When Prince Charming eased Cinderella’s foot into that glass slipper, she probably muttered a pained “Ouch” under her breath. These days, glass and foot-binding are out of fashion, but a host of new challenges are in. More women are spending time on the feet at jobs outside the home, and that time is often logged in nylon pantyhose and shoes with pointed toes and high heels. Among the problems often directly linked to wearing high heels are Achilles tendonitis and metatarsalgia(pain in the ball of the foot). Nylons can trap moisture next to the skin, encouraging the growth of fungal infections, plus constrict the toes, leading to ingrown toenails, hammartoes and bunions. Bunions tend to be inherited, but shoes with narrow toe boxes can trigger them.

Buying the right shoes is an important part of foot care. Considering how much our feet do for us, the least we can do is provide preventative care before a problem occurs and seek professional care from a podiatrist. Whether this means a change in foot wear or a more medical approach, there’s help for your aching feet, and lots you can do to make sure your feet stand up to years of wear and tear. We at Family Foot and Ankle Care are here to help you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

Dr. Marc Fink

P. S. Swelling and hormone production during pregnancy can aggravate exisitng foot problems as well as bring on new ones.

Orthotics. The word may be unfamiliar but it stands for the type of custom inserts that can make the difference between comfort and pain, or between staying on your feet and being laid up by foot problems. Far beyond the “arch supports” that line the drugstore shelves, orthotics are custom made from walking and standing on a computerized scanning pad.An orthotic laboratory uses the scan with other information to fashion corrective devices made out of polypropelene plastic or other soft materials. Padding and built up areas are designed into the orthotic to accommodate special needs. When put into shoes, orthotics guide the patient into the correct position to function normally, without strain or pain.

We use today’s high-tech diagnostic tools to fit orthotics and to detect other foot imbalances,problems and disorders to help determine the most appropriate treatment with more accuracy than ever before. We also use the most up-to-date materials for the orthotics with other treatment plans which includes complete instructions for home care. If your feet are taking the joy out of your step, contact Family Foot and Ankle Care for an orthotics evaluation and scanning.

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. Untreated foot misalignment can lead to a variety of problems including foot and ankle sprains, bunions and lower back pain.

A podiatrist is the physician known to go to for foot and ankle surgery,removing warts,fixing ingrown toenails and such. In fact, a podiatrist works with a variety of treatments, of which surgery is just one. To ease pain or help healing, a podiatrist may offer physical therapies such as massage, whirlpool, heat or cold and ultrasound. Casting or splinting may be used to immobilize an injury. Medications may be ordered to treat infections,pain and inflammation. Custom made shoe or inserts,called orthotics my be prescribed to enhance comfort and mobility. Corn and callouses may be debrided to relieve pressure and even routine foot care such as nail trimming, can be a life saver.

When you visit our offices at Family Foot and Ankle Care we will discuss your medical history as well as conduct a lower extremity physical exam and utilize diagnostic tests to determine your foot and ankle problems. Once a diagnosis is made, we’ll develop a treatment plan designed to relieve your discomfort or correct the problem. We’ll also give you helpful tips for avoiding foot problems in the future. We offer a wide range of modern treatments and procedures.

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. When surgery is necessary, it is often done on an outpatient basis, and the patient goes home that same day.

If your big toe has gradually begun to point toward your second toe, forming a bump on the outside edge of your foot, you are probably experiencing a bunion. Also known as Hallux Valgus, a bunion develops as the foot bone connected to your big toe begins to pull towards the center of the body. The bony prominence on the side of your toe’s joint is a visual indication of a bunion, while physically you will know because of the discomfort and pain that is involved with the process.

The common symptoms of a bunion include:

Swelling and/or around the big toe joint
Difficulty walking
Pain along the inside margin of the foot
Feet become too wide to fit into their normal shoes
Pain when wearing tight shoes

More women than men develop a bunion later in life, because they are more likely to wear tightly fitting shoes. Poorly fitting shoes and heredity are the most common causes of a bunion. The risk of developing a bunion increases with family history.

