Help, My Toenail is Falling Off

So your toenail is falling off and you are freaking out that something might be wrong. Don’t worry, there are many reasons that a toenail can fall off and the most important thing to remember is that it’s going to be ok.

Toenails can fall off for a variety of reasons. The first being something dropping on it or banging it just like a hammer hitting your thumbnail. The nail will typically turn black and the fingernail will either grow out or it will fall off. Regardless of which it is, the most important thing is that you do not need to be concerned about whether or not your toe is going to be ok. The toenail serves as protection, but it is not near as important as a fingernail is.

Another cause of a toenail falling off is fungus in your nail. The fungus can actually get underneath the nail and serve to separate it from the bed of your toe. As a result, your toenail will start to separate from the rest of your toe and it will start to catch on socks. The best thing that can be done is to have your podiatrist trim it down to where it is still attached. Often times these nails are really thick and difficult to cut through with regular toenail trimmers.

If you notice your nail starting to come off or you hit your toenail with some you should seek care from your podiatrist. There could be more damage than just your nail and it’s always important to get it checked out. If you live in the Chatham or Tewksbury, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Why Wedges Are Bad For Your Feet

One of the most popular shoe styles right now for ladies are wedges. Although they are fashionable and you would think they have more support due to more surface area on the ground, they are actually a hazard for sprained ankles, broken bones and tripping and falling. Since the wedge has come back into the limelight there has been an increase in injuries such as pain to the bones in the ball of your foot, pain to your toes from so much pressure and falling off of the shoe. In addition, the wedge is so much taller this go around that you are literally standing on a platform.

So, you might be wondering what some better summer shoe options are. The sneaker is always a solid decision, due to its structure, arch support and protection to your entire foot from foreign objects. If you are going to go with a heel, a shorter one is always wise. The higher you are, the more stress and strain that is placed on the ball of your foot and your toes and the more likely you are to trip and fall. Flip flops are typically a no go, but sandals that have more straps to hold you in place and more of an arch support like Merrell sandals are good alternative

If you find that you have to wear your wedges and you should injure yourself, seek immediate care from your podiatrist. If you live in the North Reading or Tewksbury, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Stabbing Pain in Your Heel

Have you been having pain in your heel that feels like someone is stabbing you? A common condition for men and women alike is plantar fasciitis. It is the inflammation of a band of tissue stretching from your inner heel out to your toes and if not stretched out properly, it can cause you pain and discomfort. If this is happening to you, there are a few quick fixes and there are some ways your podiatrist can get you relief.

Stretching. Now, you’ve heard a million times that you need to be stretching to keep yourself good and limber, but it’s not just for athletes. The most common reason that the band of tissue is causing  you so much pain is because it is tight. So, there are a couple of stretches that you can do called the figure of 4, the runner’s stretch and using a towel to stretch out the tissue. However, stretches work great if done correctly but can cause you more pain if done incorrectly, so it is always best to have a professional demonstrate these stretches to you.

Another thing that works great for this condition is orthotics. There can be an underlying cause to your pain beyond just being tight. This includes having a fallen arch which is much more common than many people think. In this instance, a pair of orthotics will help to hold up that arch and give you more support.

Finally, icing is always a good option in the case of inflammation because it helps to break the pain cycle. Taking a froze water bottle, placing it under your foot on the floor and rolling it back and forth is a great trick for massaging, icing and stretching all in one.

So, if you or someone you know has a painful heel, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the North Reading or Tewksbury, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Achille's Heel of the Summer

It is summer time and we are all running around enjoying the good weather while it lasts. As you are running around town hanging out at the beach and playing sports, people can have all kinds of injuries. One of the more common ones to see happen during the summer is an Achilles rupture. As a whole, people tend to take off time during the winter due to the cold weather and the less sunshine, as a result, your muscles and tendons tend to lose their strength. When the spring and the summer come back, everyone wants to get out and about. After such a long time of being less active, people who then go and start heavy running or playing basketball or playing beach volleyball during the summer will end up causing damage to their tendon. If they do not allow themselves time to recover then you can end up causing chronic irritation. Eventually due to this irritation, your Achilles can rupture.

