2015: A new year, A new you, and new feet

2015: A new year, A new you, and new feet

As the New Year approaches many people make New Year’s Resolutions. Usually the resolutions are related to health and fitness. Foot health is related to one’s overall health. Many people run to the gym and start eating better right after January 1, but seeing your doctor is also related to your overall health. Most people go to their doctor’s’ for regular checkups, for example getting mammograms and Pap-smears yearly are common, but when was the last time you went to the podiatrist for a general foot checkup.

Many people think that they should only visit a podiatrist when they have a problem, but as podiatrist I belief it is just the opposite. Many foot related problems and injuries are avoidable with a regular checkups and exams. Many foot ailments occur with overuse, improper shoe gear and abnormal foot biomechanics.

Seeing a podiatrist for an exam is painless and most likely you will learn more about your feet than you ever thought was possible. A quick exam of your shoes and sneakers, and the way you walk barefoot can tell a lot about your foot. Many people go to the pharmacy and go to the foot care aisle and buy miscellaneous products to help their foot problems. To be honest I see many patients in the office who have tried these products and many times they have made their foot problems worse.

A big part of getting healthy in the New Year is working out. I personally love to exercise and I tell my patients all the time it is important to change your sneakers 2-3 times a years. In addition, custom molded orthotics is important to keeping your foot in a neutral position. Post people have flatfeet, some have high arches and few people have perfectly normal feet. Therefore, most people would benefit from a pair of orthotics. I personally have been wearing custom molded orthotics in my shoes for the past 25 years, without them I tend to have more pain and problems.

Many patients, who are adults, will tell me about their children’s foot problems. People are surprised to hear that I see many children. The truth is many foot problems begin in youth but are not noticed until adulthood. Therefore, having your child see the podiatrist is very important. Flatfeet are normal in an infant and even a toddler, but as your child approaches young adult hood, flatfeet isn’t normal and this should be addressed. One more thing that is important is to look at your feet, because one’s foot type in genetic. So if you are having problems with your feet, there is a 50% chance your child will also.

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o now that the New Year is upon us make it a priority to call your local podiatrist and ask for a consultation and a general foot exam.

To book an appointment with us and for more information please visit our website at www.foonj.com

Gout- A Red, Hot, Swollen Foot

What is gout?

Gout, which used to be known as a “rich man’s disease”, is more common than thought. Gout is when there is an increased in uric acid crystals in the body that are then deposited in different joints in the body. The most common joint being the big toe joint, followed by the ankle joint.

How do I get gout?

Gout is more common in men than females and starts in the 30-50 age range. This does not exclude someone older or younger than this. If an attack is not treated a second attack at some time in the future is common.  It is recommended that if you have 2 or more attacks to be on medication for the rest of one’s life.

How do I know if I have gout?

An acute gouty attack usually happens overnight. It begins when someone wakes up and their foot is red, hot and swollen. Usually patients say that even the bed sheets cause severe pain to the area. Usually patients are in so much pain they have a hard to walking and usually limp their way into the office.

Can I prevent an attack?

Certain people are prone to attacks based on genetics, other medical problems and diet. A large component of gout is based upon one’s diet. Foods to avoid include shellfish, sea food, wine, beer, organ meats. Lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing gout. Low BMI, exercise and caffeine are ways to prevent a gouty attack.

How is gout diagnosed?

The most accurate way to diagnose gout is to take the fluid out of the joint that is red, hot and swollen. This fluid is then sent to the laboratory and inspected for gouty crystals. This process many take a few days and therefore, many physicians treat gout based on the clinical symptoms and appearance of the joint.

How do I treat gout?

Acute gouty attacks can be treated many different ways. A cortisone (steroid) injection into the joint that is affected helps with reducing the pain, swelling and inflammation. Different oral medications can help as well. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication), Colchicine, a steroids are a few medications that can be used in an attack. You physician will discuss which medication is the best for you based upon your other medical problems. If someone has more than 2 attacks, consultation with a rheumatologist is recommended. At this point Allopurinol or Probenecid medication is recommended for long term use.

If you wake up with a red, hot, swollen painful foot do not wait and call your doctor an emergency appointment. Your doctor will need to rule out an infection and delaying treating gout can have long term consequences to your bones.

For more information, please visit our website at www.footnj.com