DIABETES AND YOUR FEET-WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

DIABETES AND YOUR FEET-WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

SUBMITTED BY: CARL J. CORTESE DPM

CHECK YOUR FEET. EXAMINE YOUR FEET CLOSELY EVERY DAY TO LOOK FOR ANY CHANGES AND/OR BREAKS IN THE SKIN. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR REDNESS, SWELLING, BROKEN SKIN, SORES, BLEEDING, PUS-LIKE DISCHARGE, PALE OR BLUE SKIN, NOTICEABLE CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE, OR ANY UNUSUAL FEELINGS LIKE TINGLING OR NUMBNESS. YOU MAY NEED TO USE A HAND MIRROR TO EXAMINE THE BOTTOMS OF YOUR FEET OR HAVE SOMEONE ELSE CHECK THEM FOR YOU.

KEEP YOUR FEET CLEAN. WASH YOUR FEET WITH SOAP AND WARM WATER EVERYDAY. WHILE THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT OF WORK, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. MAKE SURE THE WATER IS ONLY WARM NOT HOT BY CHECKING WITH YOUR ELBOW. DRY YOUR FEET COMPLETELY, INCLUDING BETWEEN THE TOES.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FOOT PROBLEMS PLEASE CALL: CORTESE FOOT AND ANKLE CLINIC, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, MCLEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

THE AGONY OF "DE-FEET"

THE AGONY OF "DE-FEET"

WOMEN SUFFER FROM FOOT PROBLEMS NEARLY FOUR TIMES AS OFTEN AS MEN. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY 75% OF NORTH AMERICANS WILL EXPERIENCE A FOOT PROBLEM SOME TIME IN THEIR LIVES. EACH HUMAN FOOT HAS 26 BONES, 33 JOINTS, 20 MUSCLES, OVER 100 LIGAMENTS AND NEARLY 250,000 SWEAT GLANDS. THERE ARE MORE NERVE ENDINGS PER SQUARE CENTIMETER IN THE FOOT THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE BODY. THE AVERAGE PERSON TAKES 8,000-10,000 STEPS PER DAY.

WITH OUR FEET BEING THE FARTHEST AWAY FROM OUR EYES, THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE THE FARTHEST AWAY FROM OUR MINDS. THE FOOT IS SUCH AN INTRICATE PART OF THE HUMAN ANATOMY AND WE RELY ON IT THOUSANDS OF TIMES PER DAY EACH STEP WE TAKE. PART OF MAKING FOOT CARE A PRIORITY IS BECOMING MORE AWARE OF CERTAIN RISK FACTORS, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, AND FORMS OF PREVENTION.

THE LEADING RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN'S FOOT PROBLEMS ARE:

*HIGH-HEEL SHOES

*HOSIERY

*PREGNANCY

*AGE

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY FOOT PAIN OR DISCOMFORT PLEASE CALL US AT: 309-452-3000, CORTESE FOOT AND ANKLE CLINIC, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, ILLINOIS, MCLEAN COUNTY ILLINOIS.

BUNIONS

BUNIONS

SUBMITTED BY: CARL CORTESE

DEFINITION: BUNIONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FOREFOOT PROBLEMS. A BUNION IS A PROMINENT BUMP ON THE INSIDE OF THE FOOT AROUND THE BIG TOE JOINT. THIS BUMP IS ACTUALLY A BONE PROTRUDING TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE FOOT. WITH THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF THE BIG TOES TOWARD THE SMALLER TOES, IT IS COMMON TO FIND THE BIG TOE RESTING OVER OR UNDER THE SECOND TOE. THIS CAUSES A COMMON FOREFOOT CONDITION CALLED OVERLAPPING TOES. SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF BUNIONS INCLUDE INFLAMMATION, SWELLING, AND SORENESS ON THE SIDE SURFACE OF THE BIG TOE. THE DISCOMFORT COMMONLY CAUSES A PERSON TO WALK IMPROPERLY.

