Kelly Osbourne to Have Foot Surgery

Former Dancing with the Stars contestant and reality television star, Kelly Osbourne, released recently that she is going to be having major podiatric surgery. Kelly has said previously that she has severely flat feet which she had never treated.
Was Dancing with the Stars to blame for her recent decision to partake in surgery? She says no but it did escalate the problem. She says that the surgery is going to consist of breaking and resetting the bones in her feet. She will need to stay off of her feet for a month.
Flat feet is one of the most common feet problems. In our offices we have several different ways to treat flat foot in both children and adults to prevent a severe surgery such as this one. We carry over the counter orthotics and are able to make custom made orthotics from molds made from your exact foot. Often times custom made orthotics are covered by your insurance. If you are having problems with your flat feet give us a call so we can schedule you for an appointment. Early treatment of flat foot will prevent pain, suffering, and if bad enough a severe surgery just like Kelly Osbourne;s!

CAUTION: Ugg Boots May Be Ruining Your Feet!

As the temperature begins to drop many women gravitate towards the warm and stylish Ugg Boots. This style of boot became popularized by many celebrities within the past couple of years. However, the price to pay for being fashion forward may be your posture in the long run.

Ugg Boots provide less than desirable arch support. People that wear them all day are therefore overworking the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones within the foot. The lack of support in the arch ultimately results in ankle, hip, leg, and back problems.  It is reported that the cheaper knock offs of this style boot have even less support than the original.

If you are planning to wear Ugg Boots, which I'm sure many of you are, it is crucial that you have some type of shoe inserts. In our offices we provide over the counter and custom made shoe orthotics. We can fit you in  the office for one of our over the counter inserts that you can take home that day with you. Or if you are looking for an insert personalized to your foot we can take a custom mold which will be ready for you within just a couple weeks.

If you are interested in helping your feet this winter don't hesitate to call our offices. We are always happy to answer any of your questions or to schedule you for an appointment.

What Do Kristi Yamguchi, King Tut and Troy Aikman All Have in Common?

Question: What do Kristi Yamaguchi, King Tut, and Troy Aikman all have in common? 

Answer: They were all born with fetal clubfoot. 

It is a fairly common birth defect that occurs in 1 out of every 1000 live births. Other notable people who were born with clubfoot are Damon Wayans, Gary Burghoff, New Orleans Saint’s Tom Dempsey, Lord Byron, and Mia Hamm.  

Fetal clubfoot is a disease where a child’s feet are misshapen. There are many types of clubfoot and they are jointly called talipes. Talipes equino varus is the most common type of clubfoot, which is characterized by the foot pointing downwards, and tipped inwards towards the ankle. This type of clubfoot can be seen in both feet or sometimes just in one. This birth defect occurs in males more often than females by a ratio of 2:1.

This condition effects all portions of the foot including the bones, muscles, blood vessels, and tendons. Clubfoot contains all of the same anatomical makings as a normal child’s foot making it fairly easy to treat. This becomes evident when you think of celebrities such as Kristi Yamaguchi and Troy Aikman who started with a deformity and became the groundbreaking athletes they are now known as.  

Podiatrists and physical therapists treat clubfoot by the manipulation of the foot.  Different types of bracings often aid to this manipulation. The foot is gradually reshaped by casts, braces, splints, and ankle foot orthoses (AFO) braces. In North America the most common treatment using these braces and castings is called the Ponseti-Method. This treatment is usually begun within the first week after the child is born because the foot can be more easily molded early in life. This method typically requires 5 different casts over a 4 week period and if done correctly has a 90% success rate.

Custom made braces usually are worn for a year after the initial treatment and custom made shoes are also recommended to help position the foot in the correct manner. It is so important for a child to be given the opportunity to walk and run, or even become an outstanding athlete like some of the people listed above.

At our offices we supply custom made braces and shoes to help someone suffering from this birth defect lead a normal life. We also have our on site physical therapist who is able to assist in this process. If you know someone who is suffering from this please give us a call so we are able to help.

