Items filtered by date: June 2021

Bunions appear as a bony lump at the main joint of the big toe when the big toe turns towards the other toes. A Tailor’s bunion, or bunionette, is the same thing but occurs at the base of the little toe. Tailor’s bunions are often a result of a faulty mechanical structure. As the little toe shifts inwards, the metatarsal bone begins to stick outwards. Tailor’s bunions are often indicated by redness, swelling, and pain, and they usually become irritated by shoes that are too narrow in the toes. Patients who believe that they have a Tailor’s bunion should consult with a podiatrist for a proper treatment. Nonsurgical treatment options include shoe modifications, padding, icing, orthotics, or injection therapy. In more severe cases, a podiatrist may need to perform surgery on the bunionette.

If you are suffering from bunions, contact one of our podiatrists of Manhattan Footcare. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is a Bunion?

A bunion is formed of swollen tissue or an enlargement of boney growth, usually located at the base joint of the toe that connects to the foot. The swelling occurs due to the bones in the big toe shifting inward, which impacts the other toes of the foot. This causes the area around the base of the big toe to become inflamed and painful.

Why Do Bunions Form?

Genetics – Susceptibility to bunions are often hereditary

Stress on the feet – Poorly fitted and uncomfortable footwear that places stress on feet, such as heels, can worsen existing bunions

How Are Bunions Diagnosed?

Doctors often perform two tests – blood tests and x-rays – when trying to diagnose bunions, especially in the early stages of development. Blood tests help determine if the foot pain is being caused by something else, such as arthritis, while x-rays provide a clear picture of your bone structure to your doctor.

How Are Bunions Treated?

• Refrain from wearing heels or similar shoes that cause discomfort
• Select wider shoes that can provide more comfort and reduce pain
• Anti-inflammatory and pain management drugs
• Orthotics or foot inserts
• Surgery

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A broken or fractured ankle is a potentially painful injury that can range in severity from a mild avulsion fracture to a severe break of the tibia, fibula, or both. The symptoms of a broken ankle may include pain at the site of the fracture, significant swelling, bruising, ankle deformity, and an inability to walk. In the case of an open fracture, the broken bone may even protrude from the skin. Broken ankles require a diagnosis and medical treatment. Your podiatrist will be able to diagnose a fracture through a combination of physical examination and imaging studies like X-rays, bone scans, or MRIs. If you suspect that you may have broken your ankle, please seek the care of a podiatrist.

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you are seeking treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from Manhattan Footcare. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. 

Broken Ankles
A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both of these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.

When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle, and the following symptoms may be present.

Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

• Excessive pain when the area is touched or when any pressure is placed on the ankle
•  Swelling around the area
•  Bruising of the area
• Area appears to be deformed

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Fungi are microorganisms that get their nutrients from a host. There are various kinds of fungi—some of which can cause infections (mycosis). Fungal infections can be spread either through person-to-person contact or exposure to contaminated surfaces. Onychomycosis is a fungus that affects the nails and nail beds—most commonly on the toes. If you have toenail fungus you may notice discoloration or scaling that appears under the nail, your nail may flake or crumble, or even separate from the nail bed. Over time, the nail can thicken and become brittle. If you do have a fungal infection, it may take months, even years to go away—if it all. A podiatrist can test your nail to make a proper diagnosis and treat toenail fungus properly through a variety of treatments including prescription medications, nail debridement, or laser therapy.

For more information about treatment, contact one of our podiatrists of Manhattan Footcare. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a condition that affects many people and can be especially hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating and avoiding it.

Antifungals & Deterrence

Oral antifungal medicine has been shown to be effective in many cases. It is important to consult with a podiatrist to determine the proper regiment for you, or potentially explore other options.

Applying foot powder on the feet and shoes helps keep the feet free of moisture and sweat.

Sandals or open toed shoes – Wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

The cuboid is a cube-shaped bone in the mid-foot, which forms a joint between the heel bone and the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones leading to the toes on the lateral (outside) part of the foot. When there is trauma or repetitive strain to surrounding soft tissues, the cuboid bone can become dislocated and block surrounding bones from normal movement. This condition is called cuboid syndrome. People with flat feet, athletes, and dancers are all more at risk of developing cuboid syndrome. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, tenderness, or redness on the outside of the foot, difficulty walking, and weakness in the foot. Cuboid syndrome can sometimes be mistaken for an ankle sprain. If you have pain on the outside of your foot and believe you may have cuboid syndrome, a visit to a podiatrist is suggested so that your foot can be examined and properly diagnosed. Cuboid syndrome treatment may include icing, bracing, taping, biomechanical control, rest, physical therapy, custom orthotics, or physical manipulation to guide the cuboid back into its normal position.

Cuboid syndrome, also known as cuboid subluxation, occurs when the joints and ligaments near the cuboid bone in the foot become torn. If you have cuboid syndrome, consult with one of our podiatrists from Manhattan Footcare. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Cuboid syndrome is a common cause of lateral foot pain, which is pain on the outside of the foot. The condition may happen suddenly due to an ankle sprain, or it may develop slowly overtime from repetitive tension through the bone and surrounding structures.

Causes

The most common causes of cuboid syndrome include:

• Injury – The most common cause of this ailment is an ankle sprain.
• Repetitive Strain – Tension placed through the peroneus longus muscle from repetitive activities such as jumping and running may cause excessive traction on the bone causing it to sublux.
• Altered Foot Biomechanics – Most people suffering from cuboid subluxation have flat feet.

Symptoms

A common symptom of cuboid syndrome is pain along the outside of the foot which can be felt in the ankle and toes. This pain may create walking difficulties and may cause those with the condition to walk with a limp.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cuboid syndrome is often difficult, and it is often misdiagnosed. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans often fail to properly show the cuboid subluxation. Although there isn’t a specific test used to diagnose cuboid syndrome, your podiatrist will usually check if pain is felt while pressing firmly on the cuboid bone of your foot.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are ice therapy, rest, exercise, taping, and orthotics.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A Doppler ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to visualize blood flow throughout the body. In podiatry, a Doppler ultrasound can be used to diagnose peripheral artery disease and other conditions that may affect blood flow in the feet and ankles. You may need to undergo this imaging test if you are experiencing the symptoms of poor circulation in your lower limbs, which include numbness, weakness, coldness, cramping, or skin discoloration. A Doppler ultrasound is painless and noninvasive, and there are no known risks. It usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour to complete. If you have symptoms of poor circulation in your feet or ankles, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Vascular testing plays an important part in diagnosing disease like peripheral artery disease. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or diabetes, consult with one of our podiatrists from Manhattan Footcare. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Vascular Testing?

Vascular testing checks for how well blood circulation is in the veins and arteries. This is most often done to determine and treat a patient for peripheral artery disease (PAD), stroke, and aneurysms. Podiatrists utilize vascular testing when a patient has symptoms of PAD or if they believe they might. If a patient has diabetes, a podiatrist may determine a vascular test to be prudent to check for poor blood circulation.

How Is it Conducted?

Most forms of vascular testing are non-invasive. Podiatrists will first conduct a visual inspection for any wounds, discoloration, and any abnormal signs prior to a vascular test.

 The most common tests include:

• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) examination
• Doppler examination
• Pedal pulses

These tests are safe, painless, and easy to do. Once finished, the podiatrist can then provide a diagnosis and the best course for treatment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.