Foot Deformities in CT

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

When To Call A Podiatrist

People call a podiatrist for help diagnosing and treating a wide array of foot and ankle problems. Please contact one of our six offices if you experience one of the following:

Persistent pain in your feet or ankles.
Changes in the nails or skin on your foot.
Severe cracking, scaling, or peeling on the heel or foot.
Blisters on your feet.

There are signs of bacterial infection, including:

Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
Red streaks extending from the affected area.
Discharge or pus from an area on the foot.
Foot or ankle symptoms that do not improve after two weeks of treatment with a nonprescription product.
Spreading of an infection from one area of the foot to another, such as under the nail bed, skin under the nail, the nail itself, or the surrounding skin.
Thickening toenails that cause discomfort.
Heel pain accompanied by a fever, redness (sometimes warmth), or numbness.
Tingling in the heel; persistent heel pain without putting any weight or pressure on your heel.
Pain that is not alleviated by ice or over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen.
Diabetics with poor circulation who develop Athlete's Foot.

If you have a foot problem, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

What Is Jackson-Weiss Syndrome?

Jackson-Weiss Syndrome is a rare condition, so rare in fact there are no published statistics. The condition is a genetic disorder that is caused by a mutation in chromosome 10, the FGFR10 gene, and is responsible for defects in the face, feet, and head.
It affects both males and females equally and may appear as the first time in a family, or be passed down from generation to generation. Intelligence and life expectancy are typically normal. Babies born with Jackson-Weiss Syndrome have a skull that fuses together too early, called craniosynostosis. This causes a bulging forehead, misshapen skull, widely spaced eyes, and a very flat middle section of the face.
Foot deformities are common in those who have Jackson-Weiss Syndrome and may include:

Wide, short, big toes.
Big toe bends away from other toes.
Bones of some toes may be fused together.
Webbing of toes.

Treatment is generally surgical and targets the specific deformity.
If your child is born with Jackson-Weiss Syndrome and has foot deformities, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

10 Tips For Bunion Surgery Recovery

1. Even though it might be tempting and you feel up to it, avoid walking immediately after bunion surgery as it may prevent proper bone and tissue healing.
2. During the first 3-5 days after surgery, keep your foot elevated as often as possible.
3. To keep inflammation down, ice your foot 4-5 times for 20 minutes throughout the day.
4. If your podiatrist prescribed a surgical shoe or walking boot for use after your surgery, make sure to wear it. The purpose of these shoes is to keep your healing toe in place. Walking too soon in street shoes will compromise your healing process.
5. Water and excessive moisture near the scar may introduce bacteria that can infect the fresh wound. When taking a shower or bath, wrap your foot in plastic bags with a rubber band to keep water out.
6. Take your full course of antibiotic medication to prevent infection.
7. If your podiatrist prescribes physical therapy to repair mobility in the joint, go for the prescribed length and be good about doing the stretches at home.
8. Talk with your podiatrist about what stretches you can be doing at home, if no physical therapy is prescribed.
9. Invest in several pairs of good quality shoes, sneakers, boots, etc. When your feet have the right support, the opportunity for foot deformities to occur or recur is less.
10. If you have the following symptoms immediately after bunion surgery, call your podiatric surgeon right away: fever, warmth and burning in scar area, inability to tolerate pain, or medication side effects.
Reference: http://www.healtharticles101.com/10-tips-for-successful-bunion-surgery-recovery/
If you have a bunion, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Can My Child Have A Bunion?

When we think about bunions, we think of our mothers and grandmothers. Their feet, deformed after years

of wearing inappropriate shoes and having bad feet. But would we ever think of our young daughters? Juvenile bunions affect children and teens, especially girls, between the ages of 10 and 15. For the most part juvenile bunions are without symptoms of pain because they do not have the degenerative changes adults face. The first sign that your child may have a problem with a bunion is they will have trouble putting their feet into shoes. Some children will feel self-conscious about their bunions. Other symptoms will include:

A big toe joint that is red or swollen.
Complaints of foot pain when walking, running, or playing.
Problems moving the big toe joint.
A thickening of the skin on the bottom of the foot.

Juvenile bunions are more severe as the onset of the foot deformity is earlier and it progressives very quickly. When left untreated, it can cause significant deformity and disability. They are typically treated aggressively to prevent recurrence in later years. Roughly 50% of juvenile bunions are associated with flexible flat foot, as the flattening of the arch and the large big toe are secondary to hypermobility of joints.
When it comes to foot wear and children, ensure your child does not wear ones that are too small or too tight. Young girls with juvenile bunions should stay away from heels and narrow/pointy shoes because this increases the risk for bunions to increase.
Treatment for a juvenile bunion depends on severity, degree of pain, and how quickly the bunion is progressing. Growth plates in children tend to close when girls are around the age of 16 and boys when they are 17. Closing of growth plates dictates when surgery can be accomplished safely.
Conservative treatment options for juvenile bunions include:

Custom orthotics, which control excessive motion
Changes in shoes, to take pressure off the bunion
Padding/taping, use to relieve irritation and discomfort
Anti-inflammatory medications to help with the pain.
Physical therapy to help with pain relief.

