Dec
4
Women’s feet hurt more in autumn
Filed Under Foot Health
Autumn is a painful time of year for many women.
As they transition from open-toed sandals to closed-in boots and shoes, foot and ankle surgeon Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS says he notices more women seeking relief for painful bunions. Dr. Downs has offices in Chelmsford and Newburyport MA. He says this trend plays out in the examining rooms of many foot and ankle surgeons every autumn.
“Some of my female bunion patients are in agony,” says Dr. Downs. “They describe a constant, throbbing pain, even when they take their shoes off.”
While the changing weather brings more bunion patients into his office, Dr. Downs says some women inquire about surgery in the fall because they’re less busy than in summer months. Many are also closer to meeting their insurance deductibles.
Dr. Downs emphasizes that surgery is a last-resort treatment for women with painful bunions.
“For many women, simple changes like wearing shoes with wider toe boxes can significantly reduce bunion pain,” he says. “Custom shoe inserts, gel- or foam-filled padding and anti-inflammatory medications may also provide pain relief.”
When the pain of a bunion interferes with a woman’s daily activities, it’s time to discuss surgical options, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
The College provides answers to frequently asked questions about bunion surgery on its Web site, FootPhysicians.com.
Dr. Downs can be contacted at (978) 441-9241.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
Nov
29
As brightly colored leaves dazzle the fall landscape, hikers and hunters nationwide will migrate to mountains, woods and fields, but many, unfortunately, are ill prepared for the beating their feet will take, warns a local foot and ankle surgeon.
“Hikers, hunters and others who love the outdoors often don’t realize how strenuous it can be to withstand constant, vigorous walking on uneven terrain,” said Jerold H. Fleishman, DPM, FACFAS , a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “Lax physical conditioning and inappropriate footwear bring scores of outdoor enthusiasts into our office each fall for treatment of foot and ankle problems such as chronic heel pain, ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, fungal infections and severe blisters.”
“Walking up and down steep hillsides and tramping through wet, slippery fields and wooded areas puts stress on the muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles, especially if you haven’t conditioned properly before hitting the trail,” said Dr Fleishman. “Also, many don’t realize that cross-training athletic shoes aren’t the best choice for extended hiking and hunting. Had some of my patients worn sturdy, well constructed hiking boots, they wouldn’t have suffered sprained ankles or strained Achilles tendons.
”Dr Fleishman advises hikers and hunters to make the investment in top-quality hiking boots. He said strong, well insulated and moisture-proof boots with steel or graphite shanks offer excellent ankle and foot support that helps lessen stress and muscle fatigue to reduce injury risk. “The supportive shank decreases strain on the arch by allowing the boot to distribute impact as the foot moves forward. So if a boot bends in the middle, don’t buy it.”
In wet and cold weather, wearing the right socks can help prevent blisters, fungal infections and frostbite. Dr Fleishman recommends synthetic socks as the first layer to keep the feet dry and reduce blister-causing friction. For the second layer, wool socks add warmth, absorb moisture away from the skin, and help make the hiking boot more comfortable. “Wool lets moisture evaporate more readily than cotton, so fewer blisters develop,” He added.
What happens if your feet or ankles hurt during a hike or hunt? Dr Fleishman said pain usually occurs from overuse, even from just walking. “If you’re not accustomed to walking on sloped or uneven ground, your legs and feet will get tired and cause muscles and tendons to ache,” He explained. “To avoid a serious injury, such as a severe ankle sprain or an Achilles tendon rupture, rest for awhile if you start hurting.”
According to the ACFAS consumer website, www.FootPhysicians.com, pain is a warning sign that something is wrong. “Serious injury risk escalates significantly if you continue hiking in pain.” He likened hiking to skiing, in that beginners should take on less difficult trails until they become better conditioned and more confident.
Evaluation by a foot and ankle surgeon is recommended if there is persistent pain following a hiking or hunting outing. “I’m most concerned about ankle instability and strained Achilles tendons. Inattention to these problems at their early stages may lead to a serious injury that will keep you off the trails for a long time,” Dr Fleishman said.
Hikers and hunters seeking further information about ankle sprains, Achilles tendon injuries and other foot and ankle problems may contact Dr Fleishman at (978) 441-9241.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
Nov
17
Soccer season is in full swing and a local foot and ankle surgeon strongly urges parents and coaches to think twice before coaxing young, injury-prone soccer players to “play through” foot and ankle pain.
“Skeletally immature kids, starting and stopping and moving side to side on cleats that are little more than moccasins with spikes – that’s a recipe for foot and ankle sprains and worse,” cautions Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
“Kids will play with lingering, nagging heel pain that, upon testing, turns out to be a stress fracture that neither they, their parents nor their coaches were aware of,” he said. “By playing with pain, they can’t give their team 100 percent and make their injuries worse, which prolongs their time out of soccer.”
Dr. Downs said he has actually had to show parents x-rays of fractures before they’ll take their kids out of the game. “And stress fractures can be subtle – they don’t always show up on initial x-rays.”
Symptoms of stress fractures include pain during normal activity and when touching the area, and swelling without bruising. Treatment usually involves rest and sometimes casting. Some stress fractures heal poorly and often require surgery, such as a break in the elongated bone near the little toe, known as a Jones fracture.
“Soccer is a very popular sport in our community, but the constant running associated with it places excessive stress on a developing foot,” Dr. Downs said. He added that pain from overuse usually stems from inflammation, such as around the growth plate of the heel bone, more so than a stress fracture. “Their growth plates are still open and bones are still growing and maturing – until they’re about 13 to 16. Rest and, in some cases, immobilization of the foot should relieve that inflammation,” Dr. Downs said.
Other types of overuse injuries are Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis (heel pain caused by inflammation of the tissue extending from the heel to the toes).
Quick, out-of-nowhere ankle sprains are also common to soccer. “Ankle sprains should be evaluated by a physician to assess the extent of the injury,” said Dr. Downs. “If the ankle stays swollen for days and is painful to walk or even stand on, it could be a fracture.”
Collisions between soccer players take their toll on toes. “When two feet are coming at the ball simultaneously, that ball turns into cement block and goes nowhere. The weakest point in that transaction is usually a foot, with broken toes the outcome,” he explained. “The toes swell up so much the player can’t get a shoe on, which is a good sign for young athletes and their parents: If they are having trouble just getting a shoe on, they shouldn’t play.”
To contact Dr. Downs’ office:
Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
