How To Get Away With Heel Pain?

Most people tend to forget about the feet—until there’s a problem. Heel pain affects millions of Australians each year, and when it strikes it can hobble, making it very difficult to get through the day.

There is no one “cure-all” remedy for heel pain. A course of treatment must be tailored toward the correct underlying causes to yield the best results.

Most heel pain conditions can be resolved through conservative care, and sometimes even completely at home. That’s the good news! However, it’s also important to remember that no two feet are the same, and what works for one person’s heel pain may not be the best treatment strategy for someone else.

That’s where Pioneer Podiatry, your trusted podiatrist comes in. They are specially trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the feet and ankles and are the best choice for help when persistent heel pain is keeping you off your feet.


Getting the correct diagnosis

The first step is getting a correct diagnosis. We’ll talk about symptoms, ask about activities and when the pain was first noticed, perform a physical examination and, if necessary, take an X-ray or other test to nail down the correct cause of the pain.

Once we know that, we can personalize a treatment course tailored to best meet your needs and goals. Some conditions may only require a few weeks of rest and a new pair of shoes, while others may benefit from physical therapy, orthotics, or other options. Fortunately, surgery is rarely necessary to treat even severe heel pain, and we always strive to exhaust conservative options first. That said, if surgery is needed, we can provide that too, and work hard to make it as minimally invasive as possible.

When heels hurt, you need solutions that will work for you, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Pioneer Podiatry. Our team will happily see you at our clinic located in Mackay QLD. To schedule, give us a call today.

Do You Have An Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail is a common problem where the nail grows into the toe. It is PAINFUL, but there are things that can be done to ease the pain.

Ingrown toenails which doctors might call onychocryptosis are a common complaint. About 20% of people who see their doctor for foot problems need help with an ingrown toenail.

It can also happen when the skin grows over the toenail bed. When the toenail has broken into the flesh, bacteria can form and occasionally lead to serious fungal infections. The resulting inflammation is not only painful but can cause health problems if left untreated.

Though ingrown toenails can affect people of all ages, some people are more vulnerable to getting them than others. Those with diabetes or nerve damage caused by circulatory diseases should be particularly vigilant, as lack of blood flow can slow healing. A tendency to develop ingrown toenails can also be genetic.

Most people prefer to handle “minor” medical problems on their own if at all possible. However, if patients are considering a little “bathroom surgery” to deal with an ingrown toenail that has become painful, Please inform them to take our advice: DON’T.

This will make the problem worse, and there are better alternatives available at our clinic. Refer patients to contact us now!

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, 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.

That’s where we, Pioneer Podiatry can come in!
 

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!

Do You Experience Pain When Playing Sports?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardcore athlete or a weekend warrior — sports injuries will happen. And when they do, it's difficult to decide whether or not to see a doctor about the injury or pain. Although there’s no clear set of rules to tell if the injury needs to be seen by a doctor, these guidelines help easily decide when it’s time to get medical help.

Regular aches and pains


Suppose that every time you play basketball with friends and have pain in the ankle. The pain has gotten to be a regular part of the exercise routine. In fact, the only time it's being experienced is during and immediately after play. It doesn’t impact the regular daily routine.

This kind of injury is often referred to as an overuse injury. As long as there's no swelling, bruising, discoloration, limited range of motion, or locking in the joint, there is no need to see a doctor. Ice it, brace it while exercising, use an over-the-counter medication like Ibuprofen, and let it rest. But if the overuse injury doesn’t heal as expected, or if you experience any of the above symptoms, it might be time to see a doctor or sports podiatrist.


For serious injuries

While out running or playing football and an injury happens. It’s not a regular overuse injury. This time it feels different. There is the inability to walk normally; have swelling, bleeding, discoloration, numbness, pain, or bone misalignment. When experiencing a traumatic injury like this, it’s a good idea to head to the nearest urgent care clinic or emergency room. A doctor will need to do a physical exam, order x-rays, and maybe provide a cast, splint, or boot. Serious injuries may also require physical therapy for proper healing.

Call the Experts

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

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.

The podiatrists at Pioneer Podiatry are trusted by athletes to keep them injury-free during their training and competition seasons.