Category Archives: Foot pain

heel pain laser

Laser for Chronic Foot Pain

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MLS Laser Treatments for Foot Pain

Chronic heel pain is one of the most common forms of foot pain in adults. Most of heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis.  Low level laser therapy (LLLT) offers a quick, painless, non-invasive, side-effect free alternative to relieve the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis.

Low level laser therapy accelerates the body’s natural healing process by energizing the biochemical responses within our cells.

Low-level laser therapy has been found to be effective in numerous medical conditions and associated symptoms. Regardless of the condition for which it is used, LLLT has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, it helps with edema and promotes faster healing.

It has been demonstrated that this therapeutic solution could relieve short-term pain in multiple acute and chronic conditions such as rheumatic disorders, neck pain, chronic joint disorders,  tendinopathy.

Five common foot ailments:

Arthritis

MLS can reduce swelling and increase your range of motion and mobility for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis, the constant pain and stiffness in your feet can make it hard to walk.

Foot neuromas

MLS stops the pain of diabetic feet and foot neuromas, it can help heal the tissue that’s causing the pain.

Plantar fasciitis

MLS laser can help if you have a plantar fasciitis.

Tendonitis

MLS targets that inflammation and stops the discomfort so you can get moving again.

Sprains/strains

Some of the most common foot and ankle injuries are sprains and strains.  MLS helps to ease the pain and help the tissues regenerate and heal.

Call to schedule an appointment for any our Chicago podiatry offices: 773-205-0106

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown Toenails

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Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem. They develop when the edge of your toenail grows into the skin of your toe, and they’re often painful. Ingrown toenails can cause minor discomfort or terrible pain, depending on how much they have grown. For many lucky people, an ingrown nail will resolve by itself, without any treatment.

An ingrown toenail can be as a result of one or more of the following reasons:

Constant stress to the toes: This can occur with athletes who kick things all the time. It is also common with people who do ballet and people who wear shoes that pinch their toes

Trauma to the toe: A stubbed toe can develop an ingrown nail. Dropping a heavy object on a toe can also result in an ingrown nail

Cutting the toenails the wrong way: Toenails should be cut straight across. Trying to round the toenail at the corners can cause it to grow into the folds of the toes

Thickened toenails: Some people have naturally thick nails. So do many older people. Thick toenails are more likely to become ingrown

A hereditary trait: Some people have a genetic trait (like nails that fan sideways) that causes their toenails to become ingrown

How is an ingrown toenail treated?

Minor ingrown toenails can heal on their own as the nail grows out. However, severe or infected ingrown nails require professional medical care.

It’s important to learn the signs of an ingrown nail infection so you know when it’s time to visit a foot doctor. If you have an ingrown toenail, you can experience one, many, or all of these symptoms:

  • Drainage, like blood or pus
  • Significant swelling
  • Warmth
  • Worsening pain
  • Toe pain and sensitivity where your toenail and skin meet
  • Swelling of the skin that surrounds your nail
  • Redness
  • Signs of infection, such as bleeding and pus drainage

If your nail is infected, it won’t heal on its own. The only way to treat the infection and prevent painful complications is to visit a podiatrist from European Foot & Ankle Clinic  for ingrown nail care. There are options when it comes to treating ingrown toenails.

Call Chicago podiatrists to schedule an appointment for ingrown toenails: 773-205-0106 

WOUNDS HEALING THERAPY

Ultrasound MIST Therapy

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MIST Ultrasound Wounds Healing

The European Foot & Ankle Clinic is proudly offering  to our diabetic and non-diabetic patients suffering with difficult lesions, ulcers, tumors, wounds on their feet MIST Ultrasound Wounds Healing Therapy.

MIST Therapy uses low-frequency ultrasound treatment method used in wound care. The ultrasound waves are transmitted to the tissues by a mist generated by placing saline in front of the transducer of the ultrasound machine. In addition, MIST Therapy is effective in removing or debriding no-viable tissues on the wound, reducing infection and speeding up closure and healing.

High levels of bacteria cause delayed wound healing. Using ultrasonic mist therapy helps control and promote healing by causing mechanical stress which leads to bacterial cell death and reduction of bacterial count.