ANOTHER TYPE OF BUNION WHICH SOME INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE IS CALLED A TAILOR'S BUNION, ALSO KNOWN AS A BUNIONETTE. THIS FORMS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FOOT TOWARDS THE JOINT AT THE LITTLE TOE. IT IS A SMALLER BUMP THAT FORMS DUE TO THE LITTLE TOE MOVING INWARDS, TOWARDS THE BIG TOE.

CAUSE: BUNIONS CAN BE HEREDITARY AND ARE A COMMON PROBLEM EXPERIENCED MOSTLY BY WOMEN. THE PAIN CAN DEVELOP FROM AN ABNORMALITY IN FOOT FUNCTION BIO MECHANICS DUE TO EXCESS PRONATION, OR ARTHRITIS, BUT IS MORE COMMONLY CAUSED BE WEARING IMPROPER FITTING FOOTWEAR. TIGHT, NARROW DRESS SHOES WITH A CONSTRICTIVE TOE AREA CAN CAUSE THE FOOT TO BEGIN TO TAKE THE SHAPE OF THE SHOE, LEADING TO THE FORMATION OF A PAINFUL BUNION. IF YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS PLEASE CALL:309-452-3000 CORTESE FOOT AND ANKLE CLINIC, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, MCLEAN COUNTY ILLINOIS.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

SUBMITTED BY: CARL CORTESE

WHAT IS SHOCKWAVE THERAPY?

EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY, ALSO KNOWN AS ESWT, IS A NON-PERSISTENT HEEL PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC PLANTAR FASCIITIS. "EXTRACORPOREAL" MEANS "OUTSIDE THE BODY." SHOCKWAVES, ALSO KNOWN AS PRESSURE OR SOUND WAVES, ARE GENERATED BY A SPECIAL ESWT DEVICE, AND FOCUSED ONTO A TARGET TISSUE. THE SHOCKWAVES ARE DELIVERED TO STIMULATE AND REACTIVATE THE BODY'S REPAIR MECHANISMS TO ADVANCE NORMAL TISSUE HEALING, AS WELL AS OVERSTIMULATE THE NERVES TO REDUCE THE SENSITIVITY TO PAIN.

WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS?

THE PLANTAR FASCIA IS A BAND OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE BENEATH THE SKIN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOT. IT BEGINS AT YOUR TOES AND CONTINUES TO THE HEEL AND WRAPS AROUND THE HEEL BONE AND FORMS THE ACHILLES TENDON. THE PLANTAR FASCIA PLAYS A LARGE ROLL IN MAINTAINING THE NORMAL MECHANICS OF THE FOOT. PLANTAR FASCIITS IS A COMMON CONDITION CAUSED BY OVERUSE OR INJURY TO THIS AREA. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE SHARP HEEL PAIN, BURNING ON THE SOLE OF THE FOOT, RECURRING FOOT PAIN THAT IS ESPECIALLY PRESENT IN THE MORNING.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, OR ARE HAVING ANY FOOT PAINS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT: CORTESE FOOT AND ANKLE CLINIC, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, ILLINOIS.

MCLEAN COUNTY. 309-452-3000.

HEEL PAIN IN CHILDREN-WRITTEN BY DR. VERONICA MARROCHELLO

HEEL PAIN IN CHILDREN

By Dr. Veronica Marrochello

Heel pain is a common and painful condition experienced by growing children. This is known as Sever's Disease or calcaneal apophysitis. The site of the pain is in the calcaneal epiphysis. This is the growth plate of the heel bone. This area is also the attachment of the Achilles tendon.

Sever's disease is most common in children between 10 and 14 years of age. It is very similar to Osgood-Schlatters Disease seen in the knees.

Anatomy of heel pain:

Sever's disease occurs in children when the growth plate of the heel is injured. The foot is one of the first body parts to grow to full size. This usually occurs in early puberty. During this time, bones often grow faster than muscles and tendons. As a result muscles and tendons become tight. Physical activities that involve running and jumping cause too much pressure at the back of the heel. This results in injury to the heel and causes pain in the heel area.

Treatments:

Ice, 20 minutes, 3times per day. Stretching, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed, always wear shoes.