Items filtered by date: November 2020

Thickened toenails can be the first sign of several different foot conditions. Onychomycosis, or a fungal infection of the toenails, can make the toenails thick, crumbly, and discolored. Psoriasis is a skin condition that can cause the toenails to thicken and become deformed with tiny pits on their surfaces. While psoriasis is not a fungal infection, it can look like one, and may also make you susceptible to contract a fungal infection. Physical damage to the toenails, such as an injury, can even cause them to become thickened. Toenails tend to thicken and harden with age, and are especially common in elderly people. If you have thickened toenails, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist. 

For more information about treatment, contact Dr. Nicholas Przystawski of Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a condition that affects many people and can be especially hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating and avoiding it.

Antifungals & Deterrence

Oral antifungal medicine has been shown to be effective in many cases. It is important to consult with a podiatrist to determine the proper regiment for you, or potentially explore other options.

Applying foot powder on the feet and shoes helps keep the feet free of moisture and sweat.

Sandals or open toed shoes – Wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Leesburg, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Certain medical conditions, such as peripheral artery disease, can cause poor circulation in the legs, feet, and ankles. Vascular tests are used by podiatrists to examine the blood flow in the lower limbs. While this may sound potentially painful, most vascular tests used by podiatrists are actually noninvasive and fairly painless. Examples of vascular tests that a podiatrist might use include the ankle-brachial index, which measures the blood pressure at your ankle and at your arm and then compares the two readings, or the Doppler ultrasound, which uses sound waves to visualize your blood flow on a computer screen. For more information about vascular tests in podiatry, consult with a podiatrist today. 

Vascular testing plays an important part in diagnosing disease like peripheral artery disease. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or diabetes, consult with Dr. Nicholas Przystawski from Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Vascular Testing?

Vascular testing checks for how well blood circulation is in the veins and arteries. This is most often done to determine and treat a patient for peripheral artery disease (PAD), stroke, and aneurysms. Podiatrists utilize vascular testing when a patient has symptoms of PAD or if they believe they might. If a patient has diabetes, a podiatrist may determine a vascular test to be prudent to check for poor blood circulation.

How Is it Conducted?

Most forms of vascular testing are non-invasive. Podiatrists will first conduct a visual inspection for any wounds, discoloration, and any abnormal signs prior to a vascular test.

 The most common tests include:

• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) examination
• Doppler examination
• Pedal pulses

These tests are safe, painless, and easy to do. Once finished, the podiatrist can then provide a diagnosis and the best course for treatment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Leesburg, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

An ankle sprain can be a serious injury that can keep you off your feet. Symptoms of a sprained ankle include a popping or cracking sound at the time of injury, swelling, bruising, pain, and difficulty bearing weight. If you have sprained your ankle, there are certain things that you can do within the first 72 hours that may help to speed up your recovery. Protect the ankle by taping or bracing it, rest it by stopping any activities that cause pain in the ankle, ice the ankle for 20 minutes at a time several times per day, compress the ankle with a bandage to help reduce swelling, and elevate the ankle. It is also important to see a podiatrist, who can diagnose and treat your sprain to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.

Although ankle sprains are common, they aren’t always minor injuries. If you need your ankle injury looked at, contact Dr. Nicholas Przystawski from Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

How Does an Ankle Sprain Occur?

Ankle sprains are the result of a tear in the ligaments within the ankle. These injuries may happen when you make a rapid shifting movement while your foot is planted. A less common way to sprain your ankle is when your ankle rolls inward while your foot turns outward.

What Are the Symptoms?

• Pain at the sight of the tear
• Bruising/Swelling
• Ankle area is tender to touch
• In severe cases, may hear/feel something tear
• Skin discoloration

Preventing a Sprain

• Wearing appropriate shoes for the occasion
• Stretching before exercises and sports
• Knowing your limits

Treatment of a Sprain

In many cases, the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate) is used to treat ankle sprains. However, you should see a podiatrist to see which treatment option would work best with your injury. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

It is important to ask your doctor about rehab options after you receive treatment for your injury. Stretching, strength training, and balance exercises may help the ankle heal while also preventing further injury.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Leesburg, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

If you are an athlete, you may be familiar with bruised heels. This can be a painful and potentially debilitating injury. It can occur from both acute trauma and from repetitive impacts to the foot. Some people have specific risk factors that can increase their likelihood of getting a bruised heel. These risk factors include excessive body weight, older age, wearing poorly cushioned or worn-out running shoes, a sudden increase in training, training on a hard or uneven surface, and walking or training barefoot. If you have a bruised heel, you can reduce pain and swelling by following the PRICE acronym. Protect, rest, ice, compress, and elevate the affected foot. You may also want to seek further treatment from a podiatrist.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact Dr. Nicholas Przystawski of Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes                  
• Wearing non-supportive shoes
• Weight change           
• Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress-free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a condition of the past.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Leesburg, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.