Foot Callus Care

Constant friction and pressure on one part of the foot can cause calluses to develop on the feet. A callus is caused by the buildup of hard, dead skin over an area of pressure or a bony prominence (usually the heel or the ball of the foot under the metatarsal heads). At Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center, we understand that calluses can be annoying and potentially painfully, which is why we would prefer you call us before attempting to remove them on your own.

 

The friction and pressure that cause calluses to develop can be caused for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common include wearing improper footwear, walking barefoot, athletic activities, and obesity. Calluses can be prevented by reducing or eliminating the circumstances that lead to increased pressure at specific points on the feet. If you suffer from calluses, our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center can perform a foot exam and help you understand how to prevent the calluses from forming as well as treat the callus or remove it for you.

If you have a foot callus that you wish to have removed, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773.

Plantar Wart Prevention and Treatment

If you frequent public pools or public showers, our staff at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center encourage you to wear footwear each time you step foot into these places. The reason for this is because you can contract contagious skin conditions. One of these skin conditions is called plantar warts. Plantar warts are caused by direct contact with the human papilloma virus (HPV) typically through cuts or breaks on the bottom of your feet. To diagnose a plantar wart, one of our podiatrists will examine the patient’s foot and look for signs and symptoms.

There are two types of plantar warts, a solitary (single) wart that often increases in size and a mosaic wart that is a cluster of warts growing closely together in one area. These warts can develop anywhere on the foot, but they usually appear on the bottom (plantar side) of the foot. When first diagnosed, individuals often feel a “lump” on the bottom of the foot when standing, similar to having a stone in the shoe. If left untreated, plantar warts can cause a change in gait or posture that results in leg or back pain.

If you’ve recently suffered a foot or ankle injury, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773.

Difference Between a Sprain and a Strain

Foot sprains and strains are common injuries that share similar signs and symptoms but involve different parts of the body. Adults and children who play contact sports such as soccer, football, wrestling, and hockey are put at risk for sprains and strains. So are folks who play sports that feature quick starts, such as running races or marathons. Regardless of the type of foot and ankle injury you encounter, at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center our podiatrists can treat it. But first, we’d like to let you know what the difference is between a sprain and a strain.

A sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments – the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect two bones together in your joints. The most common location for this type of injury is your ankle. A strain is defined as a stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon. A tendon is a fibrous cord of tissue that connects muscles to bones. Strains have the tendency to occur in the lower back and in the hamstring muscle on the back of your thigh.

If you’ve recently suffered a foot or ankle injury, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773.

Ingrown Toenail Overview

Anyone can get an ingrown toenail, but adults get them more than children do. Like many people, when you trim your toenails, you may taper the corners so that the nail curves with the shape of your toe. But what you may not realize is that this technique encourages your toenail to grown into the skin of your toe, causing an ingrown toenail. Any of your toenails can become ingrown, but the problem more often affects the big toe. If you are timid about trimming your toenails, give our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center a call so we can assist you.

When you first have an ingrown toenail, it may be hard, swollen, and tender. You can develop in an ingrown toenail by cutting your toenail too short, wearing shoes that are too tight, and stubbing/hitting the nail on a hard surface. The main symptom from an ingrown toenail is the pain from the nail growing into the skin instead of over it. To relieve pain, you can soak your sore toe in warm water for 15 minutes two to three times each day to help it grow out naturally, but you should never by any means attempt to remove the nail on your own.

If you suspect you have an ingrown toenail, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773.

Foot and Ankle Tendonitis: Symptoms and Treatment

Tendonitis is what happens when the tendon gets irritated from being moved outside of its regular motion. In fact, the word itself literally means, “overuse and inflammation of the tendon.” The tendon is the area of your body that’s connected to the muscle which causes your body to move as a whole. The tendons themselves come in all shapes and sizes, but when tendonitis begins to affect the foot and ankles, our doctors at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center can treat this condition.  

Foot tendonitis can sometimes occur in athletes, runners and people who are constantly on their feet. Foot tendonitis is a classic overuse injury and impacts a specific tendon within the foot, the posterior tibial tendon. Most commonly, patients with this condition complain of pain and swelling on the inward side of the foot and ankle, and occasionally have an unsteady gait. Treatment varies by each individual case however, the initial treatment of posterior tibial foot tendonitis is focused on resting the tendon to allow for healing.

If you have further questions about tendonitis, please give us a call. To learn more about tendonitis as well as other conditions we treat, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773. 

What Is a Heel Spur and How Do I Treat It?

The heel bone is the largest bone in the foot therefore, it absorbs the most amounts of shock and pressure. A heel spur develops as an abnormal growth of the heel bone and is caused when the plantar fascia pulls away from the heel area, causing a bony protrusion. This stretching of the plantar fascia is usually the result of flat feet, but people with high arches can develop them too. If heel pain has you bothersome, our doctors at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center can provide you with relief.

Heel spurs under the sole of the foot are associated with inflammation of the plantar fascia (fasciitis), the “bowstring-like” tissue stretching underneath the sole that attaches at the heel. Plantar heel spurs cause localized tenderness and pain made worse when stepping down on the heel. Heel spurs are diagnosed based on the history of pain and tenderness localized to the area of bony involvement. The key for proper treatment of these spurs is determining what is causing the stretch in the plantar fascia. Common treatments include stretching exercises, foot orthotics and in some cases losing weight. In addition, anti-inflammatory medications are often helpful.

If you have further questions about heel spurs, please give us a call. To learn more about heel spurs as well as other conditions we treat, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773. 

How to Give Yourself a Foot Self-Exam

At Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center, we want you to put your best foot forward at all times and this starts with self-exams. Healthy feet are important for feeling good and staying active, so if you neglect them, it can lead to unnecessary pain and other foot problems in the future. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep your feet healthy. Here are just a few things to look for when self-examining yours.

• Balance – a good test for balance involves standing on one foot, with your arms out to the side and your eyes close. If you are less than 30 years old, you should be able to balance for 15 seconds, 30 to 40 years old for 12 seconds, 40 to 50 years old for 10 seconds and over 50 years old for seven seconds. This can be improved with exercises.


• Circulation. Look at the color of your toes. Do they look like a normal nail color or are they leaning towards red, white, purple, or blue? Press down on the nail of your big toe until the color blanches. Now let go and allow the blood flow to return to your toe. The return of normal color should take 2 to 5 seconds in a person with average circulation.


• Flexibility. How flexible are your toes? Try to pick up a marble or a small dish towel with your toes. To test your ankle flexibility, hang your heel off of a stair. Now let the heel go below the level of the stair. If this causes pain, stop the test. If your heel goes below the level of the stair without causing strain in your calf, that is a good sign.


• Check your skin for calluses, blisters, or areas of irritation.

If you have further questions about foot examinations, please give us a call. To learn more about foot self-examination guidelines and conditions we treat, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773.