NFL Player Suffers Plantar Fasciitis

San Diego Chargers tight end, Antonio Gates, was put on the injury report on Thursday November 4^th. Gates has plantar fascia as well as turf toe. It was reported that Gates was barely able to walk while rehabbing the injury. Plantar fasciitis is a ligament-like band running from your heel to the ball of your foot. This band pulls on the heel bone, raising the arch of your foot as it pushes off the ground. Plantar fasciitis is often caused by poor foot mechanics. If your foot flattens too much, the fascia may overstretch and swell. If your foot flattens too little, the fascia may ache from being pulled too tight. This injury is common in football and other sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse, track and field or anything that involves lots of heel movements.

Gates suffered turf toe which is a condition that can sideline the most well-trained football players, and other athletes. Turf toe is a condition of pain at the base of the big toe, located at the ball of the foot. Turf toe is usually caused from either jamming the toe, or pushing off repeatedly when running or jumping. The most common complaint is pain at the base of the toe, but patients may also have symptoms of stiffness and swelling. 

A podiatrist can use X-ray to check for a fracture, apply ultrasound or other electrotherapy treatment, tape the toe to prevent movement, or advise a physical therapy at our practice to help rehab the toe with a strengthening program. If an athlete does not look after this injury then it may develop into Hallux Limitus! This is a decreased range of motion due to arthritis around the joint. This can cause problems in the rest of the foot or lower limb due to changes to your walking cycle. Football is a contact sport and foot injuries happen all time. Remember to seek professional advice if you suffer from plantar fascia or turf toe. A podiatrist will reduce the severe pain and correct what caused the problem. A podiatrist may consider surgery if other types of treatment don’t control your pain. So, remember to take care of your feet if you play sports!

Tips to Treat Toenail Fungus

Fungal toenails are found when the nail plate can have a thickened, yellow, or cloudy appearance. The nails can become rough and crumbly, or can separate from the nail bed. Statistics show that about six million Americans are affected with this disease. Sports players tend to have a larger rate of toenail fungus than non-sports players. The moisture around the shoe and constant foot trauma are often the main cause of this infection. Remember, putting nail polish on the infected toenail will not be good, as the fungus can be sealed within the nail making it difficult to treat even using home remedies. Dr. Remedy Enriched Nail Polish would be something to consider because this nail polish will provide you with a healthier alternative to commercial nail polish. Dr. Remedy is enhanced with naturally occurring anti-fungal ingredients and vitamins to promote healthier nails. Dr. Remedy will enrich the means of a stronger, healthier looking nail, which is appealing to everyone.

Another way to treat the fungus is to cut the infected toenail gently. Cut your toenail and then file down the infected area to cure toenail fungus. Constantly trimming the infected toenail can help lower the infection and can also assist to bring down spreading the infection. A podiatrist or a foot doctor will debrid the nail, this is the process that involves filing down the harden portion of the nail. It is almost impossible to completely and permanently cure toenail fungus. A podiatrist may recommend permanent removal if your toenail(s) are painful and very difficult to care for.

Other Helpful Hints

• Wear dry shoes and socks. Do not allow your feet to remain wet.

• Use natural fibers (such as cotton) and avoid plastic or rubber shoes/soles.

• Change shoes and socks frequently.

• Regular nail care and trimming (as described above) helps prevent problems.

• Use powder regularly in shoes and socks.

It is very important to take good care of your nails in order to prevent any possible disease. Remember, it is not easy to cope with this type of toenail problem and thus treating your toes and feet can help you sustain a better healthy way of life.

Preventing Athlete's Foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that can lead to intense itching, blistered or peeling areas of skin, redness, and scaling. It can occur on moist waterlogged skin especially between the fourth and fifth toes or on dry flaky skin around the heels or elsewhere on the foot. Athlete’s foot can be caused from a number of fungal species which are typically picked up in pools, showers, and changing rooms (anywhere where you walk around barefoot).

Once your feet have been contaminated and cramped in shoes the warm, dark, and sweaty environment provides the ideal breeding ground for the fungus. However, athlete’s foot also occurs in dry, flaky areas. It’s quite common in summer sandal-wearers. The sun makes your skin dry out, so it loses its natural protective oils; this combined with the constant trauma from sandals makes them more prone to infection.

