An ingrown toenail is a toenail which has grown into the surrounding skin of your toe. If you’ve ever had an ingrown toenail, you already know how painful it can be.

You are at higher risk of developing ingrown toenails if:

• Your toenails curve under naturally
• You’ve had an injury to your toe or toenail
• You wear shoes that are too narrow for your toes

When you have an ingrown toenail, you will experience:

• Swelling and pressure around your toenail
• Bruising and redness around your toenail
• Throbbing pain around your toenail

Your toenail and the nail bed may also appear dark and you may see pus or blood coming out from underneath your toenail.

You can do a lot to help prevent an ingrown toenail. Remember to:

• Avoid cutting your toenails too short
• Trim your toenails straight across, with no rounded corners
• Always wear protective shoes which are appropriate to the activity you are doing
• Avoid going barefoot to prevent toe and toenail injuries

When you develop an ingrown toenail, you can try a few simple home remedies like these to get relief:

• Soak your toe in warm water several times each day
• Place a small piece of dental floss under your toenail to guide the toenail upward
• Apply antibiotic cream around your toenail
• Wrap your toe in bandaging to protect it
• Wear open toe shoes or sandals to help your toe heal

For stubborn, painful ingrown toenails that don’t respond to home therapies, your podiatrist can help you feel better, with several professional treatments for ingrown toenails. Your podiatrist may recommend:

• Trimming off a section of your toenail that has grown into the skin
• Lifting and separating the toenail from the surrounding skin
• Removing the entire toenail so a new, healthy toenail can grow in its place

An ingrown toenail can make it painful to put on shoes, and it can also affect your ability to stay active. You don’t have to suffer with an ingrown toenail because your podiatrist can help. To find out more about the causes and treatment of ingrown toenails, call your podiatrist today.

Have you been suffering from heel pain recently and are not sure why you are being affected by it? Many people experience severe heel pain without understanding how the heel works and what can cause these issues. Fortunately, there is a doctor out there that can help you with this painful condition. AAL Podiatry Associates in Suffolk, Norfolk, PA led by Dr. Jesse Anderson can help you overcome your painful condition. Let's take a closer look at heel pain and what we can do to help you.

What Causes Heel Pain?

Oftentimes, heel pain can happen from an injury that you have experienced. Whether it happens at work or at home, this can make it difficult for you to properly work. However, there are various forms of heel pain out there that can affect you. Some of them include:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Bone tumor
• Heel spur
• Plantar fasciitis
• Stress fractures
• And tarsal tunnel syndrome

No matter what the cause of the condition is, AAL Podiatry in Suffolk, Norfolk, PA led by Dr. Jesse Anderson can help you overcome your problems with expert podiatry care.

What Happens if I Neglect Heel Care?

Unfortunately, neglecting to answer to your heel care can have lifelong detrimental consequences. Not being able to walk properly without feeling pain is one outcome of these conditions. We recommend that you visit us here at our offices in either Norfolk or Suffolk in order to receive immediate care before this condition worsens.

Let the experts at AAL Podiatry Associates in Suffolk, Norfolk, PA led by Dr. Jesse Anderson help you improve the quality of your heel by offering professional consultations that will lead you in the right direction first to figure out what kind of care you need. Give us a call today at (757) 625-2962 for our Norfolk office or (757) 539-2098 for our Suffolk office. Dr. Jesse Anderson is ready to help you whenever you need it the most whenever it comes to podiatry care.

Heel pain is one of the most common problems your podiatrist treats. If you are suffering from heel pain, the pain can make it difficult to enjoy an active life. Don’t worry, because your podiatrist has several effective heel pain treatments to get you back on your feet.

You can develop heel pain from a few causes, including:

• Stepping on hard or sharp objects, which can cause a heel bruise
• Developing excess calcium deposits, which can cause a heel spur
• Inflammation of the tissue on your heel, which can cause plantar fasciitis

Any of the causes listed above can cause moderate to severe heel pain, but plantar fasciitis is the most severe. Plantar fasciitis causes inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the thick band of tissue running across your heel.