Other possible causes for a bunion are:
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Weak ligaments in the feet
Trauma or injury to the feet

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication will temporarily relieve the pain and inflammation of a bunion. But changing your footwear is a more permanent solution. That, as well as wearing orthotics(custom inserts)can slow down the progression of bunions.

If the problem has existed for some time with no pain relief, and all conservative treatments have failed, a podiatrist may have you go through surgery to alleviate the bunion. We at Family Foot and Ankle Care have years of experience in treating all kinds of bunions.

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. Runners develop bunions much faster than the average population due to their high impact activity.

I had to add this book to the blog! Anyone interesting in reading this? The old name for podiatrist is chiropodist which has some significance to my practice. My uncle was a graduate of Temple School of Chiropody in 1941 and I was born in 1957, the year of the profession’s name change. This book takes place in 1958! First patient at Family Foot and Ankle Care to mention they saw this blog post wins a copy of the book!

Enjoy!

www.goodreads.com/book/show/18045666-onions-bunions-corns-and-dungeons

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. I was an electrical/computer engineer for 7 years prior to going to medical school

You may first notice an odd tint to your toenails,perhaps with yellow,white or brown streaks. In time, the nails might seem to thicken and lift up from the toe. Nails may even begin to grow in strange formations,such as sideways or back toward the toe. These symptoms are characteristic of a condition called fungus nail, in which a fungus similar to that of so-called athlete’s foot grows up under the nail. If left to continue unchecked, fungus can seriously damage the underlying nail plate and matrix. Because the condition tends to advance slowly, however,it can progress for some time before being caught. Treatment may involve use of topical and oral medication and in severe cases toenail removal.

If a fungus nail or other nail problem does manage to get past your regular regimin of good foot care, don’t try to treat it yourself. “Bathroom surgery” is often responsible for even more damage and prolonged discomfort. Instead visit your podiatrist for quick, efficient, appropriate treatment. Here at Family Foot and Ankle Care we treat all kinds of feet for all kinds of problems, with an emphasis on stopping your foot pain.

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. Fungus nail can also be a sign of serious illness,such as diabetes.

Foot problems are among the most common complications for people with diabetes. The good news ,though,is that there is much an individual can do to make sure feet stay healthy. The key is circulation,and that means exercise. For generally healthy people, walking is an excellent exercise, improving circulation and helping keep the feet fit and flexible. Just observe a few cautions: Walk at a steady pace for as long as possible every day, but stop if pain occurs. Also, do some warm-ups before the walk, including such exercises as heel raises (moving up and down onto tiptoe),knee bends, and leg sweeps(with one hand on a chair back,stand with one leg on a book, swinging the other leg back and forth).

Don’t ignore foot pain. Quick attention is the best assurance of speedy recovery and prevention of the serious consequences of diseases like diabetes. Here at Family Foot and Ankle Care, we want you back into your normal routine as comfortably and as quickly as possible-just like you do! We offer a complete range of nonsurgical and surgical treatments for your foot problems, and we are committed to helping you make the best treatment decision for your needs.

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. Even the most restricted, bed-ridden patients need some form of exercise.

The term “well-heeled” may take on a different meaning for the millions of Americans who suffer from heel pain. As the part of the anatomy that bears the brunt of the body’s full weight with every step, the heel has a huge job to do. Problems can be caused by biomechanical faults such as flexible flat feet,high arches and tight Achilles tendons.Other heel pain villains include weight gain, high impact athletics,lower back problems and long periods of standing or walking. Heel bursitis or inflammation of the plantar fascia(the fibrous band that extends from toes to heel) are also common sources of pain. Depending on the cause, treatment may range from rest and anti-inflammatory medication to surgery.

The greatest advances in podiatric medicine have been made within the last ten years. With the aid of computerized motions of of bone and muscle design, we understand the ranges and biomechanical assembly of the foot, how the foot really works, and what it takes to control or correct diseases and abnormalities. If it’s time your feet stopped hurting,from heel pain or other foot discomfort, then see me as a patient at Family Foot and Ankle Care.

Dr. Marc Fink

P.S. The heel bone, or calcaneus is the largest bone in the foot.

Welcome to the new Family Foot and Ankle Care blog page. I will be updating this page with foot and ankle and practice information.

Dr. Marc Fink