Is Your Nail Starting to Fall Off?

Is your nail starting to come off? Is it thick and yellow colored? Is their pain in your toenail when you are wearing yours shoes? All of these factors could point to you having fungus toenails. The fungus can cause your toes to change color, thicken and quite frankly just be painful.

So, what can you do for these toenails? Well, if your toenail is starting to lift off of its base, then you need to come in so that we can clip it down to the point where it is still attached. As strange as it may sound and look to have a short toenail, it would be much worse if that toenail caught on your sock and ripped the whole thing off. Not to mention how painful that would be.

Now, what about the color and the thickness? Well, fungus nails can be very difficult to treat. So, we want to be as aggressive as possible. There are topical creams and clear nail polish that can be painted on to treat your nails. There is also an oral medication that you can take. It is just important that you liver is monitored while you are on this medication to make sure that you don’t have some side effects.

One of the best ways to treat your fungus toenails is using a new technology. We use a laser that makes use of particular wavelengths to kill the fungus. The most important thing that you need to remember is that the laser is killing the fungus so that your new nail will look healthier. It will not change the appearance of the old nail though. So, it will take 6 months to a year for you to see a full change as your nail grows out. It may take longer depending upon how slow your nail grows. Some people like to combine the medication and the laser so that you are really treating the problem aggressively.

If you or someone you know has thick, yellow, fungus nails, it is important that you see your local podiatrist. If you live in the Pelham or Windham, New Hampshire area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover and 87 Jackson St, Methuen.

What do you do when you Stub your Toe?

Have you stubbed your toe lately? If you are anything like most of Americans, you have had some clumsy moments during your life. Whether it was running into a wall, stubbing your toe on the bedpost or even tripping over your own feet, we have all done it at some point. The most common injury is hurting your little piggy. Over 70% of people have broken one of their little toes at some point in their life.

So, what about stubbing your toe into a bedpost? We’ve all done it and gosh does it hurt. So, how should you treat it? Well, as with all injuries, it is really important to follow RICE: rest, ice, compress and elevate. You should put the ice on for about 20 minutes and then off for 20 minutes. If after a couple of days you are stilling having a lot of pain or your toe starts to change color, you need to immediately see your podiatrist. There is not much that can be done for a broken toe, other than your big toe. But, if you have damaged your blood vessels then it will need to be evaluated.

What can be done for a broken toe? We can splint your toe to the one next to it. Or if it is your big toe, then you can have it set sometimes with a leg cast that extends out some or it can be surgically fixed. Many times though, it will just be left alone because toes are so little that they are hard to treat for a fracture.

So, if you or someone you know has broken a toe and are having a lot of pain, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Bradford or Burlington, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover  01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.

Numb, Burning, Tingling Foot Pain

Have you had a numbness, burning, tingling shooting pain at your heel or bottom part of your foot, you could have tarsal tunnel? Do your feet feel better after you massage them? Now, most of you have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists. The same syndrome can happen in your feet and cause you the same symptoms, just in your feet.

So, what causes this syndrome? A nerve in your foot, called the tibial nerve, becomes entrapped, or one of its branches. As a result of the nerve becoming entrapped, you will feel these sensations in your foot all common to a nerve that is being irritated. The diagnosis for this condition consists of your description of your pain and showing your podiatrist exactly where the pain is affecting you. There are then some physical exams that can be done that will help confirm the diagnosis so that you can then get the treatment you need.

What is behind the compression/entrapment of your nerve? It could be due to varicose veins (large, twisting, engorged veins) in the area causing compression on your nerve, a space occupying lesion, swelling from a sprained ankle and inflammation. Any of these reasons could cause you to have nerve compression. It is important that we treat both the cause and the result of this condition.

So, what is the treatment? Well, there is a wide array of plans that we can try. These include strengthening and stretching your muscles, steroid and anesthetic injections to numb the area and decrease inflammation, orthotic inserts for your foot to hold them in a way that will take the pressure off your nerve and casting especially if it is resulting from a sprained ankle. If you fail all of the conservative treatment plans, there is the option of surgery. Surgical intervention would include releasing the area and tissues that are entrapping your nerve.

