Items filtered by date: March 2022

High heeled shoes, often worn by women, can cause irritation to the back of the heel. This condition is known as Haglund’s deformity, or pump bump and can eventually lead to other problems, such as Achilles’ tendonitis or bursitis. Those who have high arches or tight Achilles tendons are especially vulnerable to pump bump from high heels. Not only is this a painful condition but the heel can swell and become red. Treatments include icing the back of the heel, anti-inflammatory medications, heel lifts in shoes, and stretching exercises. The best prevention is avoiding high heels. Should pain and discomfort from pump bumps persist, a visit to a podiatrist is suggested.

High heels have a history of causing foot and ankle problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, contact Dr. John R. Northrup from Superior Foot, Ankle & Wound Care. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because of their many styles and societal appeal.  Despite this, high heels can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

Which Parts of My Body Will Be Affected by High Heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – May shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – Heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – They decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  The vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What Kinds of Foot Problems Can Develop from Wearing High Heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

How Can I Still Wear High Heels and Maintain Foot Health?

If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems.  Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet.  Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising.  If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.  Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in St. Augustine, and Palm Coast, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

There are several reasons why your child may be having heel pain or tenderness at the back of their foot. Sever’s disease is a condition in which a child’s Achilles tendon pulls on and aggravates the growth plate at the back of the heel bone. In Achilles tendonitis, a sudden increase in activity can damage the Achilles tendon, causing pain, warmth, inflammation, and difficulty in walking. Plantar fasciitis is a very common form of heel pain. This condition is an inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue on the sole of the foot, which connects the heel to the toes. If your child has fallen or had an acute injury to the heel, they may have fractured the heel bone. No matter what the cause of your child’s heel pain is, a podiatrist can diagnose it and devise an appropriate treatment plan. If your child is limping or walking on their toes, or complains about pain in their heel or tenderness at the back of their feet, make an appointment for them with a podiatrist.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact Dr. John R. Northrup of Superior Foot, Ankle & Wound Care. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in St. Augustine, and Palm Coast, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a type of surgical operation that can be used to repair a broken ankle. This procedure is usually recommended when the fracture is large, the bones are displaced or broken into many pieces, or when the fracture involves damage to the surrounding nerves or blood vessels. During an ORIF procedure, the surgeon may use wires, screws, plates, or pins to realign the broken bones so that they can heal properly. After surgery, you will need to wear a cast or splint to immobilize the ankle and promote a full recovery. If you have fractured your ankle, it is strongly suggested that you seek the care of a podiatrist.

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you are seeking treatment, contact Dr. John R. Northrup from Superior Foot, Ankle & Wound Care. 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 one of our offices located in St. Augustine, and Palm Coast, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Pain can often accompany a corn on the foot. A hard corn is defined as a small, toughened area that develops on top of the toes. It generally forms due to wearing shoes that do not fit correctly. The shoes may be too tight, and this can cause friction as the toes rub against the top of the shoes. A soft corn forms between the toes and is generally moist a majority of the time. Mild relief may be found when a protective covering is worn on top of the corn, or in between the toes. This can help to cushion and protect the corn as daily activities are completed. It is suggested to refrain from wearing high heels with an existing corn, in addition to limiting the amount of walking. If you have developed a corn, please speak to a podiatrist who can recommend proper removal techniques.

If you have any concerns regarding your feet and ankles, contact Dr. John R. Northrup of Superior Foot, Ankle & Wound Care. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:

• Well-fitting socks
• Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
• Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Consult with Our doctors to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in St. Augustine, and Palm Coast, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

A ganglion cyst is a benign, fluid-filled mass that develops near a joint capsule or the thin layer of tissue surrounding a tendon. When ganglion cysts develop in the feet, they can occur in the ankle or top of the foot. Ganglion cysts usually present as a visible lump on the outside of the skin, and can cause a dull ache or pain—especially if the cyst is pressing on a joint or tendon, or is being irritated by footwear. In some cases, a ganglion cyst may be caused by some sort of trauma, however the exact cause of these bothersome growths is not always known. Because ganglion cysts sometimes disappear on their own, your podiatrist may determine that monitoring the cyst for a period of time may be the best initial approach. However, if the pain and discomfort are severe, or you have had the cyst for a while, your podiatrist may suggest other treatments such as modifications to footwear, aspirating the cyst and injecting it with steroids, or even surgery if more conservative treatment options don't provide relief or the cyst returns.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Dr. John R. Northrup from Superior Foot, Ankle & Wound Care. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in St. Augustine, and Palm Coast, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.