A sprained ankle and a broken ankle have similar symptoms and can sometimes be difficult to tell apart. Ankle sprains occur when ligaments in the ankle are overstretched or torn. This can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, ankle instability, and a restricted range of motion. Sometimes you may also feel a popping sensation at the time of injury. An ankle fracture occurs when one or more bones around the ankle joint break. This can cause an immediate, sharp pain that is usually more painful than a sprain, bruising, swelling, tenderness, a visible deformity, and difficulty bearing weight on the affected ankle. If you have injured your ankle, please see a podiatrist, who can diagnose and treat the injury, as soon as possible.
Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you are seeking treatment, contact Barry P. Weinstein, DPM from Bellaire Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Broken Ankles
A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both of these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.
When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle, and the following symptoms may be present.
Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle
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.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellaire and Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
People who work all day on their feet can experience throbbing, painful feet at the end of a shift. Along with putting your feet up during work breaks and standing on a cushioned mat, a few simple exercises after hours may help to alleviate the swelling and ease pain. Take your shoes and socks off and sit in a chair. Put a tennis ball on the floor and, using the bottom of your foot, press down and roll it around. Do this for a few minutes and then switch feet. For pain specifically on the bottom of the foot, stand up and lift your leg behind you. Place your toes down behind you and lightly push, feeling the stretch on the bottom of your foot. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then repeat on the other foot. To stretch your ankles, lay on your back and point your toes up towards the ceiling. Alternately point and flex your toes 10 times, and then gently roll your ankles in circles. You can schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can examine your feet and offer additional ways to support and protect your feet, and relieve any heel or ankle pain you may be experiencing.
While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Barry P. Weinstein, DPM from Bellaire Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.
Working on Your Feet
Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.
Positive Changes
Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.
Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.
Eliminate Pain
Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.
Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen.
With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellaire and Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
You don't need an excuse to have beautiful nails. Step outside without worrying about the appearance of your feet.
Normal sweating is your body’s way of regulating its temperature, and is triggered by a rise in temperature or physical exertion. Hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating that occurs when none of these factors are present. There are two types of hyperhidrosis: primary—which is the most common and typically appears on specific parts of the body including the feet, and secondary—which can be caused by certain medications, or an underlying medical condition. Excessive dampness of the feet may not only be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but it may even lead to athlete’s foot, odor from bacteria, and a breaking down of the skin. If you find that your feet are continuously wet throughout the day, contact a podiatrist who can examine you to see if hyperhidrosis is present, and use a variety of therapies and medicines to help manage it.
If you are suffering from hyperhidrosis contact Barry P. Weinstein, DPM of Bellaire Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.
Hyperhidrosis of the Feet
Hyperhidrosis is a rare disorder that can cause people to have excessive sweating of their feet. This can usually occur all on its own without rigorous activity involved. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis may also experience sweaty palms.
Although it is said that sweating is a healthy process meant to cool down the body temperature and to maintain a proper internal temperature, hyperhidrosis may prove to be a huge hindrance on a person’s everyday life.
Plantar hyperhidrosis is considered to be the main form of hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis can refer to sweating that occurs in areas other than the feet or hands and armpits. Often this may be a sign of it being related to another medical condition such as menopause, hyperthyroidism and even Parkinson’s disease.
In order to alleviate this condition, it is important to see your doctor so that they may prescribe the necessary medications so that you can begin to live a normal life again. If this is left untreated, it is said that it will persist throughout an individual’s life.
A last resort approach would be surgery, but it is best to speak with your doctor to find out what may be the best treatment for you.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellaire and Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
While the feet have a variety of functions, issues with the feet can also indicate issues in a variety of other parts of the body. Because of this, podiatrists can often be the first doctors to notice an issue. For example, feet that are too cold, or are blue in color, can indicate circulation problems in the rest of the body. Swollen feet can sometimes indicate heart disease or high blood pressure. The toenails can also indicate a variety of issues. Changes in toenail color can be signs of issues in the lungs, heart, kidneys, or liver, and it can even be a sign of diabetes or an infection. If you are noticing any abnormalities in the feet, consult with a podiatrist to make sure there aren’t any underlying issues.
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 Barry P. Weinstein, DPM from Bellaire Podiatry. Our doctor 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 one of our offices located in Bellaire and Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
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