Items filtered by date: July 2020

Stress fractures are small cracks that can appear in a bone, typically due to overuse. They are most common in the foot, and they develop over time and can become painful. Treatment depends on the severity of the fracture, but always focuses on pain relief and restoring function. After completing a physical examination, the doctor may request an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, treatment may include resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the affected foot (also known as the RICE method), modifying physical activities until the foot has healed, and recommending appropriate footwear or a walking boot to minimize further damage and promote healing. In more severe cases, surgery may be required. If you are experiencing pain in your foot and suspect a stress fracture, talk to your podiatrist today. 

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon from Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Friction is the most common cause of blisters on the feet. They can happen as a result of wearing shoes that do not fit correctly or from medical conditions that include psoriasis and eczema. It is defined as a small pocket of fluid that forms over the damaged area. This helps to protect the affected area as the healing process occurs. It is the body’s natural healing technique that will gradually drain once new skin has formed. It may be beneficial to wear a protective covering over the blister until it drains naturally, as this may help to prevent it from becoming infected. If you have a blister on your foot, please consult with a podiatrist who can provide a proper examination and offer more extensive treatment advice.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon of Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What Are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How Do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Pain and discomfort that exists from cuboid syndrome is generally felt on the outer edge of the foot, which is the same  side of your little toe. The cuboid bone is one of several small bones located in each foot, and may become dislocated from overuse, or from frequently participating in running and jumping activities. Since it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly where pain is coming from, this condition is often misdiagnosed or confused with a stress fracture. When a proper evaluation is performed, the correct treatment can begin. If you are experiencing pain around the middle of the foot, or at the base of the fourth and fifth toes, it is strongly suggested that you consult with a podiatrist as quickly as possible who can guide you toward effectively treating this condition.

Cuboid syndrome, also known as cuboid subluxation, occurs when the joints and ligaments near the cuboid bone in the foot become torn. If you have cuboid syndrome, consult with Dr. Mark Gagnon from Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Cuboid syndrome is a common cause of lateral foot pain, which is pain on the outside of the foot. The condition may happen suddenly due to an ankle sprain, or it may develop slowly overtime from repetitive tension through the bone and surrounding structures.

Causes

The most common causes of cuboid syndrome include:

• Injury – The most common cause of this ailment is an ankle sprain.
• Repetitive Strain – Tension placed through the peroneus longus muscle from repetitive activities such as jumping and running may cause excessive traction on the bone causing it to sublux.
• Altered Foot Biomechanics – Most people suffering from cuboid subluxation have flat feet.

Symptoms

A common symptom of cuboid syndrome is pain along the outside of the foot which can be felt in the ankle and toes. This pain may create walking difficulties and may cause those with the condition to walk with a limp.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cuboid syndrome is often difficult, and it is often misdiagnosed. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans often fail to properly show the cuboid subluxation. Although there isn’t a specific test used to diagnose cuboid syndrome, your podiatrist will usually check if pain is felt while pressing firmly on the cuboid bone of your foot.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are ice therapy, rest, exercise, taping, and orthotics.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.