So, what can be done for an Achille’s rupture? There are two options. Either surgery or casting to allow the Achilles to scar and heal on its own will be decided upon once you talk with your doctor. The decision will largely depend upon how active of an individual you are as well as the severity of the injury. These decisions can’t be made until you see your podiatrist and have an x-ray and MRI done.

So, if you or someone you know has injured there Achilles, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Chelmsford or North Reading, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your Achilles. 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.

What Could You Share in Common with Halle Berry and Oprah?

What could you have in common with Halle Berry and Oprah? They both have 6 toes on one of her feet. This condition is referred to as polydactyly. Duplicate toes or fingers are actually not very common and are only present in about 2% of the population. They result during a period of embryonic growth where there is very quick growth of the limbs and appendages of the embryo. There are different types of toe duplication, including a complete extra toe, a toe branching off of another, or what can be best compared to a skin tag where there are no bones in the extra digit.

So, is there anything you should be worried about if you notice your child has an extra toe? The short answer is not unless it is causing them pain. In some instances, the extra toe will push up against the others, rubbing and causing callus formation that can be painful while you are walking. In this instance, a simple procedure can be performed to remove the extra toe. It is a simple procedure that would consist of removing the digit and then doing a skin flap to close up the incision. Otherwise, other than being a congenital anomaly, it is not going to cause any problems, so it can be left alone, just like Halle Berry and Oprah still have theirs.

So, if you or someone you know has an extra toe that they are concerned about, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Lowell or North Reading, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Is Your Ankle Constantly Rolling

Do you feel like you are constantly rolling your ankle? Do you feel that every step you take is unsteady? Do you feel that your ankle is constantly in pain and never quite recovers? It is possible that you may have what is called lateral ankle instability.

Lateral ankle instability results when you have constantly injured your ankle ligaments and they become all stretched out. When this happens they are no longer able to function as the support system When this happens, you will constantly feel that your ankle is rolling and that you aren’t able to get any support.

The simplest answer for what to do for this is bracing. Your podiatrist will be able to suggest to you what the best option is for the stage of your ankle sprain. In rare instances, surgery may be the necessary option. For some people, there ligaments are so stretched that a brace won’t even give them the support they need. They will end up actually turning their ankle even in their brace. In these instances, there are several different options for treatment.

So, if you or someone you know is having trouble with constantly turning out their ankle, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Lowell or North Reading, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Now, Stretch It Out!

The sun is out and the weather is perfect to be outdoors enjoying the summer time. So, you should get out and enjoy yourself by being active. So, you are always told that you should be working out everyday and making sure that you are increasing your heart rate for an extended amount of time. What is the most important part of the exercise that most people miss though? You should be stretching before and after every workout.

What are some of the risks that you run by not properly stretching? You risk rupturing a tendon or ligament, straining them and having very tight muscles. All of these conditions can lead to you being injured and no longer able to exercise like you had been. This means that the second that you have gotten in your groove and formed a habit, you will have to stop.

So, what are some good stretches you can do? It is always important to stretch out all of your leg muscles. You can watch these video 

links to get a better idea as to what stretches you can do.

Now, if you do injure yourself, you could have pain while walking, unfamiliar tightness of your muscles and an aching feeling when you walk or try to work out. If this is the case, then you are going to need to go visit your podiatrist. It may be necessary for you to get a brace and take it easy for a while. After that, you may also need a pair of orthotics to help with your foot type. If you tend to have a high arch or a flat foot, then you could be placing extra strain on your tendons.

So, if you or someone you know has injured themselves exercising, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the North Reading or Tewksbury, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Pain in the Ball of Your Foot

Is the ball of your foot killing you after a long day on your feet or a night on the town in high heels? There is a condition referred to as metatarsalgia. Basically, this condition means that the metatarsals, the long bones in your feet are irritated as a result of either a smaller pad at the ball of your foot than most people, or you could have a high arch placing pressure in that area. Regardless of what the cause may be, the lucky thing is that the treatment is the same.