If you do not treat it then the fungus can spread to the toe nails, causing thickening and yellowing of the nail. Fungal infections are highly contagious and can spread to anywhere on your skin. Podiatrist may help you pinpoint the best treatment for your particular type of athlete’s foot. Podiatrist can help treat the fungal infection that has spread to your nails, by reducing the thickness and cutting back the nails, thereby exposing the infected nail bed to a lighter, cooler environment.

Remember these steps to preventing Athletes Foot

1. Change your footwear on a regular basis. There’s no point sorting your feet out if you constantly re-infect them by putting them into damp, fungal infected shoes. It takes 24-48 hours for shoes to dry out properly, so alternate your shoes daily.

2. To help shoes dry out more quickly, take any insoles out. Also, loosen any laces and open your shoes out fully so that air can circulate. Go for trainers with ventilation holes.

3. If your shoes are so tight that they squeeze your toes together, this encourages moisture to gather between your toes and encourages fungus. Let air circulate between the toes by going for a wider, deeper toebox instead and choose shoes made from natural materials.

4. Change your socks every day.

5. Wear flip-flops in the bathroom and in public showers. This will not only ensure that you don’t leave your dead skin around for others to pick up, but will stop you picking up another species of fungus! And never wear anyone else’s shoes, trainers or slippers.

Brett Farve Suffers Ankle Injury

41-year-old Minnesota Viking quarterback, Brett Favre, suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle on October 24. Favre came into the season with an ailing left ankle and now his future with the Vikings seems uncertain.  A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone. Stress fractures often develop from overuse, such as from high-impact sports. Most stress fractures occur in the weight-bearing bones of the foot and lower leg. Favre received his stress fracture from the weight of a defender coming down on top of him, jamming the joint.

Favre is currently resting his ankle in a walking boot in the hope that it will alleviate some discomfort. There may be cracks or loading fractures in Favre's ankle that are due, in part, to the already weakened condition of the bone in the area. A podiatrist would evaluate the stress fracture with an X-ray; however, this will not reveal a stress fracture for several weeks. Favre would be taking a big chance if he decided to play against the New England Patriots on Halloween night. If he plays, the bone might weaken and become susceptible to fracture. A foot specialist would tell you that the best treatment for a stress fracture is rest. Taking a break from the routine and doing some low impact exercise for a few weeks can help the bone heal. Also, a foot specialist might offer special shoes to immobilize your feet.  If rest isn't taken, chronic problems such as larger and more persistent stress fractures can develop like Favre suffered. If you suffer from heel or arch pain, please come see a podiatrist. A podiatrist will relieve that pain and make it possible for you to return to your normal life as quick as possible.

Copper Socks in the Chilean Mine Rescue

33 miners were trapped 700 meters (2,300 ft) below ground in a San Jose mine in Chile. The men were kept alive over that time by supplies delivered through narrow holes drilled down to them until they were reunited with their loved ones.

Of the many tools and technologies used to bring the 33 miners back to the surface, one was copper socks. Copper socks are made with copper fibers that consume foot bacteria and minimize odor and infection. Copper socks were the first items delivered to the trapped Chilean miners to protect any bacteria and fungus developed in the feet. Copper socks can prevent 99.9% of bacteria and fungi from growing on the sock to control odor

and rejuvenate skin and improve its appearance. Copper socks are growing in popularity and people are buying them daily. They are comfortable because of the elasticized arch support for added performance.

It goes to show you how important copper socks are and can be for somebody. We offer these incredible socks here at our office! Copper Socks are made with polyester fiber and feel great. These socks fit great no matter what size your feet are. Please understand how important copper socks can be for your feet and come into Dr. Wachtels office to find out more.

