Have You Discovered A Lump On Your Heel?

Your heel is an unexpected place to find a lump or bump, especially if you don’t play sports and haven’t suffered a foot injury. Fortunately, most lumps and bumps on the heel are harmless, although some can be painful. 

Any new lump on your foot should be checked by our podiatrists – especially if you’re in pain or discomfort. Our podiatrists can assess the type and cause of the lump and get you on the path to healing.

The proper treatment depends on the lump’s type, cause, and location. Symptoms depend a great deal on the cause of the lump itself.

The lump on your heel might show up in either one or both heels. You may notice redness and swelling around the lump, and the lump may be tender to the touch. Lumps may appear on the sides, back, or bottom of the heel.

In most cases, the pain you experience from the lump on your heel will get worse if you rise up on your toes.

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Let's Heal your Heels!

Lumps or bumps on your heels can be painful and made worse by socks, shoes, and everyday activities that keep you on your feet. They can even affect your self-esteem if they make you feel like you want to hide your feet!

If you have a lump or bump on your heel, please call 07 4942 5016, or book an appointment online. A lump on the heel is usually something we can successfully treat in our clinic. Sometimes, it’s a clue to another health issue. Some lumps and bumps will heal on their own, but we won’t know until we’ve examined them.

Treating each cause of the bump on the heel will be different, ranging from resting and icing to surgery in some rare cases. The sooner you have the bump on your heel checked, the easier the treatment usually is. Letting a bump stay on your heel could cause the bump to get bigger and more painful.

Are Ingrown Toenails Dangerous?

Most of us have had, or will have, an ingrown toenail at one time or another in our lives. It’s a common enough condition, and most of the time, the pain can be managed using simple techniques at home.

However, this is not always the case. Occasionally (or, unfortunately, frequently for some folks) ingrown toenails can continue to worsen, leading to significant pain and potentially even a nasty infection.

Whether your current situation is more toward the mild side or the severe side, the good news is that you have options to help you get rid of your ingrown toenails and back to enjoying your daily activities without discomfort or restriction.

Getting Rid of an Ingrown Toenail at Pioneer Podiatry

If your ingrown toenail is causing more significant pain, is interfering with your activities, or has developed an infection, you should definitely come to see a professional. The same goes for anyone with diabetes or compromised health. Waiting to see if home treatments will work just isn’t worth the risk of developing a dangerous infection.

However, seeing a professional can also be a good option for anyone who just doesn’t want the hassle of trying to manage treatment at home, or is just sick of dealing with them. Even in the most severe cases, we can quickly remove an ingrown toenail under local anesthesia, bringing a rapid end to the problem with no pain or discomfort.

There are a few different treatment options we can pursue, depending on your symptoms, your situation, and how frequently you have trouble with ingrown toenails.

• If your ingrown toenail seems to be a “one-time” thing or developed because of an accidental trauma (like stubbing your toe, for example), the best course of action may be for us to simply trim back the nail for you. This can relieve the pressure immensely, and most likely the nail will grow back normally.

• If your pain is more severe, or ingrown toenails are a recurring problem for you, we may instead recommend numbing your toe with a local anesthetic and removing the portion of the toenail that is becoming ingrown. This is usually combined with a secondary procedure on the nail matrix to keep that particular edge of the toenail from growing back.

While this second option may seem scary, we can assure you that it really isn’t! Everything is done under anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing. By the time the sensation returns to your toe, you should already notice a dramatic improvement in the way you feel.

You’ll have some aftercare instructions to follow once you get home, but most people are able to return to the vast majority of their daily activities within 24 hours.

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So as you can see, you really have no reason to hesitate on making an appointment with Podiatrists at Pioneer Podiatry. We can help you ease your symptoms quickly, safely, and effectively.

To schedule with us in Mackay, please call 07 4942 5016, or book an appointment online.

At Pioneer Podiatry, our best day is when you wake up with no foot pain.

Did You Know That Around 25,000 People Sprain Their Ankles Each Day?

A sprained ankle is a common injury that occurs when the ankle ligaments are torn or stretched too far, often after a fall, or if you roll or twist your ankle. The majority of sprains heal on their own but treatment to strengthen the injured muscles can prevent future sprains. 

Anyone, at any age, can sprain their ankle. Sprains are most common in athletes during sporting events but can happen during everyday activities as well.
 

What are the symptoms of a sprained ankle?

The symptoms of a sprained ankle include:

• Pain, especially when putting weight on your ankle.

• Tenderness to the touch.

• Swelling.

• Bruising.

• Difficulty walking.

How is a sprained ankle treated?

For the majority of ankle sprains, we recommend using the PRICE method for the first 24-48 hours after injury. PRICE stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

• Protection. Use crutches or apply a splint or brace to limit the use of your injured ankle.

• Rest. Limit physical activities that may cause stress to the sprain (no running, jumping, or exercising).

• Ice. Apply ice or a cold pack in a towel to your ankle in 20-minute increments to reduce swelling.

• Compression. Gently wrap your ankle in an elastic bandage to help decrease swelling.

• Elevation. Raise your ankle on pillows while you’re sitting or lying down so that it's higher than your heart.

If your sprain is very painful and swollen or you're having trouble walking and putting pressure on your ankle, come see us for treatment.