One of our readers who is athletically active recently complained of pain and stiffness in her feet, especially in the early morning. She asked if it’s possible to have arthritis in her feet.

Arthritis refers to inflammation of any joint, including joints in the feet. The inflammation may be the result of injury (traumatic arthritis), disease (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis), metabolic disturbances (gout), or infection. Among very active people, the most common type of arthritis is traumatic. In these cases, the trauma to the foot is greater than the joints are equipped to handle.

It is possible that the reader may have a mild form of rheumatoid arthritis or even gout. She should have a professional evaluation as soon as possible to help her decide on an appropriate treatment plan.

To contact Center Line Podiatrist Dr. Brown, call 586-758-5770.

This winter’s fashionable high-heeled boots put women at risk for slips, falls, and injuries on ice and snow, warns Dr. Lawrence Brown, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) with offices in Center Line, Michigan. These popular boots typically feature tall, spiked heels and narrow pointed toes. “Wearing high-heels makes you more unstable when walking or standing on dry surfaces, let alone slippery ones like ice and snow”. Says Dr. Brown. “A stylish low-heeled winter boot is a lot more fashionable than a cast and crutches.” Dr. Brown also recommends women scuff-up the soles of new boots, or purchase adhesive rubber soles, to provide greater traction.

Falls from high-heeled winter boots can lead to a number of injuries, depending on how the woman loses her balance. If the ankles roll inward or outward, she can break her ankles. If her ankle twists, ligaments can be stretched or torn, causing an ankle sprain, according to the ACFAS consumer Web site, FootPhysicians.com, broken and sprained ankles can be present at the same time.

“This time of year I see a variety of broken bones occurring in patients who have slipped on the ice.” says Dr. Brown. “These include broken toes, metatarsals, heels and ankles.”

Dr. Brown urges women hurt from slip and falls in high-heeled winter boots to contact his office in Centerline, Michigan at 586-758-5770 for prompt evaluation and treatment. In the meantime, immediately use the “R.I.C.E.” method- rest, ice, compression and evaluation- to help reduce swelling, pain, and further injury.

“Delaying treatment can result in long-term complications such as chronic ankle instability and pain, arthritis, or deformity” says Podiatrist Dr. Brown, “Even if you’re able to walk on the injured foot, pain, swelling, or bruising indicates a serious injury”.

To contact Podiatrist Dr. Brown, call 586-758-5770.

Many of us are welcomed the warmer weather by sporting flip-flop sandals, however, their popularity among teens and young adults is responsible for a growing epidemic of heel pain in this population, according to Dr. Brown, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

“We’re seeing more heel pain than ever in patients 15 to 25 years old, a group that usually doesn’t have this problem,” said Dr. Brown. “A major contributor is wearing flip-flop sandals with paper-thin soles everyday to school. Flip-flops have no arch support and can accentuate any abnormal biomechanics in foot motion, and this eventually brings pain and inflammation”.

Dr. Brown advises wearing sandals with reasonably strong soles and arch support. “Especially for girls and young women, thicker soled sandals with supportive arches might not be considered stylish, but if you want to wear sandals most of the time, you’ll avoid heel pain if you choose sturdier, perhaps less fashionable styles”.

It is estimated that 15 percent of all adult foot complaints involve plantar fasciitis, the type of heel pain caused by chronic inflammation of the connective tissue extending from the heel bone to the toes. Being overweight and wearing inappropriate footwear are common contributing factors.

The pain is most noticeable after getting out of bed in the morning, and it tends to decrease after a few minutes and returns during the day as time on the feet increases. Not all heel pain, however, is caused by plantar fasciitis. It also can occur from inflammation of the Achilles tendon, bursitis, arthritis, gout, stress fractures, or irritation of one or more of the nerves in the region.. Therefore, diagnosis by a foot and ankle surgeon to rule out other causes is advised.

Initial treatment options for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis should include anti-inflammatory medications, padding and strapping of the foot and physical therapy. Patients also should stretch their calf muscles regularly, avoid wearing flat shoes and walking barefoot, use over the counter arch supports and heel cushions, and limit the frequency of extended physical activities.

Most patients with plantar fasciitis respond to non-surgical treatment within six weeks. However, surgery is sometimes necessary to relieve severe, persistent pain.

For further information about heel pain, contact Dr. Lawrence Brown at 586-758-5770 in CenterLine Michigan.

Hammertoe is a deformity which results from muscular imbalance. In hammertoes, the tendons pull abnormally on the toes, creating a buckling at the joints. The tops of the toes become more prominent and are often blistered, red, and painful. Corns, calluses, and even bursitis can further complicate the condition.

