- Warts
- ArthritisDegeneration of cartilage is also a problem in rheumatoid arthritis, but in the case of this very serious condition, it’s the person’s own immune system that’s causing the damage. What exactly makes the immune system attack your joints isn’t exactly understood (although you can bet there are researchers hunting for the answer), but it’s pretty well established that women are more likely to develop the problem than men (about three or four times as likely, to be precise). It’s possible (though not certain) that, for some, there’s a gene that predisposes a person to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Some scientists postulate that when someone with that gene experiences a certain event (such as getting an infection or is exposed to some sort of trigger in the environment), the gene becomes active and sends the immune system to attack cartilage in the joints. That’s definitely a case of the immune system getting a little overzealous in its duties.
- Plantar FasciitisFor those of you who think the look of a shoe is way more important than its function (i.e. the support it offers), beware: you may be in for some pain. Those who stand on their feet all day, particularly on hard surfaces or while wearing unsupportive shoes, may begin to experience discomfort in the arch area. Usually, such pain is associated with inflammation of a ligament, the plantar fascia, that runs along the underside of the foot and attaches to the arch, helping to support it. Heel spurs can also cause plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia).
- Primary CareWelcome to Pueblo Ankle and Foot Care. We try to offer convenient appointment times. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment. Please bring your insurance card. We will need a copy of it for our records. If your insurance plan requires that you have a referral from your primary care doctor, please make sure you obtain one before your appointment.
- Foot Odor
- Diabetic Foot Care
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes Care
- UltrasoundYour podiatrist may also suggest anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, or steroid treatments such as cortisone. Physical therapy might be used to strengthen the muscles around the tendon and prevent further injury, or used to soothe the tendon and accompanying inflammation by use of ultrasound therapy or stretching, or it might simply consist of teaching you how to use your foot properly during the activities you so love to do. Like walking.
- MRIWhen you go in to see your podiatrist after experiencing the symptoms of a ruptured tendon (sooner rather than later, right?), your doctor will probably ask you about the circumstances surrounding the injury, such as how long ago it occurred, what it felt like, and so on. He or she will probably test and compare the strength of one foot versus the other, and will feel the area to see if signs of a ruptured tendon are noticeable (like swelling, or a sometimes a gap if there’s been a complete rupture). Podiatrists are often able to diagnose a ruptured Achilles tendon based on these observations, but they may decide to order an MRI of the area if there’s any lingering questions.
- X-Rays
- Computed TomographyIn order to get at the root cause of the joint pain, your podiatrist may suggest getting X-rays in order to see if there is damage to the joint, bone spurs, and what the extent of the damage may be. He or she may also order an MRI or CT scan to get a better picture of what’s happening inside your foot.
- ChemotherapyMelanomas will require more aggressive treatment. If the disease is caught early enough, your podiatrist may be able to effectively rid you of the problem by just cutting out the melanoma itself. However, in more advanced stages, it may be necessary to amputate the affected toe. Removing nearby lymph nodes may be needed to prevent the spread of the cancer, and treatment may also involve other cancer-fighting methods, such as chemotherapy.
- Wound CareWounds on the foot may not always come with pain, but they can be signs of serious conditions that should be evaluated by a medical professional. The symptoms of wounds may include drainage, redness, inflamed tissue, cracking, peeling, bleeding, and more. To properly diagnose and develop a treatment, you must come in for an evaluation by our doctors. Treatment plans will be discussed and x-rays may be ordered. Treatments may include bandaging, protective padding, suturing, cleaning, ointments/topical treatment, topical anesthetics, oral anti-inflammatories, or surgery.
- Pinched Nerve
- Ankle Surgery
- BunionsBunions are painful bone deformities in the big toe. When the toe is misaligned, the joint in the toe grows larger, creating a protuberance over time. These lumps can cause constant pain from rubbing against shoes, which in turn, irritates the joint resulting in a large bump.
- Toe Surgery
- Ingrown ToenailsWe have all made the painful mistake of trimming our nails too short at some point in our lives. Sometimes, this can really affect our foot health by causing ingrown toenails.
- Skin CancerHowever, occasionally the cause may be something more severe, such as melanoma (or skin cancer) that’s growing under the nail. In this case, you’re likely to see the discoloration as a brown or black streak under the nail. This type of melanoma is more likely to occur in people with dark skin (it accounts for about 30-40% of melanomas in the non-white population), although it strikes both men and women fairly equally.
- CornsPoorly fitting shoes are the number one cause of foot injury when it comes to diabetes. Red spots, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any persistent pain should be taken seriously, and properly fitting footwear (along with orthotics) should be worn.
- Cyst
- FrostbiteApplying Ice reduces bloodflow to the area and should make the swelling go down, which should also make the area less painful. Put ice in a bag, and wrap it up in a thin towel, then put the entire package onto the inflamed area for 20 minutes, then leave it off for 40 minutes. Keep repeating the procedure, but dont leave an icepack on while youre asleep, and if your skin starts to look blue or white, take the ice off right away and dont put it on again for at least a few hours. Also, never put ice directly on your skinyoure not trying to give yourself frostbite here, just reduce the swelling.
- UlcerSometimes pain may also occur at the bottom of the big toe. Basically, as the big toe isn’t able to move up as easily while walking or otherwise using the foot, the bottom of the toe jams into the ground, and may cause a painful callus to form. (Diabetics especially should watch out for this, as the callus might develop an ulcer and become infected.)
