Feb
4
Fix Feet For Weight Loss Success
Filed Under Foot Health
Many of the estimated 70 million obese Americans are trapped in a life-threatening vicious cycle: Obesity aggravates foot problems, like heel pain and flat feet; sore feet make it hard to exercise and lose weight; and without exercise, obesity worsens and exacerbates progression of diabetes, heart disease and other serious health threats.
Today, a Chelmsford, MA foot and ankle surgeon urged obese adults to seek immediate treatment for chronic, activity-limiting foot and ankle problems to foster compliance with physician-directed exercise programs.
“It’s unfortunate obese adults get caught up in the vicious cycle of avoiding physical activity due to foot or ankle pain, thereby permitting cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening conditions to worsen as a result,” says Dr. Jerold H. Fleishman, DPM, FACFAS, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons FACFAS in Chelmsford, MA. “For example, in many cases, chronic heel pain occurs from carrying too much weight. Left untreated, it becomes an impediment to physical activity and meaningful weight loss.”
Dr. Fleishman says there’s no reason foot or ankle pain should stop obese patients from exercising. The first step toward breaking that vicious cycle is an evaluation by a foot and ankle surgeon.
According to the ACFAS consumer Web site, FootPhysicians.com, many causes of foot pain can be relieved without surgery through stretching exercises, orthotics and athletic shoes with good shock absorption and support. If a bunion, heel pain or other condition requires surgery, patients can participate during their recovery in non-weight-bearing activities, such as riding a stationary bike, swimming or weight training.
For those moderately to severely overweight, Dr. Fleishman says a thorough physical examination is mandatory before beginning an exercise program.
“Once cleared by your physician to begin exercising, don’t try to do too much too soon. Follow a gradual routine until your body adjusts to the stress of regular physical activity,” HE says. “For example, I counsel overweight patients to avoid working out on treadmills or elliptical machines to minimize pounding and stress on their joints.”
Shedding excess pounds helps diabetic patients control their disease, but Dr. Fleishman notes many who experience foot ulcerations and vascular problems caused by diabetes might think they shouldn’t exercise.
“Every diabetes patient needs regular foot exams to check for possible sore spots and assess nerve sensation,” says Dr. Fleishman. “And with proper diabetic foot care and the right footwear, most patients can follow an exercise regimen that is safe and appropriate for them.”
To Contact Dr. Fleishman’s visit www.nefootankle.com
Jan
28
Foot Pain? You May Have Diabetes
Filed Under Foot Health
Do you ever feel burning, tingling or numbness in your feet and toes? A Chelmsford, MA, foot and ankle surgeon warns against ignoring those symptoms. They could be a warning sign of diabetes.
Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, says those symptoms may be caused by a condition called diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. Neuropathy in the feet can lead to permanent numbness, deformities such as bunions and hammertoes, and dry skin that cracks open and won’t heal.
“Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is not only painful but dangerous,” says Dr. Downs, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons with offices in Chelmsford, MA,. “It’s a leading contributor to foot ulcers in people with diabetes.”
Burning, tingling and numbness in toes can also be symptoms of thyroid problems, nutritional deficiencies, back problems and pinched nerves in the ankles. In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy and can lead to further foot complications.
Out of the 23 million Americans with diabetes, one in four has not been diagnosed. Some people learn they have diabetes only after seeing a doctor for burning, tingling and numbness in their toes and feet. Many people already diagnosed with diabetes are not familiar with neuropathy’s symptoms. According to FootPhysicians.com, even diabetic patients who have excellent blood sugar control can develop diabetic neuropathy.
Medications can treat pain caused by neuropathy. However, nerve damage cannot be reversed.
“When you have diabetes, especially diabetic neuropathy, a minor cut on your foot can turn into a catastrophe,” says Dr. Downs. “The statistics on diabetic ulcers are sobering.”
Twenty percent of diabetes patients who develop ulcers will require an amputation. Patients who are black, Hispanic and Native American are twice as likely as whites to need a diabetes-related amputation. Half of all people with diabetes who have a toe or foot amputation die within three years. The annual cost for diabetic ulcer care in the U.S. is estimated at $5 billion.
For more information on foot problems such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, contact Dr. Downs at www.nefootankle.com.
Jan
22
Got gout? If so, a Chelmsford, MA, foot and ankle surgeon has a recommendation for surviving the holidays: Watch what you eat and drink.
Changes in diet, including overindulging in certain foods and beverages, can cause gout attacks this time of year, says Jerold H. Fleishman, DPM, FACFAS. Dr. Fleishman is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) with offices in Chelmsford, MA.
Gout attacks are extremely painful. They are caused when uric acid accumulates in the tissues or a joint and crystallizes. This most commonly occurs in the big toe joint. Dr. Fleishman explains this is because the toe is the coolest part of the body and uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes.
He says foods that are high in purines contribute to uric acid build-up. He recommends that people prone to gout attacks avoid purine-rich items such as shellfish (shrimp, crab, etc.), organ meats (kidney, liver, etc.), red meat, red wine and beer.
Gout can be treated with medications, diet changes, increasing consumption of appropriate fluids, and immobilizing the foot. In some cases surgery is required to remove the uric acid crystals and repair the joint.
For contact information visit www.nefootankle.com