If you have been having numbness, burning, tingling and shooting pain, please seek help from your podiatrist. They can help you to determine what is causing your pain and then treat you. If you live in the Wesford or Dracut, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen 01835.

Guide to Proper Shoewear

Did you know that your feet have 28 bones a piece? That means that you have 28 bones and all of the tendons, ligaments, nerves, veins and arteries that can all have something go wrong. That is a lot of problems that can happen in a small area. So, what can you do to protect your feet? We wear shoes every single day to help our feet manage the wear and tear that they receive. But, unfortunately, not all shoes are made equal. So, here are some tips on what you should look for in a pair of shoes.

First off, any pair of shoes that you can take and crinkle in your hands to where it just balls up on itself is not a shoe that will give you any support. So, any of those ballet slippers that you can think of that are just fabric and have no structure are really not good for your feet to walk around on all day.

Next, your sneakers should have a very sturdy base to them to where when you fold your shoes in half, they should only bend at one place and it should be a minimal fold. If your sneakers are folding up to the point they are just crumpling then you won’t be receiving the support you need for running and exercising.

Finally dress shoes should have extra depth to allow your feet room. So often, your dress shoes are too shallow and cause your feet to be pinched within them and cause a great deal of pain. You also need to make sure that if you are wearing heels that they do not slip up and down your heel causing you blisters. Blisters can lead to wounds and infection not to mention that your feet will be sore throughout your evening.

If you need help with a selection of shoes that will be best for your foot type, you should visit your podiatrist so that they can assess your foot type and determine the best shoe brands for you. If you live in the Boston or Stoneham, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835. We also have an online shoe store with shoes that we suggest.

Are Your Toes Bunched Up and Painful?

Do you have toes that are flexed to look like little hammers? These toes are appropriately called hammer toes. They occur as a result of your tendons that cause them to flex overworking against your other tendons. We don’t really know why this happens, but we do know that they tend to occur later on in your life and progress to the point of being painful. They can end up forming calluses on the top of your toes that knock up against your shoes and cause you pain.

The pain from these hammer toes can be alleviated by buying deeper shoes to where they are not knocking up against the roof of your shoes. You can also put sleeves over the top of your toes to protect them from hitting your shoes. However, if none of these conservative treatment plans work, then it is necessary for you to have surgery.

There are different kinds of surgery for this condition. There is one where your toe is freed of all of the constrictive soft tissues around it allowing it more space to bend. There is another where we actually lock your joint to where it will no longer be able to bend and relieve all of the pain from the area. Either of these is a viable option, but with the first, you are more likely to have a relapse of the condition.

If you or someone you know is having pain due to a hammertoe, please give your podiatrist a call so we can help. If you live in the Newburyport or Chelmsford, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.

Bundle Up For Nemo

It is time for the winter storm of the year. Nemo is here. The roads are closed, the children are home and we don’t know when it will all be over. So, how have you prepared for this storm? Did you go out and buy jugs of water, canned foods, extra blankets, candles or flashlights? Are you bunkered down protecting yourself and your family?  These are all the things that we are instructed to do. However, for a diabetic, these things are not an option?

For a diabetic, eating a meal at least 3x a day is extremely important because if your sugar plummets you can go into diabetic shock leading to fainting, coma and death. Therefore, it is very important that you do not skip meals or overdose on your medications.

Many people think that since their doctor is telling them they must lose weight that that must mean that you need to eat less food to lose weight. Although this may be true that you need to lose weight, stopping eating is not the proper way to do this. Instead, you may need to eat less food or change the food that you are eating, or a combination. This means that you should be eating much more leafy, green vegetables, fruit, whole grains and water. All of these things will help you to lose weight in a safe way.

While you are on your mission to lose weight, you need to be closely monitoring your sugar levels. This means testing your sugar at least one time a day. If you are not, then there is no way for you to know if your sugar is on a rollercoaster or if you are maintaining very small peaks and valleys and close to a straight line. We want you to aim for a straight line, because this will help you to not feel the side effects of low sugar and high sugar.

If you or someone you know is a diabetic, it is important that you come to see your podiatrist and discuss proper care of your feet and sugar as a diabetic. If you live in the Lawrence or Billington, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.

Do You Have a High Arch?

