaction to the stress from the trauma. Mild relief may be found when the shoes that are worn have extra cushioning, or it may be beneficial to wear custom-made orthotics. If you have developed this condition it is advised that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can provide the treatment options that are correct for you.

A plantar fibroma may disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact the foot specialists of Table Mountain Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Plantar Fibroma

A plantar fibroma is a fibrous knot in the arch of the foot. It is embedded in the plantar fascia which is a band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes along the bottom of the foot. There can be multiple plantar fibromas in the feet at the same time. There are no known causes for this condition. If you have a plantar fibroma, there will be a bump in the arch of your foot that cannot be missed. Any associated pain is most often due to a shoe rubbing against the nodule. Non-surgical options, such as steroid injections, physical therapy, and orthotics should be tried first. Surgery is a last resort and is the only thing that will remove a plantar fibroma entirely. Consult with a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and to determine the treatment regimen that is right for you.

What Causes a Plantar Fibroma?

While there are no specific causes identified, a plantar fibroma can possibly come from genetic predisposition or the formation of scar tissue that forms from healing the tears in the plantar fascia.

What Are the Symptoms of a Plantar Fibroma?

There will be a noticeable lump in the arch of the foot that may or may not cause pain. If pain is felt, it is typically because a shoe is rubbing up against the lump or when walking or standing barefoot.

Treatment and Prevention

A plantar fibroma will not disappear without treatment, but it can get smaller and be a non-issue. If pain persists, a podiatrist examines the foot and when the arch of the foot is pressed, pain can be felt down to the toes. An MRI or biopsy might be performed to help diagnose or evaluate the plantar fibroma. The following non-surgical options are generally enough to reduce the size and pain of these nodules:

• Steroid injections
• Orthotics
• Physical therapy to help apply anti-inflammatory creams on the bump 

Surgery is considered if the mass increases in size and the patient continues to feel pain after non-surgical methods are tried.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Wheat Ridge, CO . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.