- CallusesPain will likely occur where the bunion is located (i.e. at the base of the big toe). You may also notice a firm bump developing on the inner edge of your foot, next to the big toe base. In some cases, the big toe leans visibly in towards the other toes, which may lead to sores forming between the toes as they’re squeezed together, calluses forming on the big toe, corns popping up on the big or second toe, and the accumulation of massive amounts of toe jam. (Well, just kidding about that toe jam part.)
- Eczema
- FungusAthlete’s foot is one of those conditions that’s more gross and nasty than debilitating, although it may seem like a serious annoyance. Like a monster in a bad science fiction film, the fungus that causes athlete’s foot (the tinea fungus) lives off of human flesh, quite literally. It tends to thrive in damp, dark places, like the inside of your shoe (particularly when your feet are sweaty). And, despite the name, it doesn’t affect just athletes (although they may be particularly susceptible because of sweaty feet and shared locker rooms and showers).
- Sports Medicine
- Physical TherapyYour podiatrist is the best person to determine treatment. However, using the RICE method ( R est, I ce, C ompression, Elevation) is likely to help the pain associated with inflammation. Your doctor may also prescribe or suggest anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or may give the area a shot of cortisone. Some ankle problems may require physical therapy, and some may require surgery.
- Flatfoot Correction
- Heel Pain
- Ankle Sprain
- Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy
- General PodiatryYou may have noticed that podiatry people are not big fans of the kinds of shoes that some people go nuts over: sharply pointed toes, heels that come up higher than the knees, you get the picture. However, the reason for this is not that your podiatrist has an evil plan to make you as unfashionable as possible. It’s simply that the shoes considered fashionable are often the same shoes that can seriously aggravate numerous foot problems.
- Achilles TendonitisAlthough it may be kind of odd to think of getting a prescription for a shoe insert, orthotics might be your best choice if you are suffering from a long-term or more severe condition, such as abnormally low or high arches, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and turf toe, or other problems. Again, your podiatrist will work with you to determine how your foot needs to be supported, and how orthotics can correct the imbalances and improve the function of your foot.
- Ankle InstabilitySymptoms include recurring pain on the outside part of the ankle, ankle instability, difficulty walking on uneven ground, swelling, stiffness, and tenderness.
- Ankle SprainThe catalyst for symptoms might be some sort of injury (such as a broken or sprained ankle), excessive activity, or irritation from where shoes are rubbing on the bony prominence the accessory navicular makes. These can irritate the bone, or make the tendon it’s embedded in (the posterior tibial tendon, remember?) inflamed and sore. Because the tendon is compromised in its ability to support the arch, accessory navicular syndrome almost always leads to flat feet, which is one very obvious symptom.
- Arthritic Foot Care
- Bunions ProblemsAnd those aren’t the only problems that might crop up. Some people develop bone growth on the joint; others (although this is rare) acquire a fluid- filled sac over the bunion called a bursa. But the problem many of you may be most interested in is that bunions may make it difficult or even impossible to wear shoes. The truth is that ill-fitting shoes are often the things that turn bunions from juvenile delinquents into outright criminals. Shoes with tight toes, or pointed heels, may put even more stress on an already stressed-out toe joint, further aggravating the misalignment of the foot. The good news is that sometimes giving up those pointy, high-heeled shoes may make your bunion problem much easier to bear. But, more on that in a moment.
- Calluses
- Diabetic Foot CareDiabetes is a chronic disease causing high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Diabetes also weakens your immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight off infections, which can, in turn, damage your nervous system. This damage can affect the ability to feel sensations in your feet.
- Flat Feet
- Fungus ToenailsIf you’ve noticed a change in your toenail’s texture, color, or a foul odor coming from the nail, you may have a fungal nail infection. A fungal nail infection also known as onychomycosis is a common foot ailment. At Pueblo Ankle & Foot Care, we are proud to offer a variety of treatment options for those with toenail fungus, including Aspen laser therapy.
- Geriatric Foot Care
- HammertoesHammertoe is a condition where the second, third, or fourth toe, is bent at the middle joint, overlapping the toe(s) next to it. It is caused by improperly fitting shoes and problems with the toe muscles.
- Heel SpursExtracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) is the most advanced and highly effective non-invasive treatment method cleared by the FDA for heel pain and a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions, including Plantar Faciitis, Heel Spurs, and Achilles Tendonitis.
- Heel Pain
- Foot Pain
- Ingrown ToenailsThis happens when the nail grows downward into the skin instead of straight out, usually causing an infection. Ingrown toenails are most common on the sides of the big toe. It can also be caused by shoe pressure, injury, fungal infections, poor foot structure, etc.
- Foot Injuries
- Foot OrthoticsIf you’re experiencing pain in your feet, knees, legs, and/or back as a result of wearing shoes with little to no support, custom foot orthotics may be right for you!
- Pediatric Foot Care
- Plantar FasciitisHowever, plantar fasciitis is not the only thing that can make your arches hurt. You might have a pinched nerve (tarsal tunnel syndrome). Although the nerve is pinched in the ankle area, most people will actually feel the pain in the arch.
- Podiatric Deformities
- Podiatric Surgery