WHAT EXACTLY IS TOENAIL FUNGUS?

Toenail fungus (which is also known as Onychomycosis) is a fungal infection of the toe nails, characterized by discoloration, yellow streaks, or white patches, or even thickening of the toenail itself. Occasionally the fungus will also turn the flesh beneath the nail a dark color. The nails themselves noticeably thicken and become brittle, the edges often crumbling and flaking away. In some extreme cases, the toenail fungus can cause the nail to separate completely from the nail bed and fall off the toe.

 

Cases of toenail fungus can often last years, even decades, until they are properly addressed by a podiatrist. The usual course of treatment in addressing toenail fungus involves either oral medications or topical ointments, creams, or polishes — or in especially serious cases, the removal of the nails and direct treatment of the nail bed beneath.

 

All of these traditional approaches have their limitations however, and they all have their drawbacks. Our experience is that patients would prefer to avoid going on medications if possible. The ointments and creams and polishes rarely accomplish much. And of course whenever possible we want to avoid having to remove the toe nails.

You Will Also Find Various Laser Treatments

Being Offered For Addressing Toenail Fungus Problems.

The problem is, far too often, the lasers being used are either of the wrong wavelength or the wrong beam profile. The most common lasers being used for toenail fungus treatments involve a "quasi-continuous" beam, which simply cannot adequately accomplish what is too often advertised or claimed. Even the lasers on the market that have the correct wavelength and the correct beam, too often have messy, ineffective beam profiles, and as a result simply cannot pack the kind of serious punch needed to kill toenail fungus with any kind of regularity.

TOP 5 RUNNING INJURIES

Running is a great way to both get and stay healthy. However, without proper precautions, foot and ankle injuries can occur. Today’s podiatrists are uniquely qualified to treat running-related foot and ankle injuries due to their specialized education, training, and experience. Don’t let an injury stop your running routine in its tracks! Look below for the five of the most common foot and ankle-related running injuries.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of a fibrous band of tissue in the bottom of the foot that extends from the heel bone to the toes. This tissue can become inflamed for many reasons, most commonly from irritation by placing too much stress (excess running and jumping) on the bottom of the foot.

Achilles Tendonitis
An ailment that accounts for a large number of running injuries, Achilles tendonitis is an irritation or inflammation of the large tendon in the back of the lower calf that attaches to the back of the heel. The condition is often caused by lack of flexibility and overpronation.


Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is often described by runners as a burning, stinging pain in the forefoot (commonly in the third and fourth toes). Other symptoms include pain in the ball of the foot and a feeling of “pins and needles” and numbness in the toes. Runners who wear tight-fitting footwear often experience this condition. A true neuroma is a benign tumor of the nerve, although entrapment of the nerve will give the same symptoms.


Stress Fracture
Stress fractures in the lower limbs are common among athletes in general, and are commonly caused by repetitive forces on these areas. Symptoms include localized pain and swelling that grows worse over time. Stress fractures can occur over a period of days, weeks, or even months.


Shin Splints
Also referred to as “tibial stress syndrome,” shin splints affect runners of all ages and are commonly experienced as a shooting pain felt near the front or sides of one or both tibia bones (the shins).

YOUR CHILD'S FLAT FEET

What are flat feet?

Flat feet is a condition in which the foot doesn't have a normal arch. It may affect one foot or both feet. At first, all babies' feet look flat because an arch hasn't formed yet. Arches should form by the time your child is 2 or 3 years old.

What causes flat feet?

Most flat feet are caused by loose joint connections and baby fat between the foot bones. These conditions make the arch fall when your child stands up. This is why you sometimes hear flat feet called "fallen arches." The feet may look like they have arches when your child is sitting or when the big toe is bent backward, but the arch flattens when the child puts weight on the foot. 

Should I take my child to the doctor?

If your child complains of foot or ankle pain, take him or her to the doctor. Flat feet in an older child may cause pain in the heel or arch, or may cause pain when the child is walking and running. Your doctor will look at your child's feet to make sure that the pain isn't caused by a problem in the hip or the knee. Rarely, flat feet can be caused by foot bones that are joined together. In this case, the bones can't move, and the foot hurts. Your child may need to have x-rays, but your doctor probably can tell you what the problem is just by looking at your child's feet. 

RUNNING INJURIES

What causes an overuse injury in a runner?

Overuse injury in a runner most often occurs because of a training error (running too far, too fast, too soon). With every mile that is run, the feet must absorb 110 tons of energy. Therefore, it is not surprising that up to 70% of runners develop injuries every year.

How can overuse injury be prevented?
You can decrease your risk of injury by following these recommendations:


·         Do not increase running mileage by more than 10% per week.
·         Do not run more than 45 miles per week. There is little evidence that running more than 45 miles per week improves your performance, but  a great deal of evidence shows that running more than 45 miles per week increases your risk for an overuse injury.
·         Do not run on slanted or uneven surfaces. The best running surface is soft, flat terrain.
·         Do not "run through pain." Pain is a sign that should not be ignored, because it indicates that something is wrong.
·         If you do have pain when you run, place ice on the area and rest for 2 or 3 days. If the pain continues for 1 week, see your doctor.
·         Follow hard training or running days with easy days.
·         Change your running shoes every 500 miles. After this distance shoes lose their ability to absorb the shock of running.

What about orthotics to reduce the chance of injury?
Orthotics are inserts that are placed in shoes to correct bad alignment between the foot and the lower leg. You will probably need orthotics if the inside of your foot turns in, a problem called pronation. Your doctor may suggest orthotics if you have bad alignment and become injured and do not get better with other measures, such as rest, ice application and cross training.