If you have a high arch type and struggle to walk on a daily basis because of it there are multiple treatment plans that can be tried for you. Since we always try conservative treatment first, there are several options that we can try. These include bracing your foot, using orthotic inserts and stretching and strengthening your muscles. If these treatments work, this is wonderful, but in some cases, you may require surgical treatment. There are some really interesting surgical procedures that have been designed for treating a high arch.

Depending upon your foot type, there may not need to be any surgery done on your bones and we can just focus on your ligaments and tendons. One of these procedures actually moves part of one of your tendons on the inside of your foot to the outside. This particular procedure is really useful because it changes the stress put on your foot by your muscles and holds it in a better balanced position. This procedure is great because the healing time is limited and you will be able to strengthen your muscles and be able to work in a more appropriate position.

After any of these surgeries you will be required to rest your foot so that the incision sites can heal and your skin can regain its strength. After your skin heals, it is time for your muscles and tendons to begin to heal. This can be done through physical therapy to help you strengthen your tendons. This is done by a physical therapist that will be able to determine with your doctor what the best plan of action is for your recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a high arch that is causing you to be unable to walk or to walk painfully you need to contact your podiatrist to determine the best plan of action. If you live in the Bradford or Burlington, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.

Sore, Red, Swollen Toe

Infections can turn up in the strangest of circumstances. One day you can feel perfectly fine and the next moment you can have an infection. There are signs that you need to look for to know if you have an infection or not. They include swelling, hot skin, pain, red skin and loss of function of your body part. If you have any one of these criteria, it is possible that you could have an infection. In the most extreme of cases you could see your toe swell up to 2-3 times its normal size. In this instance, your toe could be full of pus and blood.

Now, you may be wondering, how could you have gotten this infection? Well, there are multiple paths that can lead to an infection including a puncture wound, bacteria getting in through a former scratch or an infection from a different part of the body spreading to a new site. For example, if you have a cute and go walking barefoot around your yard, it is possible that bacteria from the yard could get into your foot. In these instances, it is very important that you seek medical treatment so that the proper steps can be taken.

If an infection is caught early enough, antibiotics can be given to treat the symptoms and the foot and you will not need any further treatment. However, the longer that an infection is harbored in your body, the longer that the infection has to develop. So, if your infection gets to the point where you have a toe that is 23 times its normal size, it means you have waited quite some time to have your infection checked out. At this point, it will be necessary to drain the fluid and infection from your toe. As horrible as this may sound, you will feel a great deal of relief when the pressure from your toe is released. However, let’s prevent it from getting to this point.

If you or someone you know is noticing the signs of an infection on your foot, it is important that you visit your local podiatrist for care. If you live in the Tewksbury or Lowell, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your calluses. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.

Are You Diabetic? Do You Have a Wound?

How do you treat a diabetic ulcer? There are many different ways that your podiatrist can use to treat your ulcer. These include antibiotics to treat any infection that may be present, silver padding for the ulcer, skin grafts to promote your ulcer to fill in and heal and padding to offload the ulcer.

Padding an ulcer is the most important thing that you can do because a neuropathic ulcer usually results from pressure in an area. In order to get it to heal, you have to remove the pressure from the area. This can only be done by using lots of padding to protect your foot. This is why we use a large amount of bandaging to protect it and then give you a surgical boot or padded protective device to surround your foot. Even more important is to not walk on your foot as much as possible. This will reduce the pressure on your foot even more.

Antibiotics are important for any wound that is suspected to be infected. A culture will often be done to determine if there is indeed an infection. Antibiotics will then be prescribed for the particular bug that grows on the culture. Infection can impede the healing process of your ulcer and can often compromise the treatment plan, because skin grafts can be rendered useless in an infected wound. We also use silver impregnated foams to fight off any infection from the area.

Skin grafts function to be able to fill in an ulcer. It promotes healing by allowing healthy cells to build into the graft. The graft will actually incorporate into your skin and allow skin to build on top of your graft. This may take several times to fill in the ulcer because an ulcer heals from the bottom up, filling in as the ulcer heals.

If you or someone you know has an ulcer, it is important for your to come in and have your ulcer treated so that your ulcer does not progress and lead to a worse condition. If you live in the North Billerica or Boston, Massachusetts area, then Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.