If your child has a bunion, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

You Don't Have To Be A Bird To Have Claw Toes

Toe deformities often get blamed on wearing shoes that are too tight or too small, which can be the case in hammertoes and mallet toes. However, claw toes are the result of nerve damage from diabetes or alcoholism, which weakens the muscles in your foot. Claw toes claw at the soles of your shoes, creating painful calluses. Without treatment this deformity can become worse over time, even becoming a permanent problem.
Symptoms of claw toes include:

Toes that are bent upwards from the joint at the ball of the foot.
Toes bend downward at the middle joints towards the sole of your shoe.
Toes may also bend at the top joint, curling under, like mallet toes.
Corns on the top of the foot or on the ball of the foot.

A podiatrist can effectively diagnose a claw toe, using tests to determine if the cause is neurological, or trauma or inflammation.
In the early stages of a claw toe deformity, the toe will be flexible. However, the longer the condition progresses, the more rigid it will become. If the deformity is caught at an early stage, simple taping or splinting may be prescribed to retrain the toe to the correct position. Your podiatrist may also recommend:

Wearing shoes with roomy toe boxes and avoiding tight shoes and high heels.
Use your hand to stretch the affected toe to the correct position.
Exercise your toes by performing towel pick-ups or marble pick-ups with your feet.

Claw toes at an advanced stage will require other, more complex treatment:

A special pad to redistribute your weight and relieve pressure on the ball of your foot, like an orthotic.
Extra deep shoes with additional space in the toe box to accommodate the claw toe.
Have your shoes stretched.
Surgery to correct the deformity.

If you have a claw toe and are experiencing pain, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

I Have A Long Second Toe!

If your second toe is longer than your first toe, you have a type of foot called Morton's toe, or Greek foot. It is a form of brachymetatarsia, which promotes an anterior position of the second toe in relation to the big toe. This deformity may or may not result in the second toe extending past the big toe.
The name Morton's toe was given by American orthopedic surgeon Dudley Joy Morton, who included it as part of the Morton's triad: a short first metatarsal bone, a hypermobile first metatarsal segment, and calluses underneath the second and third toes. Morton's toe can also be confused with Morton's neuroma, which involves a nerve between the third and fourth toes. Morton harkened back to prehistoric humans, who probably used their toes for grasping.
The Greeks believed this type of foot to be beautiful, and it appears in sculptures and art. As well, it persisted as an aesthetic standard through Roman, Renaissance, even modern times- the Statue of Liberty has a Greek foot!
Morton's toe is a common foot type, but can be considered a deformity as well. The symptoms associated with Morton's toe include discomfort and callusing along the top of the second toe. This is because the big toe would normally bear the weight of walking, but these forces are transferred to the second toe because of its length and position. With shoes it can be a problem when trying to fit a shoe to the second toe.
Morton's toe affects 20% of the population, but 80% of people with it have foot pain. The reason for this high ratio is because of excessive pronation (weight bearing). Excessive pronation causes the leg to be shortened or lengthened, and the leg is rotated internally. Other problems associated with Morton's toe are: metatarsalgia, hammertoes, mallet toes, bunions, Morton's neuroma, and heel pain.
Treatment is often orthotics to realign the foot to its proper position and relieve some of the pressure from the second toe.
If you have a Morton's toe and are experiencing pain, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Mallet Toes: Not Something You Hammer With

A mallet toe occurs when the joint at the end of the toe will not straighten. This is different from a hammertoe because in a hammertoe, any joint can be affected. Excessive rubbing of the deformity against the top of a shoe will lead to the development of a corn and pain. The tip of the toe is often turned down against the shoe, causing pressure and discomfort. Those with mallet toes are often embarrassed by this deformity because it can stick out like a sore thumb. When left untreated, the pigment of the skin on the mallet toe can become dark and circular.
Causes of mallet toes include:

If you are on your feet all day.
Participate in sports regularly.
Have arthritis
Have nerve damage in your back, leg, or foot.
Have very high or very flat arches.
Wear shoes that don't fit
Were born with a toe deformity.

Other factors include poor circulation, diabetes, edema, and wearing non-leather shoes. Complications of the mallet toe can lead to puss, infection, and swelling, as well as a change in gait pattern because of pain.
Conservative treatments for mallet toes include:

Wearing shoes with a large, square toe box.
A toe crest or buttress pad.
Gel toe caps or shields.

If your mallet toe is causing significant pain or has progressed to an infection, call a podiatrist to make an appointment. Surgical treatments a podiatrist may try are:

Amputation of the tip of the toe (only if gangrene or severe infection is present).
Joint fusion of the toe.
Partial bone/joint removal.
Flexor tenotomy or lengthening.

If you have a mallet toe, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.