Howard Stern Fractured His Toe

Howard Stern, a morning host on Sirius Satellite Radio, announced that he broke his toe on the corner of his desk. Many people will do this and it is a very common issue among accidents that happen in life. Most people would do nothing about a broken toe; however, Stern took the right steps towards professional treatment. You never want to leave a broken toe untreated because you may never walk the same way again. Also, it can lead to infections and extraordinary pain. Stern did the right thing by seeing a podiatrist and he was x-rayed and treated right away. The foot specialist used what they call a buddy splint to tape his 5^th toe to the 4^th. Also, Stern was told to wear a walker boot which will help prevent the affected bones from moving to create pain. Some podiatrist will make you wear a surgical shoe; however, others might stay with the walker boot. These devices are used for maximum protection and for stabilizing the complete ankle foot assembly.

At Dr. Wachtels office we know how important toe fractures can be to somebody. There are two types of foot fractures: stress fractures and general bone fractures. Stress fractures usually occur in the bones of the forefoot extending from the toes to the middle of the foot. Stress fractures are like tiny cracks in the bone surface. They can happen with sudden increases in exercise (such as running or walking for longer distances or times), improper training techniques, or a change in surfaces. We want you to know that a toe fracture is a serious injury and it can be treated! A simple x-ray will lead us to discover your pain and fast treatment will begin on that toe that hurts. We take pride in our saying, “Walk Well with Dr. Wachtel” because we always want to get our patents to 100%!

Is Your Child Experiencing These Problems?

It's incredibly important to deal with foot and ankle pain at a young age. Your feet are what carry you for your whole life. It's important to build a strong foundation for your body. If you don't have that strong foundation you may develop knee, hip, back, and shoulder pain, just from problems in your feet.

In a young child's feet the bones are soft and more apt to develop deformities with abnormal pressure. This includes wearing shoes that are too tight, which may halt development. In the first year of life a child's foot develops to almost half the size of an adult's foot. This first year is critical to their development.
While a child is growing it is very important to change shoes and socks sizes every few months. This gives their feet the room to grow and develop that they need. Shoes should also be flexible and comfortable for the child. You should be aware of your child's walking pattern in order to catch any underlying defect or condition. We are able to treat foot and ankle conditions and address any concerns you may have.

Sports injuries are on the rise in children as more and more become actively involved. One of the most common sports injuries are ankle sprains. X-rays are often the best way to detect any fracture or break, which can be treated with a fiberglass cast. There are other treatment options for ankle sprains such as soft casts and pneumatic walking splints that help treat both ankle and foot problems. Soft casts can be used for fractures and are more comfortable than fiberglass casts. It allows more movement, but still provides support. A pneumatic walking splint immobilizes the foot and ankle, but still allows the patient to walk with the splint on. After patients are taken out of a boot or a splint, a light or structurally sturdy ankle brace is usually dispensed to them.

After a full recovery from an ankle sprain the ligaments are still weakened. Custom made and over the counter orthotics can help provide the support needed to the weak ankle. Our over the counter orthotics can be dispensed directly to the patient. These orthotics are low cost if they are not already covered by insurance. Physical therapy is also an important step in the recovery process so that your child can get back onto the field as soon as possible.
Heel and arch pain is a major condition treated in the podiatric world. Heel and arch pain are usually symptoms of an underlying issue. Heel pain is often felt by 8-14 year olds because their feet are still growing and developing. During the growth their heel bone is weak and any stress put on it can often cause this pain. Heel and arch pain can be treated with orthotics. If this pain is not treated during childhood years later on they will experience worse pain. Treatment with orthotics is often a way to keep children with heel and arch pain from seeing an orthopedist for these problems later in life.
Limb length discrepancy is often a problem experienced by young children. This problem is simply when one leg is longer than the other leg. The difference can be anywhere from 1 centimeter to more than 6 centimeters. The greater the difference the more the patient has to compensate in their walking technique, posture, etc. Leaving this untreated can lead to many problems including back, ankle, and hip problems. Orthotics can help to correct any walking and posture changes. A simple adjustment to an orthotic can help to easily treat any length discrepancy.

