Items filtered by date: March 2022

Diabetes can affect foot health and cause peripheral neuropathy, a condition where the central nervous system is damaged and signals from the brain to one’s feet do not work properly. This can cause inflammation and lead to numbness, tingling, and increased sensitivity in the feet, as well as more severe problems like foot ulcers and infections. Changes in lifestyle and diet can help keep blood sugar and weight in a target range that will help prevent nerve damage and neuropathy. Following diabetic food guidelines and eating at regular intervals are key to controlling diabetes and side effects like peripheral neuropathy from developing. It is also important to check your feet frequently to look for cuts, swelling, or other abnormalities. Having your feet checked regularly by a podiatrist when you have diabetes can help you stay on top of your foot health and prevent more serious complications from developing.

Diabetic foot care is important in preventing foot ailments such as ulcers. If you are suffering from diabetes or have any other concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Tin Quach from Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes affects millions of people every year. The condition can damage blood vessels in many parts of the body, especially the feet. Because of this, taking care of your feet is essential if you have diabetes, and having a podiatrist help monitor your foot health is highly recommended.

The Importance of Caring for Your Feet

• Routinely inspect your feet for bruises or sores.
• Wear socks that fit your feet comfortably.
• Wear comfortable shoes that provide adequate support.

Patients with diabetes should have their doctor monitor their blood levels, as blood sugar levels play such a huge role in diabetic care. Monitoring these levels on a regular basis is highly advised.

It is always best to inform your healthcare professional of any concerns you may have regarding your feet, especially for diabetic patients. Early treatment and routine foot examinations are keys to maintaining proper health, especially because severe complications can arise if proper treatment is not applied.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

A blister is a sac of fluid that develops in the upper layer of your skin when a body part, typically a toe, rubs against a hard surface like the side or top of a shoe. This is the body’s way of protecting the toe from injury. While most blisters are clear, if one becomes infected it may fill with blood or a yellowish-green pus. Generally, a blister will heal itself in a few days, especially if the activity that caused it is stopped. For instance, if you are walking for long periods in hard leather shoes, and a blister develops, it’s a good idea to change to a more open type of shoe. It's never wise to pop a blister, as that can leave you open to serious infection. If it bursts on its own, avoid removing the dead skin, but gently wrap the area in sterile gauze until it heals. Any time a blister becomes extremely painful or appears to be infected, it is important to consult a podiatrist as soon as possible for appropriate treatment options.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, contact Dr. Tin Quach of Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What Are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How Do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

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

Your feet take a pounding every day, and thankfully, the strong band of connective tissue on the sole of the feet (plantar fascia) is there to absorb a lot of this stress. However, the plantar fascia can eventually become overly stressed or damaged, and even suffer micro-tears where it attaches to the heel. This condition, known as plantar fasciitis, causes inflammation in the tissue and a great deal of heel pain. This pain may come on gradually and is usually at its worst first thing in the morning or after periods of rest. Once you start moving around the pain typically subsides, but eventually returns as the day progresses. What causes the plantar fascia to become damaged? There are many possible factors that can lead to plantar fasciitis such as: obesity, age, ill-fitting or non-supportive footwear, standing for long periods of time, excessive strain during exercise, tight Achilles’ tendons or calf muscles, running on hard surfaces, and certain foot disorders like flat feet or high arches. There are a variety of treatments that a podiatrist can administer to relieve the pain and reduced mobility associated with plantar fasciitis. If you have heel pain, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Dr. Tin Quach  from Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, known as the plantar fascia, and causes mild to severe heel pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Non-supportive shoes
• Overpronation
• Repeated stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia

How Can It Be Treated?

• Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices
• Shockwave therapy – sound waves are sent to the affected area to facilitate healing and are usually used for chronic cases of plantar fasciitis
• Surgery – usually only used as a last resort when all else fails. The plantar fascia can be surgically detached from the heel

While very treatable, plantar fasciitis is definitely not something that should be ignored. Especially in severe cases, speaking to your doctor right away is highly recommended to avoid complications and severe heel pain. Your podiatrist can work with you to provide the appropriate treatment options tailored to your condition.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Heel pain is a very common occurrence. It is usually felt under the heel or at the back of the heel. When pain and inflammation is located on the bottom of the heel toward the front of the foot, plantar fasciitis is typically the cause. Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue, which runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel with the toes. Other causes of heel pain on the bottom of the foot may be attributed to heel pad atrophy or heel spurs. If pain is felt at the back of the heel, Achilles tendonitis is often at the root of the cause. This condition occurs when the Achilles tendon, which attaches to the back of the heel bone, becomes damaged or torn over time, causing pain and swelling. Other possible causes include bursitis, Sever’s disease, and heel bumps. Pain from a heel stress fracture can occur anywhere on the heel, and tarsal tunnel syndrome can cause heel pain underneath the ankle bone. Heel pain can also be caused by neurological issues, infections and arthritis. Unless you suffer an acute injury, heel pain typically starts out mild, but can become severe. If you are experiencing any type of heel pain, don’t hesitate to contact a podiatrist to find out the cause and take measures to keep it from worsening or becoming chronic or debilitating.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact Dr. Tin Quach of Foot Center. 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 offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

One of the foot’s 26 bones is called the navicular bone, which sits just in front of the ankle on the top of your foot. A stress fracture of the navicular bone is commonly the result of explosive and repetitive action of the feet, especially during running fast or jumping. During activity, the navicular bone may be squeezed between the two bones in front of and in back of it, causing stress. Symptoms of a navicular stress fracture are an ache in the midfoot area, including the inside of the arch, and pain if you press on the bone. This discomfort may subside once activity is stopped and the foot rests, but is likely to recur when the action starts again. If you have pain when flexing your foot upward, you may have a navicular fracture. A visit to a podiatrist for diagnostic imaging tests is a good idea. Treatment options, depending on the severity of the injury, include a walking splint, a full cast, or surgery. 

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact Dr. Tin Quach from Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.