Items filtered by date: August 2021

Blisters form on the feet when there is friction between the skin and the inside of the shoe. Because of the influence shoes may have on forming blisters, ensuring that your shoes fit properly is one of the most important steps to preventing blisters. Redness on the skin is usually the first sign of a blister, and applying some sort of dressing over the area can help prevent it from forming. Because wet shoes, boots, and socks cause blisters to form faster, keeping the feet dry is another key step to avoiding the formation of blisters. Patients who frequently get blisters should consult with a podiatrist in order to help find the cause of the blisters. Additionally, patients with diabetes should also consult a podiatrist after noticing a blister in order to keep a diabetic foot ulcer from forming. 

Blisters may appear as a single bubble or in a cluster. They can cause a lot of pain and may be filled with pus, blood, or watery serum. If your feet are hurting, contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters are often the result of friction. This happens due to the constant rubbing from shoes, which can 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.

Symptoms

(Blister symptoms may vary depending on what is causing them)

• Bubble of skin filled with fluid
• Redness
• Moderate to severe pain
• Itching

Prevention & Treatment

In order to prevent blisters, you should be sure to wear comfortable shoes with socks that cushion your feet and absorb sweat. Breaking a blister open may increase your chances of developing an infection. However, if your blister breaks, you should wash the area with soap and water immediately and then apply a bandage to the affected area. If your blisters cause severe pain it is important that you call your podiatrist right away.

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

• Distal subungual onychomycosis is considered to be one of the most common types of toenail fungus. It can cause the nails to turn yellow, which is often a result of keratin in the affected nail. The infection usually begins on the sides of the nail and may gradually spread to the entire nail, if left untreated, additional symptoms can include brittle nails, splitting, and the texture can become rough. It is considered to be contagious, so it is beneficial to refrain from sharing towels, shoes, and socks. There are several types of treatments that are available for toenail fungus infections. If you are afflicted with toenail fungus, it is strongly suggested that you place yourself under the care of a podiatrist who can help you with the correct treatment choice.

If left untreated, toenail fungus may spread to other toenails, skin, or even fingernails. If you suspect you have toenail fungus it is important to seek treatment right away. For more information about treatment, contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Symptoms

• Warped or oddly shaped nails
• Yellowish nails
• Loose/separated nail
• Buildup of bits and pieces of nail fragments under the nail
• Brittle, broken, thickened nail

Treatment

If self-care strategies and over-the-counter medications does not help your fungus, your podiatrist may give you a prescription drug instead. Even if you find relief from your toenail fungus symptoms, you may experience a repeat infection in the future.

Prevention

In order to prevent getting toenail fungus in the future, you should always make sure to wash your feet with soap and water. After washing, it is important to dry your feet thoroughly especially in between the toes. When trimming your toenails, be sure to trim straight across instead of in a rounded shape. It is crucial not to cover up discolored nails with nail polish because that will prevent your nail from being able to “breathe”.

In some cases, surgical procedure may be needed to remove the toenail fungus. Consult with your podiatrist about the best treatment options for your case of toenail fungus.  

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

Suffering from this type of pain? You may have the foot condition known as Morton's neuroma. Morton's neuroma may develop as a result of ill-fitting footwear and existing foot deformities. We can help.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which blood flow to the lower limbs is inadequate, usually as a result of the arteries narrowing or hardening because of plaque buildup. In its early stages, PAD is often asymptomatic. As it progresses, patients may notice muscle aches and cramps in the lower limbs, difficulty walking, burning or tingling pain, skin discoloration, coolness, or hair loss, and poorly healing wounds developing on the feet or ankles. Left undetected and untreated, PAD can progressively worsen and increase one’s risk of having a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke. Screening for PAD can be done by your podiatrist to detect and treat PAD early. Vascular testing by your podiatrist is generally safe, painless, and non-invasive. Most podiatrists use the Ankle-Brachial Index test which involves measuring the blood pressure at your arms and ankles and comparing the two numbers, and Doppler ultrasounds to screen for PAD. To learn more and schedule a screening, speak with a podiatrist near you.

Vascular testing plays an important part in diagnosing disease like peripheral artery disease. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or diabetes, consult with Dr. Dushack from APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Vascular Testing?

Vascular testing checks for how well blood circulation is in the veins and arteries. This is most often done to determine and treat a patient for peripheral artery disease (PAD), stroke, and aneurysms. Podiatrists utilize vascular testing when a patient has symptoms of PAD or if they believe they might. If a patient has diabetes, a podiatrist may determine a vascular test to be prudent to check for poor blood circulation.

How Is it Conducted?

Most forms of vascular testing are non-invasive. Podiatrists will first conduct a visual inspection for any wounds, discoloration, and any abnormal signs prior to a vascular test.

 The most common tests include:

• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) examination
• Doppler examination
• Pedal pulses

These tests are safe, painless, and easy to do. Once finished, the podiatrist can then provide a diagnosis and the best course for treatment.

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

A foot fracture occurs when one or more of the bones located in your foot break, usually due to impacts, falls, or repetitive stress over a period of time. There are a variety of treatments for broken foot bones. To determine which treatment may be right for will depend on the location and severity of the fracture. Your podiatrist may prescribe a boot, cast, or splint for you to wear on the injured foot. These devices are designed to limit foot movements, protect the foot, provide support, and hold the broken bones in place as they heal. More severe fractures may require surgery using internal or external pins or wires to straighten broken bones and hold them in the correct positions for a full recovery. If you have broken a bone in your foot, it is suggested that you schedule a visit with a podiatrist as soon as possible in order to get the right treatment for your injury.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

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