Treatment for hammertoes is twofold. The first step is to relive the pressure on the the area. This can often be easily accomplished with aperture pads which protect the irritated toe(s) and which may, in some cases, eliminate the problem completely. Often, however, further measures must be taken to straighten the deformed area and to ensure that it does not recur.

It is possible to acquire a hammertoe from wearing shoes that are too small. If one toe in particular jams into the end of the show, it can become swollen and blistered. This point out the importance of buying shoes to fit the longest toe.

If you are suffering from a hammertoe and live in South East Michigan, call the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic at 586-758-5770 to make an appointment with Dr. Lawrence Brown today.

Dr. Lawrence Brown, DPM from the Ryan Foot & Ankle Clinic in Center Line, MI speaks on the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons podcast (June 2011) on the Physiologic Changes In the Foot During Pregnancy. This interesting podcast provides important insight into the occurrence of foot and back pain during pregnancy.

There has been very little research regarding physiologic changes to the foot during pregnancy. this is remarkable given the universal symptoms of low back and foot pain reported by pregnant women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical foot changes seen in pregnancy throughout all three trimesters and at post pardum.

We identified 22 women in their 1st trimester of pregnancy from 2007 to 2010. The study was approved by Wayne State University and informed consents were collected from each subject. After a brief foot exam, subjects were asked to fill out a brief survey regrading and foot or back pain they were experiencing. They were then asked to walk over a matscan computerizes mat sensor (Tekscan, INC), where a series of pressure data was automatically recorded and stored. This was carried out at each trimester and then post partum.

We concluded that foot length and width increase throughout pregnancy but do not necessarily return to their original size. Also, women change the way they walk, especially in late pregnancy, to help stabilize themselves, but may not return to a “normal” walking pattern after delivery, and thus causing foot problems down the road.

Your feet is as important as any other part of your body and without proper care, it can cause serious damage to your overall health. Therefore you need to research well before deciding on a podiatrist. Apart from checking if the podiatrist is a registered member of American Podiatric Medical Association, you need to keep the following things in mind while choosing a podiatrist.

Do not feel obliged to continue with the podiatrist just because you had one appointment. Many a times, your first visit to the doctor can be the deciding factor in continuing with the doctor or not. Use your first visit to check if the podiatrist is open to questions and if he listens to your problem in detail or not. Your doctor should take time to explain your current condition and should answer all your questions. Good communication is a must have in your podiatrist.

Check on the billing practice followed while you make an appointment. This will help you be prepared for the expenses and know exactly how much you need to pay. Also, you can check for any discounts offered.

Depending on your health condition, you can ask for a longer consultation time. Clarifying this while you fix the appointment will help avoid the appointment overlap with other patients.

Checking if the podiatrist can speak your language is extremely important if you are not comfortable with English. Choosing a podiatrist according to your language preference will help in effective communication.

The above tips can help you choose the right podiatrist for you. However, just choosing the right podiatrist will not help solve your heel pain. You need to ensure that you take good care of your feet.

Remember that the best way to avoid heel pain is by taking good care of your feet. Avoid standing too long. Maintain a reasonable weight. Do not overdo it with high-impact exercise, change from running to swimming or biking if you start to experience pain. And do not forget to wear comfortable shoes that is suitable for practicing the activity.

Dr. Brown a renowned Michigan podiatrist specializing in foot surgery and diabetic foot care.

Call Podiatrist Dr. Brown Today 586-758-5770

One of the common concerns with which most people visit a podiatrist or a general practitioner is, heel pain. Heel pain is synonymous to heel spur, ankle arthritis or plantar fasciitis. The condition is caused primarily by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia, which is a semi-rigid anatomical structure that separates the soft tissues of the foot. Plantar fascia is associated with aging and repair of the tissues and in most cases, heel pain is seen as a result of it’s wear and tear.

Symptoms Of Heel Pain

Heel pain appears as a non-localized pain in the heel and is often a nuisance around the ankle or heel. The pain is severe when you get out of bed or when rising from a chair after sitting for a long time. Those who are overweight, who’s job involves long hours of standing, pre-menopausal women and people with deformities such as foot plantar or flat foot are highly vulnerable to suffering from heel pain.

Treating Heel Pain

Treatment should be directed at the cause and not the pain itself. Your podiatrist will try to find the root cause of the pain in order to treat the cause rather than the pain. This is because, a prolonged use of anti-inflammatory analgesics can cause significant toxic effects. Treatment in most cases is nonsurgical, including modification of activities of the patients to foot stretching programs for the patients at home.

Some of the methods used to treat heel pain are:

• Rest: Decreased activity or rest is the main treatment for heel pain. By reducing the burden of weight on the foot, you will be able to make a quick recovery. It is also advisable to avoid walking barefoot.

• Analgesics: Oral anti-inflammatory analgesics provide relief to many patients. It is used only in case of severe pain.

