Items filtered by date: December 2021

Some afflictions of the foot are known as congenital conditions, which are present in an individual’s feet from birth. Congenital vertical talus is one such condition. This affliction occurs when the talus bone in the foot has essentially grown in the incorrect posture, causing other nearby foot bones to shift on top of the talus bone. Interestingly, the exact cause of this rare congenital foot condition is still elusive. Individuals living with congenital vertical talus may experience any number of symptoms, including abnormalities in the muscles of the feet, pain in the foot, and a stiffened Achilles tendon. This condition may affect either one foot or both feet. As a result of congenital vertical talus, the front of the foot may point upwards. If you want to learn more about congenital vertical talus, make an appointment with a podiatrist today. 

Congenital foot problems require immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact Leonard Talarico, DPM of Georgia. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Congenital foot problems are deformities affecting the feet, toes, and/or ankles that children are born with. Some of these conditions have a genetic cause while others just happen. Some specific foot ailments that children may be born with include clubfeet, polydactyly/macrodactyly, and cleft foot. There are several other foot anomalies that can occur congenitally. What all of these conditions have in common is that a child may experience difficulty walking or performing everyday activities, as well as trouble finding footwear that fits their foot deformity. Some of these conditions are more serious than others. Consulting with a podiatrist as early as possible will help in properly diagnosing a child’s foot condition while getting the necessary treatment underway.

What are Causes of Congenital Foot Problem?

A congenital foot problem is one that happens to a child at birth. These conditions can be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental or positional abnormalities during gestation, or with no known cause.

What are Symptoms of Congenital Foot Problems?

Symptoms vary by the congenital condition. Symptoms may consist of the following:

• Clubfoot, where tendons are shortened, bones are shaped differently, and the Achilles tendon is tight, causing the foot to point in and down. It is also possible for the soles of the feet to face each other.
• Polydactyly, which usually consists of a nubbin or small lump of tissue without a bone, a toe that is partially formed but has no joints, or an extra toe.
• Vertical talus, where the talus bone forms in the wrong position causing other bones in the foot to line up improperly, the front of the foot to point up, and the bottom of the foot to stiffen, with no arch, and to curve out.
• Tarsal coalition, when there is an abnormal connection of two or more bones in the foot leading to severe, rigid flatfoot.
• Cleft foot, where there are missing toes, a V-shaped cleft, and other anatomical differences.
• Macrodactyly, when the toes are abnormally large due to overgrowth of the underlying bone or soft tissue.

Treatment and Prevention

While there is nothing one can do to prevent congenital foot problems, raising awareness and receiving neonatal screenings are important. Early detection by taking your child to a podiatrist leads to the best outcome possible.

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

Many people develop pain in the heel, which can be the result of overuse. This may cause the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that runs under the foot from the toes to the heel, to become inflamed and painful. One way to prevent this type of damage is to wear the correct shoes. Footwear that has adequate cushioning in the heel can go a long way to reduce the onset of heel pain. Wearing flip flops or ballet flats, and walking barefoot, may add to the risk of developing heel pain. In addition, wearing shoes that are too small can cause the toes to grab, or claw, inside the shoe. This action places further stress on the plantar fascia. Instead, it is thought that a shoe with adequate space for the toes and a slightly elevated heel, such as a running shoe, can reduce the stress on the plantar fascia. For more information on plantar fasciitis and choosing the proper footwear, please consult a podiatrist.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact Leonard Talarico, DPM of Georgia. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes                  
• Wearing non-supportive shoes
• Weight change           
• Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress-free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a condition of the past.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Pooler, GA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

An ingrown toenail is a potentially painful and unsightly condition that usually affects the big toe. This condition occurs when the side of the toenail grows into the skin, creating redness and swelling in the affected area. However, it is also possible for an ingrown toenail to develop on the pinky toe. This can be problematic for several reasons. Most notably, the pinky toe is the smallest of all the toes, which makes taking proper care of the pinky toenail difficult. Many individuals can not properly trim or cut this toenail due to its small size, which is a leading cause of ingrown toenails. For example, toenails that are cut too short or in a misshapen way can develop into ingrown toenails. A good way to prevent this from happening to your pinky toes is to cut the toenail straight across. This can prevent the nail from growing into the skin. Another helpful method of prevention is to wear shoes that do not crowd the toes and offer sufficiently large toe boxes. The pinky is certainly a small and often neglected part of the human body. However, having an ingrown toenail on your pinky toe is nothing to take lightly. Reach out to your local podiatrist to learn more about treating your ingrown toenail.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Leonard Talarico, DPM of Georgia. Our doctor 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 our office located in Pooler, GA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

People with diabetes can also suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is a disease in which elevated blood glucose levels cause your arteries to narrow. A narrowing of the arteries can restrict the flow of blood to the extremities,  otherwise known as poor circulation. PAD symptoms include numb or cold feet, intermittent claudication (leg pain that goes away when resting), bluish colorization in the skin of the legs, loss of hair on the legs or feet, brittle toenails and more. One of the more serious symptoms of PAD is an impaired ability to heal wounds and sores, which can be potentially dangerous for the diabetic patient. As a diabetic, it is wise to be under the care of a podiatrist. They will be able to determine if you have PAD with a non-invasive test of the blood flow in your feet called a brachial pressure index test, or ABPI test. If you have been diagnosed with PAD, your podiatrist will be able to help manage your symptoms and help prevent complications from arising.

While poor circulation itself isn’t a condition; it is a symptom of another underlying health condition you may have. If you have any concerns with poor circulation in your feet contact Leonard Talarico, DPM of Georgia. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Poor Circulation in the Feet

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) can potentially lead to poor circulation in the lower extremities. PAD is a condition that causes the blood vessels and arteries to narrow. In a linked condition called atherosclerosis, the arteries stiffen up due to a buildup of plaque in the arteries and blood vessels. These two conditions can cause a decrease in the amount of blood that flows to your extremities, therefore resulting in pain.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of poor circulation are:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Throbbing or stinging pain in limbs
• Pain
• Muscle Cramps

Treatment for poor circulation often depends on the underlying condition that causes it. Methods for treatment may include insulin for diabetes, special exercise programs, surgery for varicose veins, or compression socks for swollen legs.

As always, see a podiatrist as he or she will assist in finding a regimen that suits you. A podiatrist can also prescribe you any needed medication. 

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