Biofilm is a structured community of bacteria tightly enclosed within a self-produced exopolymeric matrix, and its presence is a significant barrier to healing. Since it is metabolically inactive, it is extremely hard to disrupt with topical/ systemic antibiotics, antimicrobials, and/or antiseptics. Ultrasonic mist therapy is very effective in disrupting biofilm to promote wound healing.

For information on wound care and wound prevention, we recommend you speak with a podiatrist for professional care and advice.

Call to schedule and appointment: 773-205-0106

Learn more about MIST Ultrasound Wounds Healing

High heels problems

Wearing High Heels

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High Heels Problems

While podiatrists strongly advise patients to avoid wearing high heels, the reality is many patients will continue to wear them. Women wear high heels for special occasions like weddings, birthdays etc.

The higher the heel the more pressure your foot will apply to the ball of your foot and your toes.  The higher the heel, the worse the problem. A one-inch heel exerts about 22% -25% more pressure on the ball of your foot than a flat shoe. With a three-inch heel, there’s more than 75% more pressure on your forefoot!

High heels pitch your weight unnaturally forward, throwing off the mechanics of your entire body. When you have good posture, your weight is equally balanced throughout the soles of your feet, and you have a neutral spine with your shoulders centered over your hips and knees. Your weight is then distributed evenly across your supporting muscles and ligaments.

Wearing high heels over prolonged periods of time may worsen the condition of our feet. High heels can become ‘killer’ high heels causing problems such as blisters, corns and calluses to serious foot, ingrown toenails, joint pain, bunions, Morton’s neuroma and plantar fasciitis, knee and back pain.

High heels shift the weight of our body forward, onto the ball of our feet and our toes,  making them absorb all the pressure when we walk around or stand.
Keep High heel for special occasions!

If you experience any of these conditions, call us : 773-205-0106 or visit website to schedule an appointment: https://europeanfootandankleclinic.com

morton's neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma

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Morton’s Neuroma:  Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

One of the most common types of neuroma in the feet is Morton’s neuroma, a painful swelling that occurs in the ball of the foot.  Morton’s neuroma most commonly occurs between the third and fourth toes because space here is narrower compared to the other spaces between the toes. A Morton’s neuroma develops due to pressure, irritation, or injury to the nerves that go into your toes.

Feel like you tried everything to treat your Morton’s Neuroma but still feel the pain with walking. Still having burning pain or the feeling of walking on a marble? European Foot and Ankle Clinic is proud to offer pain medications including both oral medicines and injected solutions such as European homeopathic as well as Dehydrated Alcohol, Plasma PRP or Steroids can also be effective in providing immediate relief for symptoms, including both pain and inflammation. Other techniques like extracorporeal shockwave therapy can also be effective in treating neuromas and relieving symptoms. When surgery is necessary, the doctors use minimal incision/no scar surgeries to improve recovery time and reduce the risk of scarring.

Most patients with a Morton’s neuroma respond very well to shoe gear changes, custom orthotics, padding, anti-inflammatories, and/or a steroid injection. If a patient is still experiencing burning pain or pain to the ball of the foot  neuroma alcohol sclerosing injection therapy may be the answer you are looking for.

Call European Foot and Ankle Clinic 773-208-0106 to schedule an appointment with our podiatrist in any of 4 offices in Chicago.

 

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis

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What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, known as the plantar fascia, and causes mild to severe heel pain. Plantar fasciitis affects as many as one in ten people in their lifetimes.  Although it affects all age groups, sexes, and ethnicities, there is a higher prevalence in women between 40 and 60 years of age. Because it is so common, many people think plantar fasciitis is both unavoidable and untreatable. Plantar fasciitis can be very uncomfortable.

Symptoms Of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is often mistaken for heel spurs. It causes pain on the sole of your foot, and has been described by sufferers as a stabbing pain in the bottom of their feet.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis can include:

  • Sharp pain in your foot
  • Significant pain when you first get up in the morning
  • Foot pain after exercise
  • Foot pain after standing or sitting for long periods

Some Tips that Can Help to Reduce Risks of Plantar Fasciitis

 Plantar fasciitis strikes without warning, but there are things you can do to increase your chances of staying healthy. Here are some suggestions from our doctors:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight will protect feet and ankles from numerous afflictions. Eat a well-balanced diet rooted in lean protein, whole grains, colorful fruits, and vegetables.

