Although the toes are small parts of the body, they play a critical role in supporting the body. Also, toe pain can have big consequences and be an annoyance for patients. One potential source of toe pain is a condition known as lupus. Lupus is a condition that causes the immune system to attack its own tissues. Lupus patients might experience toe pain, swelling, or numbness. Importantly, this pain and these symptoms in the toes, do not necessarily go away when the patient is at rest. Therefore, even when sleeping, a lupus patient might experience this toe pain. If you are someone that is currently living with toe pain for any reason, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist today. This foot specialist will be able to provide guidance and any treatment that may be necessary.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Bill Brown, DPM of Brown Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Scranton, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Practicing proper safety measures in the workplace is crucial in preventing accidents. This can begin with foot safety and wearing the right shoes during the workday can help to accomplish this. It is beneficial to ensure the shoes worn are slip-resistant, constructed of durable materials, and have adequate arch support. Some jobs require extra foot protection. This can consist of wearing safety boots that have a steel tip. It is helpful to take breaks as often as possible, as this can provide an opportunity to rest and stretch the feet. As the feet are stretched, blood flow may be improved, which can help to prevent injuries and fatigue. Maintaining proper foot hygiene may help to prevent infections, and it is advantageous to inspect the feet for signs of irritation. If you would like more information about how to protect your feet during the workday, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist who can offer you helpful tips.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Bill Brown, DPM from Brown Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Scranton, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Having the right running shoe is paramount to reducing the chances of pain and injury. However, knowing how to find the shoe that best serves a runner’s needs can be confusing. Here are a few tips for simplifying the decision. The first consideration is knowing the type of running you will be doing and how often you will be doing it. Second, identify the terrain or environment you will be running in. For instance, trail shoes will have more grip and tread on the soles, while road shoes have flatter soles. Third, consider any previous running injuries you may have encountered and see a podiatrist who can examine your gait. Running shoes offer different types of cushioning, support, and stability based on the biomechanics of your feet. A podiatrist, who is a medically trained foot doctor, is a good source of information for anyone interested in finding the running shoe that will best serve your needs and protect your feet. If you are serious about running, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist for an evaluation. 

If you are a runner, wearing the right running shoe is essential. For more information, contact Bill Brown, DPM from Brown Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Choosing the Right Running Shoe for Your Foot Type

To increase performance and avoid the risk of injury, it is important to choose the right running shoe based on your foot type. The general design of running shoes revolves around pronation, which is how the ankle rolls from outside to inside when the foot strikes the ground.

• Neutral runners are able to choose from a wide variety of shoes, including minimalist shoes or even going barefoot.
• Runners who overpronate, or experience an over-abundance of ankle rolling, should choose shoes that provide extra motion control and stability.
• Runners who underpronate, or supinate, have feet that have high arches and lack flexibility, preventing shock absorption. They require shoes with more flexibility and cushion.

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

Sever’s disease is a condition that affects the heel of the foot. Children and young teenagers who are physically active may be prone to developing this ailment, which may cause the child to limp or walk on their tiptoes. It is defined as an inflammation of the muscles and tendons surrounding the growth plate in the heel, and it happens when this plate grows faster than the heel bone. This age group of children from 5 to 11 who frequently participate in running and jumping activities can develop this painful condition, which can be accompanied by swelling. Additional reasons why Sever's disease may happen can be from wearing shoes that do not fit correctly, being overweight, or if one leg is shorter than the other. Treatment often begins with temporarily stopping the activity that caused the pain and elevating the affected foot as often as possible. Wearing custom-made orthotics may help the child to feel better, which can provide the necessary support as the healing process occurs. If your child has symptoms of Sever’s disease, it is suggested that you confer with a podiatrist who can effectively determine the cause of their heel pain, and treat it accordingly. 

Sever's disease often occurs in children and teens. If your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain, see Bill Brown, DPM from Brown Podiatry. Our doctor can treat your child’s foot and ankle needs.

Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is also known as calcaneal apophysitis, which is a medical condition that causes heel pain I none or both feet. The disease is known to affect children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Sever’s disease occurs when part of the child’s heel known as the growth plate (calcaneal epiphysis) is attached to the Achilles tendon. This area can suffer injury when the muscles and tendons of the growing foot do not keep pace with bone growth. Therefore, the constant pain which one experiences at the back of the heel will make the child unable to put any weight on the heel. The child is then forced to walk on their toes.

Symptoms

Acute pain – Pain associated with Sever’s disease is usually felt in the heel when the child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping and or running.

Highly active – Children who are very active are among the most susceptible in experiencing Sever’s disease, because of the stress and tension placed on their feet.

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