Foot and Ankle Associates - Foot Specialists, Los Gatos

As we age, our feet change. The fatty padding on the soles of our feet becomes thinner and we begin to lose the protective layer of skin. This can lead to Prominent Foot bones, Calluses and Corns, Heel Spurs, Sore Spots, Bunions, Athlete's Foot, Metatarsalgia (Ball-of-Foot Pain),Arthritis ,and Toenail Problems. There are many common foot problems that older adults face. One of the most common problems is prominent foot bones. This condition is caused by the thinning of the fatty padding on the soles of the feet and the loss of the protective layer of skin. This can cause pain and discomfort in the affected area. Call a Podiatrist to get treated right away.

The first step is to rest the area and reduce inflammation. Ice the area for 20 minutes a few times a day. You can also take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen. Once the inflammation has subsided, you need to start strengthening and stretching the tendon. Eccentric exercises are very effective at strengthening tendons. These exercises involve contracting the muscle while lengthening the tendon. You can do these exercises with resistance bands or by gradually increasing your weight as you get stronger. Stretching is also important, especially before and after exercise. Try static stretches held for 30 seconds each. Hamstring stretches are a good place to start.

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled sac that grows on the outside of a joint or along a tendon. It's usually painless and doesn't cause any problems, but sometimes it can get bigger or become inflamed. If this happens, you might have pain, swelling, or difficulty moving the affected area. In most cases, a ganglion cyst doesn't need treatment and will eventually go away on its own. However, if it's bothersome or growing larger, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove it.

The general answer to this question is that if surgical removal of the ganglion cyst is done, a patient may have limited mobility in terms of the ability to walk, for a few weeks. However, a great deal depends on the size of the cyst, its exact location and the patient’s overall health. At Foot and Ankle Associates we do a thorough examination of the cyst and take the patients’ overall health and medical history into consideration when planning a course of action. We then inform the patient of what is to be expected in terms of the treatment protocols and the recovery time. This allows the patient to plan for his recovery.

The best way to treat a concrete burn is by immediately rinsing the affected area with cool water for several minutes. This will help to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. If the burn is more severe, you may need to seek medical attention. For minor burns, you can apply a topical antibiotic or aloe vera gel to the area to help speed up healing. Be sure to keep the area clean and protected from further injury until it has healed completely.

Damaged toenails can be treated a few different ways. One option is to trim the nails down very short and then use a clear nail polish to coat the nails in order to protect them. If the nails are severely damaged, they may need to be removed and replaced with artificial nails. Another option is to correct the deformity using surgery. The surgery will involve straightening the toe, and may also involve removing some of the bone in order to achieve a straight appearance. Hammer toes can often be corrected without surgery by using special devices or braces that can be worn on the feet. These devices work by pushing the toes into their correct position. In some cases, night splints may also be used.

If you have sprained your ankle, you must immediately ice it and elevate it. Feel around for pain, stiffness and swelling to ensure that it is not a fracture. It is best to see a podiatrist and get treated. It is important to rest the ankle and ensure that you do not sprain it again. Repeated ankle sprains could cause ankle instability over long term and that means that any small twist or trauma is liable to injure your ankle. To prevent that, follow an Ankle Instability Treatment which will include avoiding activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort, using an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours, compressing the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops and elevation.

In case of a mild burn emergency, First Aid Treatment would be to hold burned skin under cool running water until the pain subsides. Apply a petroleum-based ointment two to three times per day and give over-the-counter pain reliever. Seek medical help if the burn is very severe and there is infection, like increased pain, redness, swelling, fever, or oozing.

Mild, low-grade ankle sprains will usually heal in one to three weeks with proper rest and non-surgical care, like applying ice. Moderate injuries may take between three and four weeks. Severe injuries may take between three and six months to heal. Sprained Ankle Treatment will include avoiding activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort, using an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours, compressing the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops and elevation. At Foot and Ankle Associates, we offer the best foot care for any kind of foot problem. Call us at 408-358-6234.

Most patients with diabetes mellitus will experience a skin problem at some stage throughout the course of their disease. Several skin disorders are common in diabetic patients and patients with type 2 diabetes run the risk of developing the common scaly disease, psoriasis which can affect the feet causing Foot Problems. It is important for diabetics to have regular foot check-ups with a podiatrist. At Foot and Ankle Associates, we are committed to helping people maintain active and independent lifestyles by addressing their needs.