  • Wear sensible comfortable shoes. High heel shoes also make you vulnerable to plantar fasciitis.

  • Alternate high-impact start-and-stop athletic activities like tennis or basketball with lower-impact options like swimming and bicycling.

  • Stretch before and after exercise and even when you’re just watching television at home. Stretching helps keep soft tissues supple and healthy.

 

Our podiatrists at European Foot and Ankle Clinic have a great experience in treating plantar fasciitis as it is the leading cause of heel pain. A podiatrist may use tests such as an MRI, X-ray or ultrasound to properly diagnose plantar fasciitis and rule out other ailments that also cause heel pain.

Call us today if if you’re experiencing pain in your heel or foot: 773-205-0106. Or schedule an appointment here: https://europeanfootandankleclinic.com

 

Podiatrist Chicago

Morton’s Neuroma

Foot pain, , ,

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is one of the three most common disorders of the foot. If you’ve ever felt like you were walking around with a rock in your shoe, then you might be familiar with the symptoms of one of the most common types of neuromas—a Morton’s neuroma.  a neuroma is the condition where the nerve between the two toes inward from your pinky toe that becomes irritated and enlarged.

Causes of Morton’s Neuroma

Your nerves are responsible for transmitting impulses to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from brain to the muscles and organs. In other words, they help you feel hot, cold, pain, pleasure, and every other sensation you might experience. A neuroma is a nerve defect resulting from compression or irritation. In the feet, the three most common causes of neuromas are:

  1. Pre-existing foot abnormalities such as bunions, hammertoes, or flat arches
  2. Repetitive irritation from years of athletic activity including jogging, running, or court sports
  3. Injury or other trauma to the foot

Shoes with high heels and/or pointed toe boxes force the feet into unnatural shapes that create pressure at the ball of the foot. Women who typically prefer such footwear are at particular risk of developing neuromas.

Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma

Keep attention to any changes in your feet, especially persistent discomfort, tingling, burning, numbness, or a feeling like there is something inside or bunched up under the ball of your foot . All of these can be signs of a looming Morton’s neuroma.

The symptoms of Morton’s neuroma don’t usually appear overnight. First, you might notice an odd sensation only when wearing a particular pair of shoes or engaging in a specific activity. You might think that the shoes or the sport is the culprit, and make a change to prevent further discomfort. Eventually, the symptoms will become more pervasive and harder to avoid. As the neuroma enlarges and the temporary irritation to the nerve becomes permanent damage, your symptoms may become more intense or persist for longer periods of time.

Your podiatrist will determine an individualized treatment plan for your Morton’s neuroma.

Podiatrist near me

Broken Foot

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Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken ankle occurs when the bone endures a break, which can be either partial or complete. It can be very easy for an individual who has suffered a broken ankle to mistake it for an ankle sprain, and vice versa.
From minor cracks in the bone to clean breaks, foot fractures are some of the most common injuries diagnosed and treated by podiatrists.
Types Of Foot Fractures

Foot fractures come in 2 types: stress fractures and acute fractures.

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury.

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

Bruising
Pain
Redness
Swelling
Blue in color
Numbness
Cold
Misshapen
Cuts
Deformities

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

Call us today to schedule an appointment with podiatrist:  773-205-0106

 

Burning feet

Burning Feet

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Burning Feet

Having a sensation of burning feet can be caused by many conditions. The most common cause is peripheral neuropathy from diabetic nerve damage that is caused by poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Symptoms include a sense of tingling and numbness and a burning sensation that can range from mild to severe. Excessive alcohol consumption can also damage the peripheral nerves and cause a burning feeling.

What Causes Burning Feet?

1. Your Foot Posture
2. Peripheral Neuropathy (Diabetes)
3. Morton’s Neuroma
4. Nerve Compression Or Entrapment (Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome)
5. Traumatic Nerve Damage (Injury)
6. Athlete’s Foot (Fungal Infection)
7. Vitamin, mineral and other nutrient deficiencies

and more

Treatment options range from topical creams and gels used to temporarily alleviate symptoms of burning feet and to reduce pain messengers.  Oral medications have been used with some success and are often started if topical medications prove ineffective.  Several alternative therapies have also show to help with some patients symptoms.

If you have burning sensation in your feet, call us today:  773-205-0106