Items filtered by date: November 2023

Diabetes can harm the nerves and blood vessels in your feet, reducing your ability to feel injuries. Minor foot problems like calluses, blisters, or cracks can develop into serious foot ulcers, often on the ball of the foot or under the big toe. These ulcers can become infected and lead to gangrene, potentially requiring the amputation of toes, parts of the foot, or even the leg. If you have a foot ulcer, it is vital to keep weight off the affected area to aid healing. For diabetics, early treatment of foot issues is crucial to prevent them from worsening. If you have diabetes, it is strongly suggested that you make routine appointments with a podiatrist to make sure your foot health is properly managed.

Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with Ross Limon, DPM from Boca Deerfield Footcare Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic. 

What Is the Importance of Wound Care?

While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.

How to Care for Wounds

The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.

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

Ingrown toenails can be a painful and bothersome foot condition, but they are often preventable with proper care and understanding of their causes. This troublesome malady occurs when the edge or corner of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to pain, redness, and potential infection. One common cause of ingrown toenails is improper nail trimming. Cutting the nails too short or rounding the edges can encourage the nail to grow into the skin. Wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes that put pressure on the toes is another contributing factor, as it can force the nail to grow abnormally. To prevent ingrown toenails, it is important to trim the nails straight across and not too short. Wearing well-fitted, comfortable shoes that can provide enough room for your toes may also help to prevent this painful condition. Additionally, maintaining good foot hygiene and protecting your toes can go a long way in preventing the development of ingrown toenails. If you have developed this ailment, it is strongly suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist as quickly as possible who can offer treatment options that are right for you.

Ingrown toenails may initially present themselves as a minor discomfort, but they may progress into an infection in the skin without proper treatment. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Ross Limon, DPM of Boca Deerfield Footcare Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are caused when the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh surrounding it. They often result in redness, swelling, pain, and in some cases, infection. This condition typically affects the big toe and may recur if it is not treated properly.

Causes

• Improper toenail trimming
• Genetics
• Improper shoe fitting
• Injury from pedicures or nail picking
• Abnormal gait
• Poor hygiene

You are more likely to develop an ingrown toenail if you are obese, have diabetes, arthritis, or have any fungal infection in your nails. Additionally, people who have foot or toe deformities are at a higher risk of developing an ingrown toenail.

Symptoms

Some symptoms of ingrown toenails are redness, swelling, and pain. In rare cases, there may be a yellowish drainage coming from the nail.

Treatment

Ignoring an ingrown toenail can have serious complications. Infections of the nail border can progress to a deeper soft-tissue infection, which can then turn into a bone infection. You should always speak with your podiatrist if you suspect you have an ingrown toenail, especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation.

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

To diagnose peripheral neuropathy and determine what is causing it, a podiatrist may ask questions about symptoms, physically check troublesome areas, and test feeling, strength, and reflex actions in these areas. Blood tests are often ordered to look for common causes of foot neuropathy, such as diabetes or a vitamin B12 shortage. If further testing is needed, nerve conduction and electrical studies can be done to observe how nerves respond to small electric shocks, in addition to measuring muscle electrical activity. Underlying health issues or side effects of medication may surface during testing. In rare cases, a nerve sample from near the ankle might be taken for a biopsy to look for specific neuropathy indicators. Imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs might also be performed to find the root cause of neuropathy. If you suffer from foot neuropathy, it is strongly suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist for a thorough examination and necessary testing done to determine the root cause of the problem prior to proceeding with treatment to ease your discomfort.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with Ross Limon, DPM from Boca Deerfield Footcare Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

• Numbness
• Sensation loss
• Prickling and tingling sensations
• Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
• Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

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

Itchy feet can be a bothersome issue, but they are often mild and temporary. Common symptoms associated with itchy feet include the formation of crust as a wound heals, and flaky or peeling skin due to extreme dryness, rashes, redness, warmth, and swelling. Sometimes, itchy feet can lead to pus-filled blisters or general tenderness and discomfort. In certain circumstances having itchy feet may necessitate a visit to a podiatrist, such as if you develop oozing blisters or feel a worm-like tingling sensation in your feet. Persistent itching that lasts for more than two weeks or recurrent flare-ups may signal a more serious issue. If the itching spreads to other areas of your body, it's probably a good idea to consult a podiatrist. In some cases, itchy feet can be a sign of underlying health problems. For instance, swelling in the legs, arms, and stomach, yellowish skin or eyes, or reduced urinary output could indicate kidney or liver issues. When these symptoms are present alongside itchy feet, it may be an indicator of potential systemic concerns. If you experience persistent or recurring foot itching, especially if it spreads to other areas of your body and occurs during pregnancy or menopause, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist for a complete examination and suggestions for treatment. 

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Ross Limon, DPM from Boca Deerfield Footcare Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

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