Jun
30
It’s that time of year to pack your bags and head off to your favorite destination. But while you’re riding in the car or travelling by plane, remember to stretch those legs to help prevent a serious condition known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
DVT is a condition in which a blood clot (a blockage) forms in vein located deep within the leg. These clots most commonly occur in the veins of the leg, but they can also develop in other parts of the body. If the clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it can lodge in the lung. This blockage in the lung, called a pulmonary embolism, can make it difficult to breathe and may even cause death.
Certain people are more at risk than others for developing DVT. Some examples of risk factors include varicose veins, blood clotting disorders, pregnancy or recent childbirth, obesity, and heart disease. People over 40 years old, those who have had recent surgery, or those who are immobile through inactivity or wearing a cast are also more at risk for DVT.
Some people with DVT in the leg have either no warning signs at all or very vague symptoms. If any of the following warning signs or symptoms are present, it is important to make an appointment with our office for an evaluation:
- Swelling in the leg
- Pain in the calf or thigh
- Warmth and redness of the leg
If you have risk factors for DVT and plan on taking a long trip this season, follow these tips to reduce the likelihood of developing a blood clot:
- Exercise legs every 2 to 3 hours to get the blood flowing back to the heart. Walk up and down the aisle of a plane or train, rotate ankles while sitting, and take regular breaks on road trips.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids; avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Consider wearing compression stockings.
Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
Jun
24
Bare feet are universally associated with summer, but for those who enjoy walking barefoot, a local foot and ankle surgeon warns that in attention to seemingly minor puncture wounds on the soles of your feet can allow serious infections to develop and spread.
Going barefoot heightens risk for puncture wounds, which require different treatment from cuts because the tiny holes often harbor foreign matter under the skin,says Victor J. Quijano Jr. DPM, PhD, AACFAS, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Glass, nails, needles and seashells are common offenders. Regardless of the substance, anything that remains in the wound increases your chances for complications.
Puncture wounds in the feet too often are superficially treated, according to Dr. Quijano, and it is best to get proper care within the first 24 hours to make sure anything that might be embedded in the wound is removed. Dr. Quijano notes research suggests 10 percent of puncture wounds do result in serious infection, but such complications can be prevented with prompt and appropriate medical attention.
The depth and relative cleanliness of a puncture wound are the main factors determining possible infection risk.
Studies show 60 percent of patients who required incision and drainage of a puncture wound had something embedded, says Dr. Quijano. With the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria, even healthy people are getting potentially life-threatening staph infections. So if you step on something and the skin is broken, get treated right away.
Treatment involves a thorough cleaning to decrease infection risk. Tetanus shots often are needed. Following treatment, the wound should be monitored carefully at home.
Sometimes an infection can develop later and migrate to the bones, says Dr. Quijano. So if the wound stays red, swollen and sore after a few days, go back to the doctor for further treatment. In all cases, a puncture wound on your foot should never be taken lightly.
To make an appointment with Dr. Quijano, contact the Chelmsford podiatry office at (978) 441-9241 or the Newburyport podiatry office at (978) 463-0086. You can also visit New England Foot & Ankle podiatry web site at www.NEFootAnkle.com.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
Jun
18
Diabetes patients urged to take simple precautions to help save their feet
Taking a minute or two every day to inspect your feet and observing a few simple rules can make the difference in sparing diabetes patients from a preventable outcome of the disease - a foot amputation.
Of all diabetes-related complications, a serious foot ulcer and subsequent amputation might be the most preventable with proper care and vigilance in checking the feet at least once a day for small cuts and other abrasions,says Jerold H. Fleishman, DPM, FACFAS, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). Even those with good control of their blood sugar can experience foot ulcers, especially if neuropathy, a frequent diabetes complication, has caused decreased feeling on the bottom of their feet.
Loss of sensation inhibits the body’s normal pain response. As a result, walking can apply repetitive, unfelt pressure to a wound, making it larger and deeper. Left untreated, diabetic ulcers lead to serious infections, which may result in amputation.
Dr. Fleishman says foot and ankle surgeons use a variety of surgical and non-surgical methods to heal diabetic ulcers, but stressed early intervention yields the most favorable outcomes.
Daily self exams are the best protection. Too often, patients fail to check their feet for small cuts or punctures that over time will ulcerate and become infected, Dr. Fleishman says. If you have diabetes and see anything suspicious on your feet, consult a foot and ankle surgeon for diagnosis and treatment. Even a few days can make a difference in preventing serious foot problems from developing.
An estimated seven in 10 diabetes patients have nerve damage that impairs feeling in their feet. Fifteen percent eventually will develop a foot ulcer. Among those with ulcers, one in four will lose a foot. Each year more than 86,000 amputations are performed as a direct result of diabetes, and studies show half of those who have one foot or leg amputated will lose the other within five years. Proper diabetic foot care, says Dr. Fleishman, prevents foot loss.
In some cases, amputation might be the preferred option. If vascular and podiatric surgeries can’t improve blood circulation and foot function, resolve infection or restore foot function, amputation may be the only solution that enables the patient to heal. Today, advances in prosthetics make it possible for patients to return to an active lifestyle, a necessity for keeping diabetes under control.
Foot problems are not an inevitable consequence of diabetes. The risk can be lessened significantly by following a few simple precautions:
- Keep your blood sugar under control to help minimize cardiovascular and blood circulation problems
- Lose weight, don’t smoke and adhere to prescribed dietary, medication and exercise regimen. At least once a day, examine your feet for cuts and other small wounds you may not feel
- Never walk barefoot, outdoors and indoors
- Cut nails carefully straight across and not too short; never trim corns and calluses yourself
- Wash your feet every day in lukewarm water; dry carefully
- Choose comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes
- Wear clean, dry, non-bulky socks; change daily
- Shake pebbles or bits of gravel out of your shoes before wearing
- Seek treatment from a foot and ankle surgeon if minor cuts and sore spots don’t seem to be healing
To make an appointment with Dr. Fleishman contact the Chelmsford podiatry office at (978) 441-9241 or the Newburyport podiatry office at (978) 463-0086. You can also visit New England Foot & Ankle podiatry web site at www.NEFootAnkle.com.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