• Ice: Ice can be used as a pain reliever in case of acute pain. Applying ice packs 2-3 times a day can reduce the pain.

• Physical therapy: Podiatrist do recommend physical therapy as it can be useful in treating heel pain. However, it is used only when other methods have failed. The initial goal of physical therapy is to reduce inflammation. Later, they can leverage the small muscles of the foot to provide support to the weakened plantar fascia.

• Taping: Taping of the foot can also help relieve pain. Taping bandage limits the strain on the plantar fascia and is also useful when there has been a rupture of the aponeurosis.

• Shoes: Shoes with soft heels, broad and relatively rigid sole provides maximum comfort and protection. Sneakers are recommended for people with heel pain.

• Night splints: If symptoms are persistent, you may need to use templates or a dorsiflexion night splint. Some splints are quite expensive, but there are alternatives which are available for reasonable price.

• Plasters: Plasters are used only in case of extreme conditions. The short walking cast is placed for three to six weeks in order to help relieve the pain and restrict the movement.

Surgery is rarely indicated by a podiatrist. However, after 6-12 months of conservative treatment of heel pain, a partial surgical release of the plantar fascia may be required. Recovery after surgery is usually slow, often fails to produce a complete cure, and has some potential complications too.

It is important that you get the right treatment so that the recovery is quick. Choosing the right podiatrist also plays an important role in how quickly you recover. While choosing a podiatrist, you need to bear a few things in mind. This is to ensure that you get the right specialist.

How can you find the right podiatrist?

The first and the most important thing to note while choosing a podiatrist is to check if the podiatrist is a member of American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS).

In order to find a good podiatrist, you may even ask your family doctor and they will be able to recommend a good podiatrist. If possible, you may even check with the nurses as they work closely with the doctors and are a good source of information. They will be able to let you know if the podiatrist is friendly and if he spends time in understanding your problem in detail.

Once you have decided on the podiatrist, you can fix up the appointment in order to see how your first meeting goes. Let the podiatrist know about your condition and ask questions. This will help you find if the podiatrist is open to questions and if he puts in an effort to make you understand your health condition. Depending on how your first appointment goes and your comfort level with the doctor, you can take a call as to whether you’d like to continue treatment or opt for another podiatrist.

If you were wondering why these were important, then you need to understand that if you do not treat your heel pain accurately, there can be a situation where you need to go for a surgery. Though the need for surgery is rare, it can become unavoidable if not treated in the early stage. Traditional heel surgery consists of a small incision in the foot to cut the plantar fascia and remove the bone spur. An arthroscopic / endoscopic, in which the plantar fascia is cut from its insertion into the heel bone, is another surgical option.

Therefore, you need to ensure that the doctor you choose is the right one for you. If you do feel that your current podiatrist does not understand your problem or does not communicate well, you need to look for an alternative. In most cases, following your instinct is the best thing to do if you are not sure of whether your current podiatrist is the right one for you.

Orthotics are arch supports which are worn in the shoe to distribute the body weight evenly along the entire length of the foot. These simple devices can prevent or treat many sports-related injuries and correct balance and alignment problems. Orthotics can literally work miracles in some cases.

Although many people know about orthotics, and they can be bought “off the rack” in most athletic shoe and sporting goods stores, there are misconceptions about how these supports should be uses. Prefabricated orthotics may work for minor problems, but for best results most people require supports that are individually fitted by a podiatrist for proper fit.

Orthotics are simple. relatively inexpensive, and painless devices, which when made well and properly fitted, can solve a host of podiatric problems from corns and calluses to shin splints.

To make podiatric care a regular part of your program for good health, call the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic at 586-758-5770 to make an appointment with Dr. Lawrence Brown today. Orthotics can make your daily life easier and reduce foot pain.

Four out of every five people will encounter foot problems at some point in their life, ranging from bunions to fallen arches, heel spurs to ingrown toenails. All of these problems can be painful, and some of them can even be disabling. Fortunately there are qualified medical professionals who are trained to help with foot problems.

Podiatrists are foot care specialists. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is trained to examine, diagnose, and prescribe treatment programs to alleviate pain and to keep your feet healthy. Podiatrists can treat problems related to: Bones (bunions, hammertoes, and heel spurs); Soft tissue (muscle sprains, tendinitis, inflamed ligaments); Skin (corn & calluses); Joints (arthritis and gout); Nerves (insensitivity, neuropathy, and diabetes); Arches (flat feet and high arches); Nails (ingrown toenails and thickened nails).

A good podiatrist can give expert foot care, as well as provide education and treatment for the relief of foor problems that can interfere with your ability to fully participate in and enjoy life.

To make podiatric care a regular part of your program for good health, call the Ryan Foot Clinic at 586-758-5770 to make an appointment with Dr. Lawrence Brown today.

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