When you have plantar fasciitis, you may experience:

• Stabbing pain across your heel when you stand
• Heel pain which is worse in the morning
• Pain across your heel and on the side of your foot

Plantar fasciitis can be caused by:

• Overpronation, or rolling your feet when you walk
• Walking or standing on hard surfaces for long periods
• Doing high impact activities like jogging or running

For mild heel pain, you can try a few simple home remedies like these:

• Placing an ice pack on your heel several times each day
• Doing arch stretches several times each day
• Elevating your feet when you can, to take pressure off your feet
• Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication
• Wearing heel inserts inside your shoes to cushion your heels

Moderate to severe heel pain should be evaluated by your podiatrist. There are several treatment options your podiatrist may recommend, including:

• Custom-made orthotics and footwear to provide support
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling
• Physical therapy and stretching to improve flexibility
• Prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation

Heel pain is a common foot problem, but one which is easily treatable. Relief from heel pain is just a phone call away. To find out more about the causes and treatment of heel pain, call your podiatrist today.

If you have diabetes, you may already know about the effects on your body, especially your extremities. What you may not know is that diabetes is especially hard on your feet, which is why it’s important to visit your podiatrist regularly.

Your feet carry you through your life, but they are easy to overlook. When you are diabetic, you can’t afford to ignore your feet and toes. These are just a few of the ways diabetes can affect your feet and toes:

Diabetes affects your immune system which can lead to delayed healing time. That means if you have a small cut, it may not heal. It may turn into a painful diabetic ulcer.

Diabetes affects your circulatory system which can lead to impaired blood flow in your feet and toes. That means your tissue can die, which can lead to amputations.

Diabetes affects your nervous system, which can lead to painful diabetic neuropathy. You may also lose sensation in your feet, so if you have an injury, you might not feel it.

It's vital to take special care of your feet when you have diabetes. You should:

• Wash and dry your feet thoroughly every day
• Check your feet regularly for any cuts, blisters, or injuries
• Use a hand mirror to examine the soles of your feet for injuries
• Apply a thick moisturizing cream to keep your skin free of cracks
• Apply an antibiotic cream to any open sores or injuries
• Place a bandage on open sores or injuries
• Do ankle, foot, and toe stretches daily to boost circulation

Diabetes is a common medical problem. In fact, it’s estimated that at least 29 million people in the United States have diabetes. If you are one of them, you need to take special care of your feet and your body. To find out more about caring for your feet when you are diabetic, talk with an expert. Call your podiatrist today.

Your ankles are an important part of your body. Together with your legs and feet, your ankles help carry your body weight. They help you walk, run, and enjoy daily life. So, what happens when you have ankle pain? Your podiatrist can help.

Along with pain in your ankle, you may notice additional signs and symptoms like these:

• Swelling
• Inflammation
• Stiffness

When you have ankle pain, it can cause:

• Instability when you are walking or standing
• Difficulty standing on uneven surfaces
• Tripping and falling, which can injure you further

So, what causes ankle pain? There are some obvious causes like injuring or spraining your ankle, but there are also some medical conditions which can lead to ankle pain. These conditions include:

• Arthritis in the ankle joint
• Tendonitis or a torn tendon in your ankle
• A fractured or broken bone in your ankle
• A nerve injury in your ankle

For mild ankle pain, you can try a few easy home therapies including:

• Placing an ice pack on your ankle several times daily
• Elevating and resting your ankle
• Taking over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medication
• Wearing an ankle support or brace

For moderate to severe ankle pain, or ankle pain which doesn’t resolve with home therapy, you need to see your podiatrist. Professional treatments your podiatrist may recommend include:

• Oral steroid medications to reduce swelling
• Prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medication to reduce inflammation
• Physical therapy and stretches to maintain ankle flexibility and mobility
• Devices including walking casts or braces to provide support and stability

You may need surgery if your ankle pain is due to:

• A torn ligament
• A torn tendon
• A broken or dislocated ankle bone

Don’t suffer with ankle pain when relief is just a phone call away. Your podiatrist can help you find relief from ankle pain and get back on your feet. To find out more about the causes of ankle pain and how you can find relief, talk with an expert–your podiatrist. Call today.