Sprained ankles can range in severity from a tweak of your ligaments to a serious sprain that can severely stretch or tear ligaments in the ankle.  After a sprain, the proper treatment can ensure a quick recovery:

• Rest: The first key component to healing your sprained ankle is to rest.  You should avoid any activity that causes pain, swelling, or discomfort, and stay off of your ankle as much as possible.
• Ice: Apply ice immediately after injury in 15-minute increments every two to three hours.  Ice aids in your recovery by reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation of the injured connective tissue, joints, and muscles.

• Compression: Utilize an elastic bandage wrap to stop swelling.  When wrapping your elastic bandage start at the end farthest from your heart and wrap toward your heart.  Do not wrap too tightly as you don’t want to impede circulation in your ankle and foot.
• Elevate: Keep your ankle above the level of your heart when possible.  Elevation will help reduce swelling by allowing excess fluids to drain away from your ankle.  Elevating your foot is especially important during the night while you sleep.
• Further Treatment: If the above steps, usually referred to as the R.I.C.E treatment, are not effective within the first few days, your sprain may be more severe and need medical attention.  Treatments for more severe sprains may include the use of an ankle splint, a short leg cast, or a walking booty.  In extremely rare cases surgery may be needed to repair damage and prevent permanent instability of the ankle.

Dr. Zawada and the Family Foot Center staff provide quality foot care to patients with foot pain.  If you are suffering from ingrown toenails, plantar warts, hammertoes, or bunions, turn to us for the relief you need.  Call us today at (718) 767-5555 to learn more. We take ANY INSURANCE that lets US treat YOU!

A corn is an area of thickened skin on the top or side of a toe that develops to protect the area from an injury.  Unlike calluses, corns are typically localized and conical or circular in shape.  Often corns will have a waxy, dry, or translucent appearance.

Causes

Most often, corns are caused by ill-fitting footwear that causes friction or pressure on the foot. This pressure causes your body’s natural defense mechanism to kick in and protect the foot by developing thick skin. Corns may also develop due to additional pressure or rubbing created by abnormal foot anatomy, like hammerhead toes, or gait abnormalities.

Treatment Options

Home

In many cases, preventing friction is one of the best treatments. If friction and pressure are resulting from poor fitting shoes, switching to properly fitted footwear may be all the treatment necessary. Doughnut-shaped corn pads can also protect your skin and reduce painful pressure on a corn. You may also want to use a pumice stone to gently wear down the corn.

Over-the-Counter

Your local pharmacy has products containing salicylic acid, a chemical that can dissolve the protein that largely makes up a corn. The products may have applicators, drops, pads, or plasters to use in application.

Professional

When home treatments don’t work, seek treatment from a professional. Professional healthcare practitioners can cut or shave away the corn. If you note signs of infection (pain, pus or other drainage, swelling, or redness), see your podiatrist or healthcare professional immediately Patients who also suffer from diabetes or any disorder that causes poor foot circulation should meet with their doctor for the treatment of corns.

Dr. Zawada of Family Foot Center has over 25 years of experience treating foot pain and conditions. For foot pain resulting from corns, hammertoes, bunions, or ingrown toenails, call us today at (718) 767-5555 to schedule an appointment. We take ANY INSURANCE that lets US treat YOU!

A hammertoe is a common foot deformity in which one of the toes becomes bent at the joint. Hammertoes can affect the second, third, or fourth toe, and are usually a result of tight or poorly fitting shoes. In its latest stages, a hammertoe can become so severe that the toe cannot return to its original position and surgery must be performed. Hammertoes can be treated by a podiatrist, but the manner of treatment depends on the stage of the condition.

Treatment Options:

In its earliest stage, the hammertoe remains flexible and can still be moved. A podiatrist may provide a splint for your toe that will hold it in place, or you may simply need to switch to better-fitting shoes. Supporting inserts can be placed in your shoes to help reduce the friction and pressure that cause a hammertoe. Toe boxes can also be used to give your hammertoe support and allow it to heal more effectively.

Toe exercises that are approved by your podiatrist, such as grasping a towel with your toes, can also help to stretch your foot muscles and restore them to proper functionality again. If you are experiencing substantial discomfort as a result of your hammertoe, the podiatrist can give you a cortisone shot to reduce the pain.

In its later stage, the toe’s tendons become rigid and cannot be moved. At this stage, surgery is the only option to restore the toe to its original position and prevent further complications. The usual procedure involves removing bone from the joint or transferring the toe’s tendon to a different position in order to give the toe room to straighten.

At Family Foot Center, we have been providing first-rate diagnosis and treatment to patients in the New York City area for more than 23 years. Our areas of focus include hammertoes, heel pain, sprained and twisted ankles, and plantar warts. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, call us today at (718) 767-5555.  We take ANY INSURANCE that lets US treat YOU!