Items filtered by date: February 2022

Heel fissures, also known as cracked heels, are the result of splitting and cracking on the skin of the heel. As the skin on the heel dries out, it loses its strength and elasticity, and it gets hard, dry, and flaky. Cracked heels can have a variety of causes that include standing for long periods of time, wearing shoes that don’t fit correctly, cold/dry weather, or obesity. If you are struggling with dry and cracked heels, applying moisturizer to the heels is the first key step in dealing with the situation. It is also important to use a pumice stone and/or liquid bandage on the affected area as well as avoiding harsh soaps and long harsh showers. In severe cases, cracked heels may require the help of a podiatrist who can help remove dead skin, prescribe stronger medicine, prescribe antibiotics, and suggest shoe inserts or heel pads. Therefore, if you are struggling with cracked heels don’t hesitate to visit a podiatrist for treatment recommendations.  

If the skin on your feet starts to crack, you may want to see a podiatrist to find treatment. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

It is important to moisturize your cracked heels in order to prevent pain, bleeding, and infection. The reason cracked heels form is because the skin on the foot is too dry to support the immense pressure placed on them. When the foot expands, the dry skin on the foot begins to split.

Ways to Help Heal Them

• Invest in a good foot cream
• Try Using Petroleum Jelly
• Ease up on Soaps
• Drink Plenty of Water

Ways to Prevent Cracked Heels

• Moisturize After Showering
• Skip a Shower
• Keep Shower Water Lukewarm
• Don’t Scrub Your Feet

If you are unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels, seek guidance from a podiatrist. Your doctor will help you with any questions or information you may need. 

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

It may seem strange to mention kidneys and feet in the same sentence, but the health of your kidneys can actually impact your foot health. When someone is afflicted with kidney disease, all systems in the body can suffer. This includes the circulatory system, which is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body, and the nervous system, which sends and receives messages between various parts of the body and the brain. People with kidney disease often have poor circulation in their lower limbs and nerve damage along the nerves that supply the feet. This results in an increased likelihood of developing foot ulcers, which are poorly healing wounds on the feet that can become infected. If you have kidney disease, a podiatrist can help you manage the health of your feet to prevent any foot-related complications.

When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, it is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly.  If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will assist you with all of your podiatric needs.

Systemic Diseases of the Feet

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable.  Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet. 

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

Plantar fasciitis is a common injury that occurs when the plantar fascia ligament, which runs along the bottom of the foot, is inflamed. This condition typically causes heel pain, particularly after a period of rest. When caught in its earlier stages, plantar fasciitis can often be remedied with conservative treatment alone. A severe or untreated case of plantar fasciitis, however, can become chronic and may require more extensive treatment. Endoscopic plantar fascia release is a surgical procedure in which the plantar fascia ligament is cut to release tension and reduce inflammation. If you have severe or chronic heel pain, it is strongly suggested that you seek the care of a podiatrist, who can prescribe the proper treatments for you.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

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

If you’ve ever been to a shoe store and had your feet measured, the salesperson likely used a portable metal tool called a Brannock device. This handy item can determine the length and width of your feet, ensuring that you know what size shoes you should be wearing. There are various types of Brannock devices. Some are made specifically for men’s, women’s, or children’s feet. Others are built for sizing specific types of shoes, such as sneakers or ski boots. To find out your shoe size, it is strongly suggested that you go to a store where your feet can be properly measured. Wearing the correct shoe size can significantly benefit your foot health. To learn more about how the fit of your footwear affects your feet, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Getting the right shoe size is an important part of proper foot health. Seek the assistance of one of our podiatrists from New Jersey Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Getting the Right Shoe Size

There are many people who wear shoes that are the incorrect size, negatively affecting their feet and posture. Selecting the right shoes is not a difficult process, so long as you keep several things in mind when it comes to choosing the right pair.

• When visiting the shoe store, use the tools available to measure your foot.
• Be sure there is ‘wiggle room’. There should be about an inch between your toes and the tip of your shoes.
• Do not always assume you are the same size, as manufacturers run differently.
• Purchase shoes later in the day, as your feet swell as the day progresses.
• If a shoe is not comfortable, it is not suitable. Most shoes can’t be ‘broken in’, and comfort should be the ultimate goal when it comes to choosing the right pair of shoes

As our feet hold our body weight and keep us moving, it is important to treat them right. Picking the right pair of shoes can provide your feet comfort and mobility without pain.

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