Suffering From Heel Pain?

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If a sharp, shooting or stabbing pain greets your feet as soon as they hit the floor each dawn, you are far from alone. Plantar fasciitis, the main cause for this type of pain, is believed to strike 1 out of 10 people. It’s one of the most common causes of heel pain we see come through our door! 

Top 5 Causes Morning Heel pain

1. Plantar fasciitis  

  • A common injury for runners and other athletes. Athletics put a lot of stress on their feet and heels. Wearing proper footwear and changing out your running shoes every 400 to 500 miles may also prevent overuse pain.

2. Achilles tendinitis

  • The band of tissues that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone, can become inflamed. This can result in Achilles tendinitis, or stiffness and pain in the heel area. Symptoms may be worse in the morning because circulation to this part of the body can be limited at rest. Unlike plantar fasciitis, you’ll likely feel pain or discomfort throughout the day if you have Achilles tendinitis.

3. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

  • People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for plantar fasciitis. This can result in heel pain in the morning.If your symptoms don’t improve with home treatments, your doctor may recommend wearing a night splint to keep your foot flexed at night.

4. Stress fracture 

  • You can get a stress fracture in your heel from overuse, improper technique, or intense athletic activity. You may notice pain that develops over days or weeks, and swelling. It may hurt to walk. If you have a stress fracture, you’ll likely experience pain throughout the day. See your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect you have a stress fracture.

5. Hypothyroidism

  • Hypothyroidism can cause heel pain in the morning. The disruption of chemicals and hormones in the body can lead to inflammation and swelling in the feet, ankles, and heels. It can also cause tarsal tunnel syndrome, where the tibial foot nerve is pinched or damaged. If you have unexplained heel pain in the morning and symptoms of hypothyroidism, your doctor may recommend a blood test to check your thyroid.

TRUST the experts!
Why do you need to consult a Podiatrist for your heel pain?
Podiatrists are able to determine the cause of your foot pain and foot type, make allowances for any medical conditions you have, and provide recommendations on the best shoes for you to wear.

That’s where we, Pioneer Podiatry can come in!
Our Podiatrists are well placed to identify the cause and put an end to your heel pain.

Don’t let heel pain slow you down – give Pioneer Podiatry a call today!

How are ingrown toenails diagnosed?

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Through physical exam your doctor will most likely be able to diagnose your toe.  If the toe seems infected, an X-ray would be needed to show how deep the nail has grown into the skin.
An X-ray can also reveal if your ingrown nail was caused by injury.

What are the treatment options for ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails that aren’t infected can normally be treated at home. However, if the toenail has pierced the skin, or there is any sign of infection, seek medical treatment.

Surgical Treatment
There are different types of surgical treatments for ingrown toenails. Partial nail removal only involves removing the piece of nail that is digging into the skin. Podiatrist will numb the toe and then narrows the toenail. According to the NHS, partial nail removal is 98 percent effective for preventing future ingrown toenails.

During a partial nail removal, the sides of the nail are cut away so that the edges are completely straight. A piece of cotton is placed under the remaining portion of the nail to keep the ingrown toenail from recurring. Podiatrist may also treat your toe with a compound called phenol, which keeps the nail from growing back.

Total nail removal may be used if the ingrown nail is caused by thickening. Podiatrist will administer a local pain injection and then remove the entire nail in a procedure called a matrixectomy.

To prevent infection, treat ingrown toenails as they occur.

Mild cases may require minor treatment with home remedies. Serious cases may need surgical intervention
 

Here are  5 common ingrown toenail remedies.

1. Soak in warm soapy water
Soaking the affected foot may help reduce swelling and ease pain. You can soak your foot in warm, soapy water three times a day for up to 20 minutes at a time. Castile soap is a good option. Adding Epsom salts to the water may bring additional relief.
*You may also try apple cider vinegar soak or Epsom salt soak. Remember to dry your foot after soaking.

2. Wear comfortable shoes and socks
Shoes and socks that are too tight can crowd your toes. This is considered to be a leading cause of ingrown toenails. To help prevent an ingrown toenail from developing or worsening, wear shoes and socks or hosiery that fit but still leave ample space in the toe bed. During the healing process, avoid shoes or wear sandals as much as possible to limit pressure on your toenails.

3. Apply antibiotic ointment
Using over-the-counter antibiotic ointment or cream can promote healing and help reduce the risk of infection. Apply the ointment to the affected toenail following the manufacturer’s instructions, usually up to three times daily. These ointments include Neosporin, Polysporin, and Bactroban. Be sure to bandage the toenail after application.

4. Keep the infected area covered with a sterile bandage.  or use toe protector.
You should consider wearing toe protectors if your day-to-day activities require you to wear shoes all the time.
Toe protectors provide a soft, protective barrier between your toes and your shoes. 

5. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
If swelling is present, ibuprofen (Advil) may be a better option because it relieves both pain and swelling. Some common side effects of ibuprofen include abdominal pain, upset stomach, and diarrhea.
Take all over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by the manufacturer or your doctor.

Book now to treat ingrown toenails

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR FOR Ingrown Toenails?


Minor foot problems like ingrown toenails may cause serious complications in some people. See your doctor if you have an ingrown toenail and you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation, or you have a compromised immune system.

You should also see a doctor if:

  • Pain and swelling are severe.

  • If you’ve injured your foot on a hike, run, or bike ride, the first question you’ll probably ask is: Do I need to see a doctor?

  • Home remedies don’t improve the condition.

  • You have an allergic skin reaction to a home remedy.

  • You have questions about how to care for an ingrown toenail.

Call the experts!


Suffering from the painful ingrowing of toenails.
Give Pioneer Podiatry a call at (07) 49425016.
Let us help you get back on your feet and back in the game.


Trust your Podiatrist when it comes to preventing, diagnosing, and treating acute or chronic ingrown toenails.

Still suffering from ingrown toenails? Book now for a foot assessment.


TRUST the experts!
If left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can cause an infection in the bone in your toe. A toenail infection can also lead to foot ulcers, or open sores, and a loss of blood flow to the infected area. Tissue decay and tissue death at the site of infection are possible.

A foot infection can be more serious if you have diabetes. Even a small cut, scrape, or ingrown toenail may quickly become infected due to the lack of blood flow and nerve sensitivity. See your doctor right away if you have diabetes and are concerned about an ingrown toenail infection.

Our Podiatrists are experts at treating ingrowing toenails and specialise in treatment with minimal pain and fuss, so don’t delay in getting your ingrowing toenail fixed!

Trust the experts, Book with us NOW!

Athletes often neglect their feet, despite knowing they NEED their feet, regardless of any sport.

Athletes need their feet. Regardless of the sport, the inability to run, jump, accelerate and change direction minimizes any player’s effectiveness during competition.

But the foot is complex and often overlooked. The foot is not as simple as something like the knee. It’s a lot of structure, If it’s not swollen and not black and blue, it gets overlooked. But so much can go wrong with the foot.

25% of athletic injuries are foot and ankle-related.

According to research from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 25 percent of athletic injuries are foot and ankle-related. Athletes involved in sports that require jumping and running are typically at higher risk. Sports like running, basketball, soccer, football, and dancing place considerable performance demands on the feet, and are often associated with more foot and ankle injuries.

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We encourage our patients to stay active - we ALSO want to avoid INJURY.

We always encourage our patients to stay active—there’s no substitute for the physical and mental health benefits of exercise and recreation. Of course we want you to avoid injury in the first place, but if you do befall a sports-related injury to your lower limbs, trust Pioneer Podiatry to help you get back on the field. Here are a number of common foot-related sports injuries we see and treat frequently:

Achilles Tendon Problems
The Achilles tendon is the longest and strongest in your body, but repeated stresses can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain, while an acute injury can even cause a more substantial tear or rupture. It is often treatable with rest, stretching, physical therapy, and potentially custom orthotics; a more serious injury, such as a rupture, may require immobilization or surgery.

Shin Splints
Particularly associated with runners, shin splints can cause pain and discomfort on the inside of your lower legs and typically result when muscles and bones in the legs are overworked from sudden changes in physical activity—say, suddenly ramping up your mileage. Several weeks of rest, in combination with therapies including ice, compression, stretching, and, if necessary, custom orthotics, is typically the most effective strategy.

Stress Fractures
Apart from Sprain, Strains and Fractures there is also stress fractures. This overuse injury is common among those who play foot-striking sports such as tennis, track, gymnastics, and basketball. Like shin splints, stress fractures also frequently affect those who suddenly ramp up activity in a short period of time. Overworked muscles become too tired to properly absorb the shocks from foot strikes, so the energy is sent straight to the bones instead. Over time, tiny cracks in the bone develop. Unfortunately, the only real solution is lots and lots of rest—six weeks to two months away from the activity that caused the injury, to give the area enough time to fully heal.

Turf Toe
Named for its prevalence among football players on artificial terrain, turf toe is simply a sprain of the ligaments in the big toe after it becomes hyperextended. Football players aren’t the only ones affected, though—sports that require lots of starting and stopping, twisting, and agility are all common culprits. As with other sprains, RICE therapy followed by a visit to your doctor as soon as possible are recommended.
 

Call the Experts

Suffering from one of these common foot-related sport injuries—or perhaps one that’s not so common? Give Pioneer Podiatry a call at (07) 49425016. 

Trust your Podiatrist when it comes to preventing, diagnosing, and treating acute or chronic foot and ankle sports injuries. Let us help you get back on your feet and back in the game.

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