First off, when you go to your podiatrist’s office for your appointment, they are going to want to check your foot type to see how your foot sits. Each person has just as individual of a foot type as any other part of you. For this reason, shoe gear that works for Bob may not work for Susie. So, your doctor will also want to evaluate your shoe gear to see what type you are wearing. They may then make recommendations for a better shoe or a newer shoe for your foot if need be. If your shoes are old, the padding inside could be breaking down which could be the cause of your pain.

If the problem is instead how your foot sits and compensates for itself, you may need a pair of orthotics instead. In this instance, your podiatrist will take a cast of your foot and then will send out for orthotics specialized to your foot. You can think of orthotics like braces for your teeth. They hold your foot in a specific position that allows them to function better as well as decrease or take away your pain.

So, if you or someone you know is having trouble with pain in the ball of their foot, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Tewksbury or Chelmsford, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Pain in the Big Toe

Do you have pain in your big toe when you are walking? There is a condition called hallux limitus that refers to when your big toe is unable to move more than a limited amount of motion. As a result, there will be pain when you try to walk or run because your big toe doesn’t have the motion to walk normally. As a result, it will feel like there is a stop or a block preventing you from moving through the motion.

So, what can be done for this condition? In the beginning stages, you may just need some padding to offload the area for you so that there is no pressure in the area. As you progress though, you may have difficulty with enough motion, so you may need a shoe modification that will allow you to rock through the motion and not have to do it on your own.

Eventually, if nothing else works, surgery is an option. There are different types, including just cleaning out the joint, giving the joint more space or fusing the joint if it can’t be fixed. The surgeries are very straightforward. The healing process is a little more though. You will need stitches for at least 2 weeks and you could have swelling for months after. The most important thing you can do is elevate your feet to help the swelling decrease.

So, if you or someone you know is having pain at their big toe, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Newburyport or Bradford, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Paris Hilton, Posh Spice and Naomi Campbell's Bunions

What could you have in common with so many of Hollywood’s celebrities including Paris Hilton, Posh Spice, and Naomi Campbell? All of these celebrities have bunions. A bunion occurs when your big toe starts to turn in towards your other toes and the long bone that attaches to it juts out. As it progresses along, the bones will start to push up against your shoe and can end up being very painful.

Many people will try wearing wider shoes, wear stretchier shoes, try taking pain killers and try putting a cushion over the bump. Bunions can occur as a result of flat feet that cause your bones to jet out as they are trying to push farther into the floor. The resistance of the floor causes additional pressure against your toe. Another cause is wearing shoes that push your toes into a new position. This pressure day in and day out can cause your feet to start to take a new shape due to soft tissue and bone restructure.

Ultimately, if the conservative treatment doesn’t work, surgery is your next option. The surgery will remove the bump from your foot and it will also restructure your toe to correct the alignment of the bones. After the surgery though, you will need orthotics to correct your foot type. Otherwise, there is a good possibility that the bunion could return.

So, if you or someone you know is having trouble with bunion pain, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Lowell or North Reading, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

How Can a Dumbbell Affect Your Foot?

One of the most common gym injuries is dropping a dumbbell. If the dumbbell gets dropped on your foot by accident, then you could possibly break one of the bones in your foot. Depending on how much weight gets dropped on your foot affects how bad the break could be.

The most minor break is one that is called a hairline fracture. Typically these fractures don’t need anything done to them. The only thing that you can really do for them is walk in a post-op surgical shoe so that your foot is offloaded. This will help decrease the motion at that particular area and allow it to heal.

You can also get a more significant fracture that as long as it is not displaced, you still won’t need to have anything done except for the offloading except for one type of fracture in your fifth metatarsal. This particular area of your fifth metatarsal has poor blood supply and so it has a high percentage of not healing unless it is fixated.

Finally, you can get a fracture that is either separated or is broken into several little pieces. In this instance a surgery may be necessary to fixate the bone and prevent it from not healing. If this is the case, your podiatrist will be able to figure it out from your x-rays. Regardless of what type of injury you have, you will not know until your podiatrist assesses it and gets radiographs to evaluate your foot.

So, if you or someone you know has injured your foot, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Tewksbury or North Reading, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. 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.

Smart Sox keep diabetics a step ahead of complications - Tucson News Now

Smart Sox keep diabetics a step ahead of complications - Tucson News Now