Another common issue experienced by many children is called knock-knees which is when your knees touch but your ankles are not touching. This becomes apparent from age 2-3 and gets progressively worse until age 4. This can develop when a child is learning to walk and is trying to achieve balance. Sometimes it only occurs in one knee. Leaving knock-knees untreated can result in difficulty running and walking. Knock-knee can be treated with braces.
Often night braces are used to correct the position of the knee.
In toe and out toe are 2 of the most common gait issues. This type of gait, or walking, causes abnormal stresses on the foot and ankle as well as hip, knee, and back. Many deformities in the foot such as flatfoot and a high arch foot can cause a weakening of musculature. There are multiple types of braces can help a patient walk better. Sometimes the muscle of the upper leg and torso are weakened by the foot deformity; certain types of physical therapy and muscular strengthening exercises need to be addressed.
Toe walkers don't land on their heels when walking; because of it certain muscles in the back of the foot, leg and ankle area become very tight and certain stretching exercises will help along with certain types of braces. The shoe a child wears is extremely important to the way they land on their foot and need to be evaluated.
There are many common concerns over the type of walking pattern, pains, etc that children experience during growth. It is important to have these problems evaluated by a podiatrist so that this problem does not turn into a long-term malady. It's important to keep a close watch on these issues because often time there is a quick fix.

The Benefits of a Copper Sole Socks

Aetrex Copper Socks can do so much for your feet it is unbelievable! Aetrex socks will keep your feet healthy with materials in them that will eliminate harmful bacteria and fungi. Aetrex Copper Socks will provide you with comfort, performance, and protection. Also, these socks are great for Diabetics!

So what is so special about Aetrex Copper Socks?

1. Prevent 99.9% of bacteria and fungi from growing on the sock to control odor

2. Rejuvenate skin and improve its appearance

3. Wick away moisture

4.Protect for the life of the sock

5. Designed to help protect people with diabetes

6. Elasticized arch support for added performance

7. Controls odor and rejuvenates your skin

Aetrex Copper Socks are made with polyester fiber and feel great. This sock fits great no matter what size your feet are. The Aetrex Copper Sock fits well with the spandex feature it offers which helps prevent blister formation. Please e-mail either Dr. Wachtel or I for more information at joshuamelanson@ymail.com.

Welcome to the Blog Spot for the Offices of Mitchell J. Wachtel, DPM

This is the blog spot for Mitchell J. Wachtel, DPM. In this blog you can communicate with the doctor about any questions or concerns you may have. Feel free to post any discussions or questions that other patients and I can comment on.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis causes inflammation and degeneration of the Achilles tendon. The achilles tendon is a large tendon located at the back of the foot that inserts into the heel. The pain caused by achilles tendonitis can develop gradually without a history of trauma. There are several different kinds of pains that are caused from Achilles tendinitis. Common examples of these pains are shooting pain, burning pain, or even an extremely piercing pain.

This blog post is where you can post any questions or concerns regarding Achilles Tendonitis!

Tired Burning Feet

The burning heat is usually limited to the soles of the feet, but may extend up to the ankles or lower legs of some patients. The burning can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of 'pins and needles' or tingling in these regions.

This blog post is where you can post any questions or concerns regarding tired burning feet!

Tendonitis

Symptoms can vary from an ache or pain and stiffness to the local area of the tendon, or a burning that surrounds the whole joint around the inflamed tendon. With this condition, the pain is usually worse during and after activity, and the tendon and joint area can become stiffer the following day as swelling impinges on the movement of the tendon.

This blog post is where you can post any questions or concerns regarding tendinitis!

Sprains

A sprain is an injury to ligaments caused by a sudden overstretching. The ligament is usually only stretched, but if it is completely torn, a longer period of immobilization and surgical repair may be necessary.

This blog post is where you can post any questions or concerns regarding sprains!

Sports medicine

Sports medicine specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries related to participating in sports and/or exercise, specifically the rotation or deformation of joints or muscles caused by engaging in such physical activities.

This blog post is where you can post any questions or concerns regarding sports medicine!

Soft Tissue Masses

Soft tissue therapy (STT) is the assessment , treatment and management of soft tissue injury, pain and dysfunction primarily of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Patients presenting with a specific complaint/s will generally undergo a number of assessments that will each provide information about the client's soft tissue status. These assessments are conducted according to the client's presenting signs and symptoms.

This blog post is where you can post any questions or concerns regarding soft tissue masses!