Does My Child Need To See A Podiatrist?
This will depend on an array of factors. A good starting point, however, is by determining if your child’s foot or ankle is hurting. If so, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with our office.
Your pediatrician is needed to monitor your child’s overall health, but when child foot problems arise, you should bring your child to see a specialist who has focused on feet throughout his or her medical training, residency, and years in practice.
Specific conditions and injuries that are more common include ingrown toenails, sports injuries, Sever’s disease, plantar warts, and pediatric flatfoot.
Untreated foot problems in childhood can lead to chronic problems later in life. Arthritis can set in where a bone was fractured. A bad sprain could lead to weak ankles and recurrent injuries. Flat feet can become rigid and painful and keep your child from enjoying performing daily activities, much less running or sports. Even an ingrown nail can become infected and need to be removed if left untreated.
Given the fact conditions are often most effectively treated in early stages, it is better to err on the side of caution and have your son or daughter see Dr. Ripepi.
Why Does My Heel Hurt?
Heel pain is a common ailment for patients of all ages. In part, this can be attributed to the fact there are many potential causes of heel pain. To determine why your heel hurts, a good starting point is to identify where the pain is coming from relative to the heel and when it is strongest.
- If the pain is prominent on the bottom of the heel and tends to be more severe in the morning (especially with the first steps of the day), the likely cause is plantar fasciitis.
- If the pain is prominent in the back of the heel and tends to worsen during and following physical activity, the likely cause is Achilles tendinitis.
- If the pain is prominent in the back of the heel and happening to an adolescent child or teen, the likely cause is Sever’s disease.
There are other causes of heel pain, but these ones are generally the most common – plantar fasciitis is the leading source of heel pain for adults and Sever’s is the leading source for adolescents.
Whereas heel pain is common, it isn’t “normal.” Pain is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong and needs to be addressed. If you are suffering from heel pain, contact our office and let Dr. Ripepi treat it for you.
Why Does My Foot Hurt?
Your feet and ankles are complicated structures, with each one being comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. These lower appendages face tremendous forces—even during a typical, non-workout day—that can total several hundred tons. As such, there are numerous reasons as to why your foot might hurt.
When we diagnose the source of your foot pain, we will consider an area of different factors to establish a root cause and how to resolve the problem for you. The area of the foot, nature of the pain (i.e., dull vs. sharp), and origin of the pain are all clues to indicate what is wrong.
Your best course of action for a hurting foot or ankle is to simply come see us for a professional evaluation. We will take the time to listen to you—to fully understand the nature of the problem and how it may have developed—and then provide our recommendation for the best path forward. (The good news is that “the best path” usually isn’t surgery!)
What Do I Look For In A Daily Foot Inspection?
When you are diabetic, there are many threats to the health and wellbeing of your feet. Since neuropathy (nerve damage) often accompanies diabetes, you may not be able to feel issues that have developed and now threaten your health. This means you need to use a daily foot inspection to identify problems at the earliest opportunity so you can stay safe.
When performing a daily foot inspection, you basically need to look for anything out of the ordinary. As a general rule, any discoloration, growth, or wound needs to be reported.
Specific items you need to check for every day include:
- Scratches, cuts, and abrasions
- Dry, cracked skin
- Blisters
- Calluses and corns
- Plantar warts
- Ingrown and discolored toenails
If you find any of these conditions, schedule the earliest possible appointment with our office. In the event you discover any sign of infection (pain, swelling, warmth, or redness) seek emergency medical services.
Why Are My Toenails Turning Yellow?
There are various reasons toenails become yellow, but the most likely explanation is a case of nail fungus (onychomycosis). Fungal infections in the toenails are, unfortunately, fairly common. The responsible fungi are microscopic—so you cannot see them and know to avoid the tiny spores—and typically reside in warm, damp areas, including places where people normally walk barefoot (such as indoor pool decks, gym locker room floors, and communal showering areas).
Toenail fungus is a stubborn infection, one that usually requires professional treatment. For optimal results, it is best to come in and see us at the earliest opportunity (when the infection is most easily treated). Left unaddressed, this problem will only continue to worsen.
Beyond a fungal infection, other potential causes of yellow toenails include diabetes, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, jaundice, psoriasis, and thyroid problems. In some cases, toenails become yellowed simply due to natural aging processes. There is also an extremely rare genetic disorder known as “yellow nail syndrome,” which can present in conjunction with lymphedema.
