FAQ's for  General Questions

How do I know if I have fungus on my nails?

How do I know whether I should see a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon for my foot problem?

I like to run for exercise. How often should I replace my running shoes?

I sprained my ankle, how should I treat this?

I have orthotics. How often to I need to have these replaced?

My heels hurt. What can I do about the pain?

How do I know if I should have my bunions fixed or just leave them alone?

What can I do about athletes’ foot?

My heels are dry and cracked. Is there a solution?

What is causing the pain under the balls of my feet?

My child has flat feet. Does it need to be treated?

Are warts contagious?

I do not like the way my feet look. I have heard a lot about people getting cosmetic surgery to make them prettier or to fit them into a certain shoe style. Does your practice provide this type of surgery?

How do I avoid ingrown nails?

Why are my toes crooked? Why do they hurt now when before they didn’t?


How do I know if I have fungus on my nails?

Fungus on the nails usually presents as a darkening yellow, sometimes blackish and opaque discoloration of the nail. It can also present as white splotches on the nail. As the fungus progresses, the nail can get thicker and brittle.


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How do I know whether I should see a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon for my foot problem?

While a podiatrist’s surgical training centers only around the foot and ankle, so is not the case with an orthopedic surgeon whose surgical practice may include knees, hips, shoulders, arms, hands etc… When it come to foot and ankle problems, remember this is ALL a podiatrist does and what better an expert than one who spends all of their time treating only foot and ankle problems? A podiatrist is the clear choice for your foot and ankle needs.


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I like to run for exercise. How often should I replace my running shoes?

Rule of thumb is every 350-550 miles. Heavier runners should replace their shoes close to the 350 mile mark while lighter runners can stretch shoe mileage closer to the 550 mile range. If you run around 25 miles per week, you should replace you shoes every three to four months.


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I sprained my ankle, how should I treat this?

An easy home course of treatment to remember is “RICE”.

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I have orthotics. How often to I need to have these replaced?

Orthotics lose their function, that is their ability to properly control abnormal foot function, right at about one to one and one half years. This will be on the lower end if you are heavy or very active. When you reach this point (or sooner if you find your feet becoming more tired or your foot pain is returning) it is time to have them replaced.


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My heels hurt. What can I do about the pain?

The most common cause of heel pain is what is known as plantar fasciitis. This is inflammation of a ligament on the bottom of the foot called the “plantar fascia” at its point where it attaches to the heel. What you can do first, is avoid walking barefoot. Then, wear a shoe with a good arch support, ice the heel, and take an anti-inflammatory such as Motrin or Advil. If this does not help, see your podiatrist so your problem does not become chronic and more difficult to treat.


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How do I know if I should have my bunions fixed or just leave them alone?

If you have gotten to the point where you are having difficulty finding shoes that do not hurt, if you cannot perform the activities you love to do because your bunion hurts and if you are having discomfort on a daily basis, it is at the very least time to get an X-ray and discuss your treatment options with your podiatrist.


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What can I do about athletes’ foot?

Perspiration in a dark moist environment is the perfect place for fungal producing athletes’ foot. Athletes’ foot can spread around locker rooms, spas, pools and other public areas. It is important that you protect your feet in these areas and wear flips flops, crocs etc… Other ways to avoid athletes’ foot is to dry well between your feet after bathing, applying an anti-fungal powder to your feet, wear socks that are made of fibers that can wick away sweat (such as the newer synthetic athletic socks or natural materials such as cotton or wool), change socks often if your feet sweat excessively, avoid sharing shoes. There is a product called “Summer Soles” which is a very thin removable and replaceable inlay for your shoes and sandals that does a marvelous job of wicking the sweat off your feet so your feet feel dry and comfortable.


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My heels are dry and cracked. Is there a solution?

This problem is usually hereditary. Controlling the problem is your best solution since it will never just go away. If you have a bleeding cracked heel, it is important to see a podiatrist. If they are just dry and cracked, you can start with a good moisturizer in a cream form (lotions are too thin). Apply at least twice a day and even wear socks overnight for better penetration of the cream. Work off what the cream has softened using a pumice stone after a shower or a soak when your feet are the softest. If this does not work, there are numerous prescriptive creams that can help.


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What is causing the pain under the balls of my feet?

The term for pain under the ball of the foot is called “metatarsalgia” and can have many different causes from a torn ligament responsible for stabilizing the toe, to an injured nerve, an inflammed joint or even a stress fracture. The only way to find out what is causing your metatarsalgia, is it to have it evaluated by a podiatrist.


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My child has flat feet. Does it need to be treated?

There are many people with flat feet who never have a problem with their feet. If there is a family history of flat feet with family members needing surgery or having bunions, hammertoes or other foot condition, then yes, your child should be treated. This does not mean surgery, rather, a good insert recommended by their podiatrist. The best thing to do is to have your child’s foot examined, then evaluate the options.


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Are warts contagious?

In many respects, yes. If you have one on your feet, it would be unwise to pick at it and it can spread to someone else if that person has the potential towards getting that virus in the same way certain people have the potential for catching a certain cold. The wart virus likes to linger around moist environments such as pools, spas, locker rooms, public showers (such as those at the gym). Wearing flip flops or crocs in these areas is always a good idea.


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I do not like the way my feet look. I have heard a lot about people getting cosmetic surgery to make them prettier or to fit them into a certain shoe style. Does your practice provide this type of surgery?

All of the surgeons in this practice believe in “first do no harm”. Considering the risk of any surgery, we only perform surgery on people whose feet HURT, and for those whom conservative treatment did not help. We do however believe in “Aesthetic” surgery which is to use the best surgical techniques to provide a cosmetically pleasing post operative result. We want your feet to look pretty. But we do not make them pretty unless your feet hurt first!


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How do I avoid ingrown nails?

The simplest way to avoid ingrown nails is to trim your nails straight across and slightly round off the edges with a file. If you tear at your toenails rather than cut them, STOP! You are heading towards developing an ingrown nail if you do so. If you find that the edges of the skin closest to the nail are rough, moisturize them and you can even use a pumice stone to soften them.


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Why are my toes crooked? Why do they hurt now when before they didn’t?

Crooked toes can be hereditary or as a result of the shoes you wear. Over time you may find that they may begin to hurt. We call crooked toes “hammertoes” and when they start to hurt is due to the fact that they are becoming arthritic and less flexible. Conservatively, wider shoe and padding can help. When wider shoes and padding does not help to relieve the pain, they can be surgically straightened, which solves the problem!


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